London: One person has been killed and ten more injured after a white van driver screaming ‘I’m going to kill all Muslims’ plowed into Muslim worshippers near a renowned north London mosque, in the latest terror attack to rock Britain.
A 48-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the van mounted the pavement and veered into the congregation outside the Muslim Welfare House, near Finsbury Park Mosque, shortly after they finished Taraweeh prayers.
Heroic bystanders wrestled the suspect to the floor and pinned him down until officers arrived after he allegedly screamed ‘I want to kill all Muslims’, and ‘I did my bit.’
At the time of the attack, which was just after midnight, several people were heroically giving first aid to an elderly member of the public who had collapsed at the bus stop with a medical issue.
Today, police confirmed he was the man who had died. Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu said it is not yet known if the terror attack caused his death but that it would form part of the investigation.
Basu said a further eight casualties are being treated across three London hospitals for ‘serious injuries’ while two victims sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
As details of the attack emerged, the Muslim Council of Britain condemned the incident as ‘the most violent manifestation’ yet of Islamophobia and called for extra security around mosques.
The Islamic, Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) also condemned the terrorist attack, saying that “this criminal act is a vicious Islamophobic attack targeting innocent Muslims in flagrant violation of human rights and common human values.”
ISESCO called on the British government to increase its efforts in protecting Muslims in Britain and all places of worship from repeated attacks.
The Metropolitan Police has vowed to put extra security around mosques at this ‘sensitive time’ as Muslims continue to mark the holy month of Ramadan. Basu said it was an ‘incredibly challenging time for London’ with emergency services ‘stretched’ but that officers would do all they could to keep people safe.
Last night, dramatic footage emerged from the scene showing the suspect – who was described as looking ‘indifferent’ and ‘like he didn’t care’ – being tackled to the floor by angry bystanders as they waited for police to arrive at the scene.
Monday morning, Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed the incident is being treated as a potential terror attack and called an emergency meeting of the Cobra Committee.
Police also confirmed that the probe was being handled by terror investigations with one man currently held in custody.
Speaking this morning outside Scotland Yard, Basu praised the members of the public who detained the suspect, lauding their restraint.
He said: ‘Sadly, Londoners are waking up to the news of another dreadful incident in the capital that has left a number of people seriously injured.’
‘This was an attack on London and all Londoners, and we should all stand together against extremists whatever their cause. Now is a time to unite those who seek to divide us.’
He added: ‘I would like to praise the police officers who immediately responded gave lifesaving treatment at the scene, but also very much those members of the public who assisted before and after this incident.’
‘I would like to thank those people who helped police in detaining the man and who worked with officers to calmly and quickly get him into our custody. Their restraint in the circumstances is commendable.’
Toufik Kacimi, chief executive of the Muslim Welfare House, said the suspect had shouted ‘I did my bit’ after carrying out the attack.
He told Sky News: ‘After the event, he did say “I did my bit.” We have a witness saying that the driver of the van said: “I did my bit.”
‘It means he is not mentally ill, he is conscious, he did what he did deliberately to hit and kill as many Muslims as possible.’
He added that the imam had saved the suspect’s life after he plowed the van into a wall and fences and other members of the public began beating him.
Emergency service crews were also seen giving cardiac massages to the injured in a desperate bid to save them, but unconfirmed reports that two other suspects fled the van were denied by police.
The police operation is being handled by counter-terrorism units, while the suspect has been taken to a hospital and will be detained once he has been discharged, and will then face a mental health assessment.
In a statement posted on its website, the Finsbury Park Mosque said it ‘condemns in the strongest terms a heinous terrorist attack.’
AG/IINA
