Finsbury Park attack as it happened: Theresa May booed as she leaves mosque after paying respects to victims
Police: 'London is a city of many faiths and many nationalities. An attack on one community is an attack on all of us'
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Your support makes all the difference.One person has died and eight people have been taken to hospital after being hit by a van in a "potential terror attack" near a north London mosque.
The van driver, described by eyewitnesses as a large white man, was detained by members of the public after the attack in Seven Sisters Road at 12.20am on Monday.
One witness described being surrounded by bodies in the wake of the attack outside the Muslim Welfare House, close to Finsbury Park mosque.
Eyewitnesses said the attacker shouted about killing Muslims as he was held by local people.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said it was an attack on common values.
"Like the terrible attacks in Manchester, Westminster and London Bridge it is also an assault on all our shared values of tolerance, freedom and respect," he said in a statement.
Prime Minister Theresa May said: "Police have confirmed this is being treated as a potential terrorist attack.
"I will chair an emergency meeting later this morning.
"All my thoughts are with the victims, their families and the emergency services on the scene."
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "One man was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Officers are in the process of informing next of kin. A post mortem examination will be scheduled due course.
"Eight people injured were taken to three separate hospitals; two people were treated at the scene for minor injuries."
Commenting on reports that the van driver also produced a knife, the statement went on: "At this stage there are no reports of any persons having suffered any knife injuries.
"The driver of the van - a man aged 48 - was found detained by members of public at the scene and then arrested by police in connection with the incident.
"He has been taken to hospital as a precaution and will be taken into custody once discharged.
"He will also be subject of a mental health assessment in due course."
The force said the investigation of the incident is being carried out by the Counter Terrorism Command.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Like everybody else, I am appalled, horrified and heartbroken at news of another apparent terrorist attack in the heart of London.
"This was a senseless and horrific attack on Muslims leaving prayers in a mosque and our attitude and response to that should just be as serious and as steadfast as our response to those who carry out such attacks supposedly in the name of Islam.
"Whether extremists and terrorists, who are a tiny minority in our society, are attacking Muslims or attacking in the name of Muslims, all of us must be absolutely resolute that our wonderful, diverse, multicultural society will not be divided, because that's what the terrorists seek to do and we must be absolutely resolute in our determination not to allow them to succeed."
Pontyclun Van Hire, the company whose hired van was used in the attack, have issued a statement.
"We at Pontyclun Van Hire are shocked and saddened by the incident that took place at Finsbury Park last night.
"We are cooperating fully with the Metropolitan police and our thoughts are with those who have been injured in this cowardly attack.
"We will not be making any further statement because of the ongoing police investigation but will continue to assist the police in any way we can."
The British Red Cross said it had been supporting friends and relatives of those affected by the attack.
The aid charity's chief executive Mike Adamson said: "The British Red Cross was asked by the Metropolitan Police to provide support today at an information centre, where we sent volunteers to provide practical and emotional support to family and friends of those affected by the attack.
"We are also aware that people will want to know how they can help and show their unity with one another at this time.
"Donations are welcome to the UK Solidarity Fund which we launched earlier this month for victims of terror attacks in the UK, and which we will be making available to support those who have been affected by this latest horrific incident."
Theresa May is visiting Finsbury Park mosque, Reuters reports
Counter-extremism organisation Quilliam has urged the "populist right" to "be consistent and tackle anti-Muslim hate speakers who incite such attacks against Muslims".
In a statement, the group warned against allowing "extremist views on any side to dominate the public narrative and polarise our societies".
Chief executive Haras Rafiq said there is a "symbiotic relationship" between "Islamism that views all non-Muslims as the enemy, and anti-Muslim bigotry that views all Muslims as the enemy."
The think tank's founder Maajid Nawaz added that society "must stand up to extremism in all its forms."
“The recent Isis-inspired terror attacks have been deliberate military tactics carried out with the intention to divide and polarise our society. ISIS have told us this.
“In polarised societies, people tend to take refuge in extreme positions. Only the extremists on both sides gain from this downward spiral to provoking civil war," he said.
“The desire to impose Islam and the desire to ban Islam are simply two ends to a lit fuse that can only lead to chaos.”
Inside the meeting being held by Theresa May at Finsbury Park Mosque. Jeremy Corbyn is holding a separate meeting upstairs at the same time, reports Ben Kentish who is at the scene.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick and Diane Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, which includes part of Finsbury Park, also attended Ms May's meeting with local residents.
Security minister Ben Wallace has said the Finsbury Park Mosque attack suspect was not known to security services.
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