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.
The incident in Finsbury Park was "an attack on all Londoners," Neil Basu, the senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing has said.
He confirmed it is being treated as a terrorist attack.
He said is too early to say whether the man pronounced dead at the scene died as a result of the attack.
"This was an attack on London, and all Londoners. We should all stand together against extremists, whatever their cause."
He said the man who died was already receiving first aid from members of the public.
Mr Basu thanked members of the public for restraining the suspect, who has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
He also confirmed there was nobody else in the van, a claim which appeared in early reports.
Our reporter Ben Kentish is also on the scene.
He's spoken to an eyewitness called Abdul, who said: "People gather on that part of the street during Ramadan to chat and socialise so it was premeditated. He knew what he was doing.
"He waited until people had come out then drove at the people on the right then swerved to hit people on the left. Someone was lying under his van shouting help me.
"He tried to run away but we brought him down. He would've died because so many people were punching him but the Imam came out and said no more punching, let's keep him down until the police come.
"As he was being arrested he was laughing and smiling and shouting things about Muslims. I don't want to say what but it was but it was the sort of thing that made people want to punch him."
He described the attacker as a tattooed white man in his late 30s or early 40s.
A member of staff at Pontyclun Van Hire said the company would not be issuing a statement.
She said: "We are not saying anything, we don't know anything at the moment."
Katie Forster has spoken to Ebu Seyitoglu, 44, who lives in a block of flats off Biggerstaff Street, parallel to Seven Sisters Road, where there is a heavy police presence.
He and his neighbours have been told they can leave the building but cannot return inside for several hours if they do so as police investigate.
He said last night he was woken by a large bang.
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