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As it happenedended1497884194

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'

Samuel Osborne,Katie Forster,Benjamin Kentish
Monday 19 June 2017 07:15 BST
Finsbury Park attack - what we know so far

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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."

An armed police officer mans a cordon on the Seven Sisters Road at Finsbury Park in north London, where one person has been arrested after a vehicle struck pedestrians (PA Wire/PA Images)
An armed police officer mans a cordon on the Seven Sisters Road at Finsbury Park in north London, where one person has been arrested after a vehicle struck pedestrians (PA Wire/PA Images) (PA)

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."

Police man a cordon at the scene in the Finsbury Park area of north London
Police man a cordon at the scene in the Finsbury Park area of north London (Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty)

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.

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Mr Corbyn added: "An attack on a mosque, an attack on a synagogue, an attack on a church, is actually an attack on all of us. 

"We have to protect each other's faith and each other's way of life. That's what makes us a strong society and a strong community."

Samuel Osborne19 June 2017 10:37
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Asked whether he expects Theresa May to visit Finsbury Park today, Mr Corbyn said: "It's not up to me to decide what the Prime Minister does."

Samuel Osborne19 June 2017 10:38
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The Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid, has arrived at the scene of the attack and met members of the local community (Victoria Jones/PA) 

Samuel Osborne19 June 2017 10:42
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Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the Ramadhan Foundation has said in a statement:

"I utterly condemn the senseless and evil van attack against Muslim worshippers outside the Finsbury Park Mosque in London. According to eye witnesses this was a deliberate attack against Innocent Muslims going about their life. 

"We should make clear that if this attack is confirmed as a deliberate terrorist attack then this should be classed as an act of terrorism. The British Muslim community requires all decent people to stand with us against this evil violence. 

"Rampant Islamaphobia has been on the rise for a number of years and those on the far right have perpetuated hatred against Muslims. They should be called out for their hatred. 

"The days ahead will be difficult, but with unity and tolerance we will prevail. We will not allow these far right extremists to divide our diverse communities. 

"Enough is enough, my condolences and prayers for all the victims and their families. They are in my prayers."

Samuel Osborne19 June 2017 10:46
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Samuel Osborne19 June 2017 10:48
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The Communities and Local Government Secretary, Sajid Javid, spoke briefly to concerned residents before being led through the police cordon as he visited the scene.

Flowers have been laid near Finsbury Park Mosque, while police officers have also arranged bouquets from members of the public inside the cordon.

Samuel Osborne19 June 2017 10:52
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Amnesty International has called for unity in light of the Finsbury Park attack.

Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK, said:

“The reports of this targeted terrorist attack are deeply saddening. The thoughts of everyone at Amnesty International are with all those affected.

“As a nation, we must remain united despite the actions of extremists who seek to divide us.

“There is no place for hate. 

“This weekend millions of Britons joined in the Great Get Together in a huge statement rejecting hatred and division. 

“We must continue to stand against hate and show compassion and understanding for one another in these difficult circumstances.”

Samuel Osborne19 June 2017 10:56
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Samuel Osborne19 June 2017 10:59
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The van attack near Finsbury Park Mosque follows warnings of an unprecedented anti-Muslim backlash after recent terrorist atrocities.

Police in London recorded a spike in the number of Islamophobic incidents in the wake of the London Bridge outrage earlier this month, with 20 recorded on 6 June - compared with a daily average of 3.5.

It was the highest daily tally for 2017, and also higher than the numbers registered after the Paris attacks in November 2015, and the murder of Lee Rigby in May 2013.

In a speech last week, a former police chief warned that anti-Muslim sentiment online has been "relentless" following the London Bridge attack on 3 June.

Mak Chishty, an ex-Metropolitan Police commander who had been the country's most senior Muslim officer before his retirement, said: "The backlash has been something of a different scale."

While the circumstances and suspected motivations behind the Finsbury Park incident are yet to be made clear, it comes amid mounting concern over far-right extremism in the UK.

Warnings that the threat could be growing were raised after the conviction of Thomas Mair for the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox last year.

The Government's Prevent and Channel programmes, which work to intervene before individuals are drawn into violent extremism, have seen a rise in the number of referrals linked to far-right ideology.

Counter-terrorism police have said that, while the threat is not of the same gravity as that posed by Islamic State or al-Qaida, there are extreme right-wing groups attempting to provoke violence and sow discord.

Figures on terror-related arrests have shown an increasing number of white suspects are being held.

In the year to the end of March, there were 113 arrests of white people, compared with 68 in the year before - an increase of 66 per cent.

The white ethnic group accounted for 37 per cent of all terrorism-related arrests in the 12 months, compared with 26 per cent in the previous year.

Statistics on individuals' ethnicity are not broken down by type of suspected extremism.

Dr Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society think tank, said: "Coming a year after the murder of Jo Cox, we have witnessed what appears to be another hateful act in the community.

"It is looking increasingly likely that this is the latest example of a growing threat of far-right extremism in the UK.

"The Government must ensure urgently the security services have all the resources they need to investigate and prevent extremism-inspired attacks of whatever origin."

Samuel Osborne19 June 2017 11:00
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Samuel Osborne19 June 2017 11:06

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