Finsbury Park attack: Questions remain over victim's cause of death

Special post-mortem examination carried out to determine why Makram Ali died

(AP)

Detectives are still working to establish what caused the death of a man after the Finsbury Park Mosque attack, the head of the Metropolitan Police has said.

Commissioner Cressida Dick said a special post-mortem examination has been carried out to determine why Makram Ali, 51, died.

It came as Scotland Yard continued to question attack suspect Darren Osborne, 47.

Mr Ali had already been taken ill when a van was driven at him and a group of people giving him first aid.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and paramedics took nine people to three London hospitals while two others were treated for minor injuries.

Speaking to the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee, Commissioner Dick said: “We continue our investigation to establish exactly how he came to his death.

“We have carried out a special post-mortem and we are working very closely with his family and with all the people who were affected, and their families.”

Osborne, from Cardiff, has been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism, including murder and attempted murder.

The father-of-four was described by relatives as having been “troubled for a long time”.

In a statement, his family said: “We are massively shocked. It’s unbelievable. It still hasn’t really sunk in. We are devastated for the families. Our hearts go out to the people who have been injured.”

They said Osborne was “not a racist” and had never expressed racist views, adding: “It’s madness. It is obviously sheer madness.”

The vehicle used in the attack was rented from Pontyclun Van Hire, near Cardiff.

South Wales Police said they had investigated the van after receiving reports about a man sleeping in it.

A spokesman said: “A male was asleep inside the vehicle, which showed no signs of having been driven recently. The officers’ assessment was that no offences were disclosed.”