• London mosque LIVE updates: At least 1 dead, 10 injured after van mows down worshippers, PM May calls it ‘potential terrorist attack’

London mosque LIVE updates: At least 1 dead, 10 injured after van mows down worshippers, PM May calls it ‘potential terrorist attack’

London mosque Live: The driver of the van, 48 , was found detained by members of public at the scene and then arrested by police in connection with the incident, police said.

By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi | Updated: June 19, 2017 11:33 am
Police officers attend to the scene after a vehicle collided with pedestrians in the Finsbury Park neighborhood of North London, Britain June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Neil Hall

In what is suspected to be another “terrorist attack” in London, a van rammed into worshippers leaving Finsbury Park mosque in London late Sunday night. At least one person was confirmed dead and eight others were taken to three different hospitals. Two of the injured civilians with minor injuries were treated at scene of the attack, the Metropolitan police said. British PM Theresa May has confirmed that the police are treating the incident as “potential terrorist attack”. May also said that she will chair a meeting later on Monday. The counter-terrorism forces will be assisting London Metropolitan police in its investigation.

May earlier described the on-going situation as “terrible incident” while Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn described himself as “totally shocked”. The police said that they received a call at around 12:20 am regarding the collision on Seven Sisters Road, which runs through the area around the mosque. They also said that several people are feared to be dead in the incident and have arrested one suspect. According to the Guardian, British counter-terrorism officers have joined local police in their investigations in North London.

The eyewitnesses said that the incident looks like a deliberate act rather than an accident. “From the window, I started hearing a lot of yelling and screeching, a lot of chaos outside. … Everybody was shouting: ‘A van’s hit people, a van’s hit people’,” an eyewitness was quoted by BBC. At least three people were seriously injured near the mosque, another witness was quoted by BBC.

Live Updates: 

11:20 am: The Metropolitan re-iterated that no other person is being treated as a suspect as of now. In a tweet, they further added that the investigation is currently going on at the moment.

10:45 am: Muslim Welfare House in Finsbury Park issued a statement in which they offered prayers for the victims in the incident. In its statement, the Muslim Community further said that they are “horrified” at the chain of events. “The Muslim Community in the area is horrified at this incident and is concerned and shocked at the events.” The community further condemned the “act of ha that tries to drive our wonderful community apart.”

10:30 am: CLICK HERE to read Full statement of Metropolitan Police on Finsbury Park Mosque attack

10:25 am: Amber Rudd, Home Secretary, also issued a statement on the incident at Finsbury Park. Speaking to media, Rudd said her thoughts are with the victims of the “appaling incident”. She further asked people to remain united and not let fear and hate divide the nation. “My thoughts are with all those affected by the appalling incident at Finsbury Park. I am in contact with the Metropolitan Police who have confirmed it is being investigated by their Counter Terrorism Command. Yesterday, like so many others around the country, I took part in the Great Get Together to celebrate the values of Jo Cox. It was powerful and moving to see the community come together in a show of solidarity. We must all continue to stand together, resolute, against all those who try to divide us and spread hate and fear,” Rudd said.

10:20 am: London Mayor Sadiq Khan issued a statement on Facebook describing the incident as a “horrific terrorist attack”. “The Metropolitan Police are responding to a horrific terrorist attack on innocent people in Finsbury Park,” he said. “We don’t yet know the full details, but this was clearly a deliberate attack on innocent Londoners, many of whom were finishing prayers during the holy month of Ramadan,” he further added. He further offered his thoughts and prayers for the victims, in the statement. Khan also congratulated the emergency services for a quick response. He futher asked the people of London to maintain calm and remain vigilant. “The situation is still unfolding and I urge all Londoners to remain calm and vigilant. Please report anything suspicious to the police, but only call 999 in an emergency.”

10:00 am: At least two eyewitnesses told Sky News that there were at least three people in the van, but the Met Police, in its statement that no other suspect has been identified or has been reported.

9:35 am: London Ambulance services gave an update. They said that eight people were taken to hospitals, while several others were treated at the sight of the incident with minor injuries.

9:30 am: British PM Theresa May confirms that the incident outside London Mosque is being treated as “potential terrorist attack” . She further said that there will be an emergency response meeting later on Monday. “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,” May said.

9:20 am: The Metropolitan Police issued a statement that one person has has died at the scene, while eight others injured civilians have been taken to the hospital. At this stage there have been no proof that a man has been stabbed. A 48 year old man has detained by public, the police added in its statement. The police further said that the driver of the van was taken to a hospital as a precaution and will be taken into custoday once he is discharged from the hospital. “At this early stage of this investigation, no other suspects at the scene have been identified or reported to police, however the investigation continues,” the Metropolitan Police further said in its statement.

London mosque attack, Theresa May, Britain Police officers attend to the scene after a vehicle collided with pedestrians near a mosque in the Finsbury Park neighborhood of North London, Britain June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Neil Hall

9:00 am: Muslim Council of Britain issued a statement saying the van driver intentionally ploughed into worshippers near North London issue.The Council further described the incident as a “violent manifestation of Islamophobia”. In its statement, Muslim Council of Britain also asked authorities to increase security outside mosques in the country.

8:50 am: As we wait for a confirmation from police whether the incident is a terrorist attack or not, CLICK HERE to read  Everything we know so far about London mosque incident

8:41 am: Finsbury Park area is known as home to the mosque linked to the radical cleric Abu Hamza, according to the Guardian. The present leaders of the mosque have tried to get rid of the mosque’s extremist past and  take it off from the government black list.

8:37 am: The Guardian reported that British counter-terrorism officers have joined local police to help investigate the North London Mosque incident. According to the newspaper, the counter-terrorism officers are trying to figure out whether the incident was a deliberate attack or was it an accident.

8:35 am: A map of the site of the incident on Finsbury Park Mosque.

8:30 am Chairman of Finsbury Park Mosque, Mohammed Kozbar, offered his prayers to those who were injured in the incident. In a tweet, Kozbar said,
“Our thoughts and prayers with those who got injured and effected by this cowardly attack in Finsbury Park area, many casualties in the floor.”

8:24 am: PM Theresa May described the situation near Finsbury Park mosque as a “terrible incident”. “All my thoughts are with those who have been injured, their loved ones and the emergency services on the scene,” she said.

8:22 am: Local people observe prayers at Finsbury Park where a vehicle struck pedestrians in London. (Images by AP)

8:12 am: A look at prayers timings in Finsbury Park Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.

8:08 am:  Finsbury Park Mosque, recentl, after the disastrous fire at Grenfell Tower in West London, opened its doors to provide support for the victims. In a statement, the mosque officials said,

“Following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, West London today ( Wednesday 14th June), Finsbury Park Mosque is opening its doors to provide help and support for those who have been affected. The Mosque will be collecting donation from today to help the families who have been effected by this tragedy and those who became homeless. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their lives and the injured people and the families who have lost their love ones and their homes in this tragedy.”

“Attacks on the people of London are attacks on us all. The Coordination Council of London Mosques condemns unequivocally the barbaric attacks in Westminster yesterday.”

8:07 am: Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn described himself as “totally shocked” after the incident outside London mosque. In a statement on Twitter, Corbyn said, “I’m totally shocked at the incident at Finsbury Park tonight. I’vve been in touch with the mosques, police and Islington council regarding the incident. My thoughts are with those and the community affected by this awful event.” British PM Theresa May has been informed about the incident.

8:06 am: London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Twitter described the incident as “major incident”. Without saying much, Khan said that emergency services are at the scene of the incident. “Emergency services are on the scene and investigating a major incident at Finsbury Park. Follow @Metpoliceuk and @Ldn_ambulance for details,” he said.

8:00 am: Eyewitnesses told BBC news that it looked as if the van was deliberately hitting the worshippers coming out of the mosque. “The gentleman went straight down this road, people were just conversing, talking, just doing what we’re doing. And he just came into all of us. There was a lot of people. We got told to move straight away. I was shocked, shocked, shocked. There were bodies around me. Thank God I just moved to the side, I just jumped. Everyone is hurt. Everyone is actually hurt,” an eyewitness told AP.

7:50 am: Transport for London agency issued an advisory to seek a different route around if travelling near Seven Sisters Road. “A503 Seven Sisters Rd is now closed N/B at Hornsey Rd & S/B at Rock St due to an emergency services incident. Seek alternative route,” the agency said.  Huge police operation is currently underway near the scene of the incident.

7: 43 am: According to Evening Standard newspaper has reported that at least one person was stabbed near the north London mosque late night on Sunday. According to the report, a man leapt out of the white van and stabbed a person.

Armed police officers attend to the scene after a vehicle collided with pedestrians in the Finsbury Park neighborhood of North London, Britain June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Neil Hall TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

7:42 am: London Ambulance also issued a statement on Twitter that they have employed various ambulance crews at the scene of the incident. “We have sent a number of ambulance crews, advance paramedics and specialist responses teams to the scene. An advance trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance has also been dispatched by car.” They

7:40 am: London Fire Brigade on Twitter said that they are sending several resources at the spot of the incident. According to CNN, the Metropolitan police said that it is too early to call it a terrorist attack and the one person arrested is believed to be the driver of the van.

7:35 am:  Meanwhile, according to report by MSNBC, New York Police Department said they will send officers to local mosques following the incident in London.

Police officers attend to the scene after a vehicle collided with pedestrians in the Finsbury Park neighborhood of North London, Britain June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Neil Hall

07:20 am: British police has described the accident as a “major incident” but have so far refrained from calling it a terrorist attack. They also said that one person has been arrested so far.

07:00 am: Muslim Council Board on Twitter said that several worshippers were run over outside a mosque in Finsbury Park in London.

6:50 am: Reports have come out that a van has rammed into several pedestrians outside a mosque in London. Since this is the Holy month of Ramazan, several people were gathered at the mosque to offer their prayers. Several people have been reportedly injured in the incident.

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