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Finsbury Park terror attack: 'Every bit as sickening' as previous attacks, says Theresa May – latest updates Finsbury Park terror attack: 'Every bit as sickening' as previous attacks, says Theresa May – latest updates
(35 minutes later)
12.35pm BST
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The van hire company whose vehicle was involved in the attack has issued a statement. It said:
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.
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What we know so far
Police have confirmed they are investigating a terror attack in London after a van ploughed into people near a north London mosque, leaving one person dead and injuring eight others. A 48-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and two of those hit by the van were said to be “very seriously injured”.
Witnesses said the driver had shouted “I want to kill all Muslims” before onlookers pinned him to the ground. The suspect was protected by a local imam after being pinned down by members of the Muslim community.
Theresa May has vowed that “hatred and evil” of the kind seen in the attack on a north London mosque will never succeed. May said that the attack on Muslims was “every bit as insidious and destructive to our values and our way of life” as the recent string of terror attacks apparently motivated by Islamist extremism.
Labour leader and local MP Jeremy Corbyn spent much of the early morning at Muslim Welfare House, where the attack took place. He said: “I see it this is a terror on the streets ... in the communities ... We have to all reach out and feel their pain and their stress.”
Police said it was too early to state if the man who died at the scene was killed in the attack. He was being helped when the van ploughed into pedestrians. All of the victims of the attack, including two who are in a critical condition, are from the Muslim community.
The suspected attacker, who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, waved to the crowd as he was led away. The van involved in the attack is marked with the livery of the hire company which is based on an industrial estate close to the M4 12 miles west of Cardiff.
White supremacists have celebrated the attack, according to the US extremist monitoring group Site. It also said pro-Islamic State channels are using reports of the incident to incite Muslims.
Muslim leaders have reacted with shock, condemnation and calls for security at mosques to be stepped up. Many also said the backdrop of the attack was rising Islamophobia.Support also came from Christian, Jewish and Sikh leaders.
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Here’s a visual guide to how the attack unfolded:
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Footage of suspect waving as he was led away
This footage shows the man suspected of carrying out the Finsbury Park attack waving to the crowd as he was put into a police van.
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Here’s PA’s first take on the prime minister’s statement:
Theresa May has vowed that “hatred and evil” of the kind seen in the attack on a north London mosque will never succeed.
The prime minister was speaking following a meeting with security officials and ministers in the government’s Cobra emergency committee in Whitehall.
She confirmed that police believe the man who drove a van into worshippers outside Finsbury Park mosque in the early hours of Monday acted alone.
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, May said the attack had “once again targeted the ordinary and the innocent going about their daily lives – this time, British Muslims as they left a mosque, having broken their fast and prayed together at this sacred time of year”.
She added: “Today we come together, as we have done before, to condemn this act and to state once again that hatred and evil of this kind will never succeed.”
May said that the attack on Muslims was “every bit as insidious and destructive to our values and our way of life” as the recent string of terror attacks apparently motivated by Islamist extremism, adding: “We will stop at nothing to defeat it.”
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The BBC has footage of the suspected attacker being pinned to the ground by members of the Muslim community.
Footage shows the moment crowds restrain man suspected of driving van into pedestrians near #FinsburyPark mosquehttps://t.co/CBG8mzBpgY pic.twitter.com/NtYoQbLGXC
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Here’s audio of the prime minister’s statement:Here’s audio of the prime minister’s statement:
There’s more on our Politics Live blog.There’s more on our Politics Live blog.
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at 12.01pm BSTat 12.01pm BST
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Three men who say they helped to restrain the suspect in the attack near a north London mosque have praised an imam who urged the crowd not to do him any harm.Three men who say they helped to restrain the suspect in the attack near a north London mosque have praised an imam who urged the crowd not to do him any harm.
After a van ploughed into a group of people in Finsbury Park, members of the public wrestled the suspect to the ground. Then an imam from the Muslim Welfare House urged the crowd to remain calm.After a van ploughed into a group of people in Finsbury Park, members of the public wrestled the suspect to the ground. Then an imam from the Muslim Welfare House urged the crowd to remain calm.
“The imam came from the mosque and he said, ‘Listen we are fasting, this is Ramadan, we are not supposed to do these kinds of things so please step back,’” said Mohammed, one of three men who were sitting outside a nearby coffee shop on Monday morning and said that they had played a part in holding the man down.“The imam came from the mosque and he said, ‘Listen we are fasting, this is Ramadan, we are not supposed to do these kinds of things so please step back,’” said Mohammed, one of three men who were sitting outside a nearby coffee shop on Monday morning and said that they had played a part in holding the man down.
“For that reason this guy is still alive today,” the cafe owner, 29, went on. “This is the only reason. If the imam was not there he wouldn’t be here today.”“For that reason this guy is still alive today,” the cafe owner, 29, went on. “This is the only reason. If the imam was not there he wouldn’t be here today.”
The imam was named by the Muslim Welfare House as Mohammed Mahmoud. In a statement Toufik Kacimi, the mosque and welfare centre’s chief executive, praised Mahmoud’s bravery which he said “helped calm the immediate situation after the incident and prevented further injuries and potential loss of life”.The imam was named by the Muslim Welfare House as Mohammed Mahmoud. In a statement Toufik Kacimi, the mosque and welfare centre’s chief executive, praised Mahmoud’s bravery which he said “helped calm the immediate situation after the incident and prevented further injuries and potential loss of life”.
Footage on mobile phones at the scene when the man was being held on the ground captures the voice of a man shouting: “No one touch him – no-one! No-one!”Footage on mobile phones at the scene when the man was being held on the ground captures the voice of a man shouting: “No one touch him – no-one! No-one!”
Other witnesses corroborated the cafe owner Mohammed’s account of the incident. Adil Rana, 24, who was outside the mosque when the van drove towards the crowd, said that initially, some people had attacked the suspect. “The driver jumped out and then he was pinned down to the floor and people were punching him and beating him, which was reasonable because of what he’s done,” he said. “And then the imam of the mosque actually came out and said: ‘Don’t hit him, hand him over to the police, pin him down.’”Other witnesses corroborated the cafe owner Mohammed’s account of the incident. Adil Rana, 24, who was outside the mosque when the van drove towards the crowd, said that initially, some people had attacked the suspect. “The driver jumped out and then he was pinned down to the floor and people were punching him and beating him, which was reasonable because of what he’s done,” he said. “And then the imam of the mosque actually came out and said: ‘Don’t hit him, hand him over to the police, pin him down.’”
Hussain Ali, 28, said: “The leader of the mosque said: ‘You do not touch him’. He was sitting and holding him like that, people kept holding him.”Hussain Ali, 28, said: “The leader of the mosque said: ‘You do not touch him’. He was sitting and holding him like that, people kept holding him.”
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May pays tribute to the “extraordinary” people of London. She praises the way the public detained the attacker, just as others had tackled the attackers on London Bridge, and the way the community had come together in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire.May pays tribute to the “extraordinary” people of London. She praises the way the public detained the attacker, just as others had tackled the attackers on London Bridge, and the way the community had come together in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire.
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at 12.01pm BSTat 12.01pm BST
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May: attack is 'sickening'May: attack is 'sickening'
Theresa May is giving a statement in Downing Street. She says the attack is “every bit as sickening” as the other recent terrorist attacks.Theresa May is giving a statement in Downing Street. She says the attack is “every bit as sickening” as the other recent terrorist attacks.
Police declared it a terrorist incident within eight minutes, May says.Police declared it a terrorist incident within eight minutes, May says.
The 48-year-old suspect attacker was “bravely” detained by members of the public, she adds.The 48-year-old suspect attacker was “bravely” detained by members of the public, she adds.
“This was an attack on Muslims near their place of worship … And like all acts of terrorism it seeks to drive us apart,” she says.“This was an attack on Muslims near their place of worship … And like all acts of terrorism it seeks to drive us apart,” she says.
The attacker is a reminder that extremism and hatred takes many forms.The attacker is a reminder that extremism and hatred takes many forms.
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Alice RossAlice Ross
There is significant anger and mistrust of the media among some members of Finsbury Park’s Muslim community.There is significant anger and mistrust of the media among some members of Finsbury Park’s Muslim community.
Many people are reluctant to provide their names when speaking to reporters, and will refuse to speak to certain outlets. Ali Habib, 23, a student union organiser who lives in the area, said that lingering negative media reporting about Finsbury Park mosque, after its association with Abu Hamza, has created a sense of threat. Many people are reluctant to provide their names when speaking to reporters, and will refuse to speak to certain outlets. Ali Habib, 23, a student union organiser who lives in the area, said that lingering negative media reporting about Finsbury Park mosque, after its association with Abu Hamza, had created a sense of threat.
He said: “Two years ago they threw petrol bombs at Finsbury Park mosque when people were praying. When that happened, we thought it was just an incident that would never happen again.”He said: “Two years ago they threw petrol bombs at Finsbury Park mosque when people were praying. When that happened, we thought it was just an incident that would never happen again.”
In the immediate aftermath of last night’s attack, he added: “In the first instance as soon as it was reported, the Daily Mail came here talking about Abu Hamza: they were calling it a revenge attack.” In the aftermath of last night’s attack, he added: “In the first instance as soon as it was reported, the Daily Mail came here talking about Abu Hamza: they were calling it a revenge attack.”
On social media he saw it referred to as having a troubled past, he said. “It’s not the same mosque.”On social media he saw it referred to as having a troubled past, he said. “It’s not the same mosque.”
The way the attack was reported in the immediate aftermath meant “there’s a lot of anger about the media,” Habib said.The way the attack was reported in the immediate aftermath meant “there’s a lot of anger about the media,” Habib said.
“The BBC was talking about a fish market and Brexit... a lot of people here feel neglected.” “The BBC was talking about a fish market and Brexit … a lot of people here feel neglected.
He added: “There were people there I know who didn’t know where their families were, so the media was like a spit in the face.” Youth from the area, who are usually portrayed negatively in the media, were the ones who conducted the citizen’s arrest and helped lift the lorry to rescue a man trapped underneath, he pointed out. “There were people there I know who didn’t know where their families were, so the media was like a spit in the face.”
“Orthodox Jews and Muslims were all together (on the cordon) but we didn’t see the media reporting that last night.” Habib added that within the community “they are waiting to see if the PM’s going to react the way she had in the past.” Youth from the area, who are usually portrayed negatively in the media, were the ones who had conducted the citizen’s arrest and helped lift the lorry to rescue a man trapped underneath, he pointed out.
“Orthodox Jews and Muslims were all together [on the cordon] but we didn’t see the media reporting that last night.” Habib added that within the community “they are waiting to see if the PM’s going to react the way she had in the past”.
Jeremy Corbyn, the local MP, is currently at the site and had a statement out within the hour, Habib noted. But he had also taken an interest in the community before the apparent attack.Jeremy Corbyn, the local MP, is currently at the site and had a statement out within the hour, Habib noted. But he had also taken an interest in the community before the apparent attack.
“He broke fast with the local community five days ago in the Finsbury Park mosque,” he said. The apparent targeting of the Muslim community at the height of Ramadan has shocked the community, he added.“He broke fast with the local community five days ago in the Finsbury Park mosque,” he said. The apparent targeting of the Muslim community at the height of Ramadan has shocked the community, he added.
“A lot of the time people are saying Islamophobia isn’t real, but this time it’s actually killed someone and injured others...There are kids who grew up (watching this) on TV and never expected it to happen in their own backyard,” he said. “A lot of the time people are saying Islamophobia isn’t real, but this time it’s actually killed someone and injured others … There are kids who grew up [watching this] on TV and never expected it to happen in their own backyard,” he said.
Some key reading material to understand #FinsburyPark attack. pic.twitter.com/vXfSvC65IKSome key reading material to understand #FinsburyPark attack. pic.twitter.com/vXfSvC65IK
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at 11.46am BST at 12.05pm BST
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White supremacists have celebrated the attack, according to the US extremist monitoring group Site.White supremacists have celebrated the attack, according to the US extremist monitoring group Site.
One declared it as “hope for the British,” Site reported.One declared it as “hope for the British,” Site reported.
White Supremacists Celebrate Car Ramming Pedestrians Near #London Mosque in #FinsburyPark, Claim There May be... https://t.co/50iOJnXtBS pic.twitter.com/NKv6q8ESzMWhite Supremacists Celebrate Car Ramming Pedestrians Near #London Mosque in #FinsburyPark, Claim There May be... https://t.co/50iOJnXtBS pic.twitter.com/NKv6q8ESzM
The attack was also reportedly praised on the Facebook site of the the far right group Britain First. The attack was also reportedly praised on the Facebook site of the far-right group Britain First.
Appalling comments on #BritainFirst's #Facebook post https://t.co/1N7gKywoKV regarding #FinsburyParkattack @TellMamaUK #FinsburyPark pic.twitter.com/SOxYunlnmNAppalling comments on #BritainFirst's #Facebook post https://t.co/1N7gKywoKV regarding #FinsburyParkattack @TellMamaUK #FinsburyPark pic.twitter.com/SOxYunlnmN
The monitoring group Site also reported that pro-Islamic State channels are using reports of the incident in Finsbury Park to incite Muslims (see earlier). Site also reported that pro-Islamic State channels are using reports of the incident in Finsbury Park to incite Muslims (see earlier).
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.40am BST at 12.06pm BST
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Harriet Sherwood
Human Appeal, the UK’s fastest growing Muslim charity, had a live television appeal on the Islam channel on Sunday night to raise money for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. Moments before the attack in north London, a representative of the Finsbury Park mosque, across the road from the Muslim Welfare House, called to say the community had raised £3,500 for those killed, injured and displaced by the inferno.
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Theresa May is about to give a statement in Downing Street about the Finsbury Park attack after chairing a meeting of the government’s emergency committee, Cobra.
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Harriet Sherwood
Ephraim Mirvis, the chief rabbi, said:
“It is heartbreaking to hear of yet another deadly attack on the streets of London, this time targeting Muslims who had been at prayer. This is a painful illustration of why we must never allow hatred to breed hatred. It creates a downward spiral of violence and terror with only further death and greater destruction.
“As ever, our thoughts and prayers are with those affected and may each of us resolve to respond to this latest tragedy with the same compassion and determination not to be divided, which has defined our society over recent months.”
Horrific attack at #finsburypark a painful illustration of why we must never allow hatred to breed hatred. Thoughts with all those affected.
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Harriet Sherwood
More Christian leaders have offered prayers and support for Finsbury Park’s Muslim community.
Adrian Newman, the bishop of Stepney, said: “An attack on any faith is an attack on us all. As a church, we stand together with Finsbury Park mosque, in the wake of this morning’s appalling news. It sadly comes after a weekend, in memory of Jo Cox MP, that celebrated all that brings us together, and I know that the mosque, hand in hand with other local faith and community groups, was at the heart of events in the Finsbury Park area.”
Local churches would be available to help the mosque, he added. “We will not be cowed by those who seek to terrorise our communities.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Catholic archbishop of Westminster, said he was “appalled at the deliberate attack on people leaving their late-night prayers, as the end of their day of fasting, at the mosque in Finsbury Park. I have assured the leadership of the mosque and the Muslim Welfare Centre of our prayers and support.
“Violence breeds violence. Hatred breeds hatred. Every one of us must repudiate hatred and violence from our words and actions. We must all be builders of understanding, compassion and peace, day by day, in our homes, our work and our communities. That is the only way.”
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Javid: ‘this is hate crime attack’
The communities secretary, Sajid Javid, has been at the scene to express the government’s solidarity with the Muslim community.
Speaking to BBC News, he said: “I’m here to reassure first the local Muslim community and Muslims across Britain that we will always, as a government, take a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime … clearly, what we’ve seen and what we know already this is a hate crime attack.”
Javid added: “The Muslim community has our full support in every way, but I also want to learn from the community here what more we can do to reassure them at this very difficult time.”
The speed of Javid’s visit to the scene is in marked contrast to the government’s response to the Grenfell Tower fire last week, when the prime minister was criticised for failing to meet residents.
Javid added: “There is a meeting that the prime minister is chairing right now of the emergency Cobra committee to see what other response we can have that can help.”
Sajid Javid comforts a Muslim woman in Finsbury Park who says she no longer feels safe. "Stay strong" he tells her. @lbc pic.twitter.com/D6ydB1Kmzb
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Police are standing guard outside Pontyclun Van Hire in south Wales.
The van involved is marked with the livery of the hire company which is based on an industrial estate close to the M4 12 miles west of Cardiff.
A woman who answered the phone at the hire company’s offices said: “We’re not allowed to make any comment. You’ll have to try back later.”
With its headquarters on the East Side Cambrian Industrial Estate, the company has been established for 25 years. Its website says it provides “quality vans, trucks and other vehicles for hire in the south Wales area.”
The hire company serves a wide area. It is at the foot of the Rhondda Valley; the market town of Cowbridge is six miles south while Brigend is 10 miles west.
Pont-y-Clun itself is a bustling village. Its population has risen sharply in recent years with people moving out of Cardiff to find more affordable accommodation – and others moving from the valleys to get within easy commuting distance of the Welsh capital.
Finsbury Park attack - Pontyclun van hire in South Wales pic.twitter.com/3QINx8INZP
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Corbyn: 'we all have to reach out to feel their pain and stress'
Corbyn said he was contacted by Downing Street in the early hours of the morning but has yet to talk to the prime minister about the attack.
Speaking at the scene he said:
This was a van driven into a crowd of people attending a man who was already injured. They were coming home from night time prayers in the mosque. As I see it this is a terror on the streets ... in the communities.
Downing Street have been in touch with us and I was speaking to the mayor of London Sadiq Khan as well, we had a long conversation at about 4 o’clock this morning while I was in Muslim Welfare House so we were making sure that the response was efficient and coordinated and also to give reassure to the community.
I haven’t spoken to her [Theresa May] directly, but our offices have been in touch and she has expressed her condolences for the death and also concerns about what happened last night.
Asked if the prime minister should attend the scene, Corbyn said: “It is not up to me what the prime minister does. I’m the local MP. And I’m obviously here as you would expect any constituency MP to be present. These are people who I have represented for more than 35 years. I know many of them extremely well. And I feel their pain today and I feel their stress today. We have to all reach out and feel their pain and their stress.”
He added:
“I’ve met both last night and this morning people who were just frightened, were just frightened that something like this could happen again. We obviously need efficient and effective policing we obviously need an attitude in our society of support for each other. The only way to deal with kind of issue is communities coming together.
“This is a very multi-faith community - Christians, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, all live around here. This is a microcosm of a community working together.
“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 each other’s way of life. That’s what makes us a strong society and community.”
Asked if the police could do more to protect the area, Corbyn said: “I’m not complaining at all about the local police. They in fact have worked very well together with both the mosques in Finsbury Park to make sure they have the support they need.”
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The communities secretary, Sajid Javid, has also been filmed at the scene. He was shown on BBC News entering the police cordon with the police.
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Corbyn at the scene
Local MP and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is at the scene. Speaking to Sky News he confirmed he visited the aftermath of the attack last night. He said:
I live down there on Seven Sisters Road and, obviously, I was aware of incident very quickly. There was a number of police vehicles and a helicopter overhead. I know the people in Muslim Welfare House and the mosque extremely well, and the community very well.
I came here last night to talk to the police and the firefighters and ambulance who were here. I have to say the response by all three emergency services was very timely and very quick. And the police managed to arrest the suspect who was driving the van and take him away from the area. And sadly, the gentleman who died [his] body was on the ground and was covered respectfully by a tent so that forensic examination could take place.
Police updating Corbyn on #FinsburyParkattack – Corbyn also appears to be speaking to locals behind cordon. pic.twitter.com/lC14VvJl0i
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There has been widespread condemnation from political leaders past and present.
The Finsbury Park attack is senseless barbarism. My thoughts and prayers are with all involved. Yet again the emergency services are heroes.
Appalling terrorist attack against Muslims worshipping peacefully in Finsbury Park. We must all stand together against such evil.
Horrified by the appalling attack in Finsbury Park.The country stands with all those affected:the victims, their families and the community.
A sickening attack on worshippers at #FinsburyPark mosque. All my thoughts are with victims, family & friends.
This horrible terrorist attack at Finsbury Park last night is truly shocking. My thoughts are with those affected. We must remain united.