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Finsbury Park attack: Suspect named as Darren Osborne, 47-year-old who lives in Cardiff – latest updates | |
(35 minutes later) | |
5.50pm BST | |
17:50 | |
Labour MP Jo Stevens has issued an appeal for information after the alleged attacker was named as Darren Osborne, a resident of her Cardiff Central constituency. | |
Stevens said it was “deeply concerning’ that Osborne had lived in her constituency and urged users of social media to take care their comments did not prejudice any forthcoming criminal trial. | |
I am appealing to anyone who may have relevant information about the attack to let the police know immediately. | |
I am also appealing to everyone who uses social media, to please be aware that prejudicial tweets about the alleged attacker may constitute contempt of court, and could even lead to any prosecution or trial having to be abandoned. | |
5.43pm BST | |
17:43 | |
The anti-fascist campaign group Hope not Hate has said it fears the UK is entering a cycle of “tit-for-tat violence… where the extremes feed off one another, and terror attack propels terror attack.” | |
The organisation, which campaigns against the far right, said the sheer number of events meant “there can feel a dangerous sense of inevitability to all this”. | |
"It is time to remove the oxygen on which hate feeds online.” –@lowles_nick #FinsburyPark https://t.co/00Ax6YoHA7 pic.twitter.com/FvWetIhQtF | |
Hope not Hate, one of the co-organisers of the Great Get Together in memory of murdered MP Jo Cox, said the authorities needed to take further action against non-violent extremists who incite both far-right and Islamist-inspired violence. | |
The agendas of the Islamist extremists who carried out the Manchester and London Bridge attacks differ little from the far-right extremists who set out to target Muslims. | |
Both share a belief that Muslims and non-Muslims cannot live peacefully together and both use the existence of the other to justify their own warped world view. | |
The charity’s chief executive, Nick Lowles, said they would work to continue to deny platforms to extremists. | |
No community entire, no ‘people’, are to blame for the actions of a few. Muslims are not ‘taking over’, nor are Islamophobic extremists. It can be lost in the miasma of blame and smear that, in fact, the vast majority of the country rejects all extremes. | |
Today it is vital we show solidarity to those under attack, but in the longer term this is not enough. As a society we need to be more proactive and find better ways to defeat those who want to destroy our lives. | |
Updated | |
at 5.50pm BST | |
5.32pm BST | |
17:32 | |
Jessica Elgot | |
This is Jessica Elgot taking over the live blog now for the rest of the afternoon. I’ve just arrived back from a briefing at Downing Street after the prime minister visited Finsbury Park mosque. | |
No 10 gave a strong hint to reporters that new anti-terror measures to tackle online extremism – including far-right radicalisation – could be in the Queen’s speech on Wednesday. | |
Last week, May announced a UK-French initiative to explore creating a new legal liability for tech companies if they fail to remove inflammatory content, which could include penalties such as fines. | |
May also pledged during the election campaign that the government would develop tools with tech companies to crack down on online extremism. | |
On Monday, after May met community leaders in Finsbury Park following the van attack on worshippers leaving the mosque, Downing Street said the reforms were a priority for the government | |
“Extremism takes many forms and she has spelled out as a couple of weeks ago that we have plans to crack down on extremism, there is extremism on the internet of all kinds and we’ll be focusing on extremism of all kinds,” the prime minister’s spokesman said | |
“She was very clear that we are going to bring this work forward and we are going to focus on all forms of extremism.” | |
Downing Street would not commit to the final package being announced in the Queen’s speech however. “We are going to bring forward this work soon,” the spokesman said. | |
May is chairing a Cobra meeting this afternoon to be updated on the investigation into the attack, we’re expecting information from that later this evening. | |
Updated | |
at 5.42pm BST | |
5.18pm BST | |
17:18 | |
Finsbury Park attack suspect named | |
The Finsbury Park mosque attack suspect is understood to be Darren Osborne, a 47-year old living in Cardiff, Robert Booth, Steven Morris and Ian Cobain write. | |
The alleged attacker, who reportedly shouted “I want to kill all Muslims”, is reportedly a married father of four whose family are reported to be based in Weston-super-Mare. Police were on Monday searching an address in a cul-de-sac in the Llanedeyrn area, close to Cardiff golf club, in the north-east of the city suburbs. | |
Osborne was arrested by police on suspicion of attempted murder following the attack at shortly after midnight Monday. | |
Neighbours told of their shock after seeing pictures of Osborne being arrested by police. | |
Dave Ashford, 52, said: “Someone called me and said it was him and I said ‘It can’t be’. Then I saw the picture on the news and said, it’s him’.” | |
Pauline Tibbs, 48, said: “The police have been back and forward here all day. It’s a terrible shock. I’ve seen him walking in the street but never spoken to him.” | |
Updated | |
at 5.45pm BST | |
4.52pm BST | 4.52pm BST |
16:52 | 16:52 |
There is a discrepancy in the age of the man arrested. The police previously said he was 48 years old and have now corrected that to 47. He has not yet been named. | There is a discrepancy in the age of the man arrested. The police previously said he was 48 years old and have now corrected that to 47. He has not yet been named. |
4.47pm BST | 4.47pm BST |
16:47 | 16:47 |
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, says the Finsbury Park attack was aimed at “us all – our shared values of tolerance, freedom and respect”. Writing for the Guardian, he says: | The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, says the Finsbury Park attack was aimed at “us all – our shared values of tolerance, freedom and respect”. Writing for the Guardian, he says: |
We don’t yet know the full motivations behind it, but terrorism is terrorism – no matter the target and regardless of what inspires the sick and twisted perpetrators who carry out these evil crimes. | We don’t yet know the full motivations behind it, but terrorism is terrorism – no matter the target and regardless of what inspires the sick and twisted perpetrators who carry out these evil crimes. |
4.36pm BST | 4.36pm BST |
16:36 | 16:36 |
Arrested man now held on terror offences | Arrested man now held on terror offences |
The man arrested last night over the Finsbury Park attack is now being held on suspicion of terror offences, Scotland Yard says. | The man arrested last night over the Finsbury Park attack is now being held on suspicion of terror offences, Scotland Yard says. |
The 47-year-old was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was subsequently further arrested for the “commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism including murder and attempted murder”. | The 47-year-old was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was subsequently further arrested for the “commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism including murder and attempted murder”. |
Counter-terror police are appealing for witnesses following the terror attack on Seven Sisters Road, in north London. | Counter-terror police are appealing for witnesses following the terror attack on Seven Sisters Road, in north London. |
Police said they were called at 00.21 and declared they were treating the incident as a terror attack within eight minutes. They said eight people were injured and that the attack happened while a man was receiving first aid after being taken ill nearby. That man subsequently died and police said they were “continuing to establish whether there is any link between his death and the attack”. | Police said they were called at 00.21 and declared they were treating the incident as a terror attack within eight minutes. They said eight people were injured and that the attack happened while a man was receiving first aid after being taken ill nearby. That man subsequently died and police said they were “continuing to establish whether there is any link between his death and the attack”. |
Police said they believe the “suspect acted alone but we are of course investigating all the circumstances leading up to the attack”. Officers added that searches are being carried out at a residential address in the Cardiff area. The Met’s deputy assistant commissioner, Neil Basu, said: | Police said they believe the “suspect acted alone but we are of course investigating all the circumstances leading up to the attack”. Officers added that searches are being carried out at a residential address in the Cardiff area. The Met’s deputy assistant commissioner, Neil Basu, said: |
Our thoughts are with all those affected by the incident at Seven Sisters Road and their families, friends and communities. | Our thoughts are with all those affected by the incident at Seven Sisters Road and their families, friends and communities. |
This is being treated as a terrorist incident and is being investigated by the Counter Terrorism Command. The investigation is ongoing and we are working fast to know the full details of how and why this took place. | This is being treated as a terrorist incident and is being investigated by the Counter Terrorism Command. The investigation is ongoing and we are working fast to know the full details of how and why this took place. |
All the victims were from the Muslim community and we will be deploying extra police patrols to reassure the public, especially those observing Ramadan. | All the victims were from the Muslim community and we will be deploying extra police patrols to reassure the public, especially those observing Ramadan. |
We are working hard to protect all communities and the public will see additional officers patrolling across the city and at Muslim places of worship. This was an attack on London and all Londoners. We should all stand together against extremists whatever their cause. | We are working hard to protect all communities and the public will see additional officers patrolling across the city and at Muslim places of worship. This was an attack on London and all Londoners. We should all stand together against extremists whatever their cause. |
Updated | Updated |
at 4.42pm BST | at 4.42pm BST |
4.29pm BST | 4.29pm BST |
16:29 | 16:29 |
Weyman Bennett, the head of Unite Against Fascism, said Finsbury Park mosque has been threatened or attacked at least twice in recent years. | Weyman Bennett, the head of Unite Against Fascism, said Finsbury Park mosque has been threatened or attacked at least twice in recent years. |
“It was one of the mosques to be sent white powder last year, and two years ago it was targeted with a makeshift petrol bomb. There’s been a consistent attempt by people to attack the mosque. I think it’s a consequence of increasing Islamophobia.” | “It was one of the mosques to be sent white powder last year, and two years ago it was targeted with a makeshift petrol bomb. There’s been a consistent attempt by people to attack the mosque. I think it’s a consequence of increasing Islamophobia.” |
There had been a little-noticed increase in attacks on the Muslim community recently, he said, partly due to how reporting of recent terror attacks had been “framed around the narrative of Islam”. | There had been a little-noticed increase in attacks on the Muslim community recently, he said, partly due to how reporting of recent terror attacks had been “framed around the narrative of Islam”. |
He added: “I also think Theresa May’s language after the last London attacks was inflammatory … she said there were safe spaces that we tolerate and specifically, she talked about tearing up the Human Rights Act as if they [the terrorists] were being protected by the Muslim community.” This rhetoric had “poisoned” the election, he said. | He added: “I also think Theresa May’s language after the last London attacks was inflammatory … she said there were safe spaces that we tolerate and specifically, she talked about tearing up the Human Rights Act as if they [the terrorists] were being protected by the Muslim community.” This rhetoric had “poisoned” the election, he said. |
Updated | Updated |
at 4.48pm BST | at 4.48pm BST |
4.11pm BST | 4.11pm BST |
16:11 | 16:11 |
Shaukat Warraich from Faith Associates, which trains mosques in charity governance and security plans, has been speaking to my colleague Damien Gayle outside the Finsbury Park mosque about the growing threat faced by Muslim communities in the UK. Warraich said: | Shaukat Warraich from Faith Associates, which trains mosques in charity governance and security plans, has been speaking to my colleague Damien Gayle outside the Finsbury Park mosque about the growing threat faced by Muslim communities in the UK. Warraich said: |
We have spoken to people that have left the far right and the far right have openly told us that they see mosques as easy targets. They have been surveilling mosques, watching them, seeing what time they pray. Especially if there is a pub across the road, they have been watching them. | We have spoken to people that have left the far right and the far right have openly told us that they see mosques as easy targets. They have been surveilling mosques, watching them, seeing what time they pray. Especially if there is a pub across the road, they have been watching them. |
Mosques are easy targets because they are not protected. There is no security, like Jewish people who have security guards on the door; mosques are very open buildings. | Mosques are easy targets because they are not protected. There is no security, like Jewish people who have security guards on the door; mosques are very open buildings. |
We have met people who said,. ‘When we were in the far right we were looking for ways to attack mosques.’ | We have met people who said,. ‘When we were in the far right we were looking for ways to attack mosques.’ |
Warraich said that many Islamophobic incidents went unreported. | Warraich said that many Islamophobic incidents went unreported. |
People are saying it’s a small issue, let’s not make a big deal about it. People will throw a piece of bacon over the fence … We are advising that everything that happens you must report it, it’s important that local police build up a picture. | People are saying it’s a small issue, let’s not make a big deal about it. People will throw a piece of bacon over the fence … We are advising that everything that happens you must report it, it’s important that local police build up a picture. |
"Mosques are easy targets because they're not protected." Shaukat Warraich of @FaithAssociates, which advises mosques on security pic.twitter.com/cIDtNEDiGJ | "Mosques are easy targets because they're not protected." Shaukat Warraich of @FaithAssociates, which advises mosques on security pic.twitter.com/cIDtNEDiGJ |
Updated | Updated |
at 4.49pm BST | at 4.49pm BST |
4.05pm BST | 4.05pm BST |
16:05 | 16:05 |
The faiths forum for London is organising a vigil at the Finsbury Park mosque this evening. | The faiths forum for London is organising a vigil at the Finsbury Park mosque this evening. |
#finsburypark for those wanting to stand in solidarity @LondonFaiths @hopenothate pic.twitter.com/VxfSQBLXi2 | #finsburypark for those wanting to stand in solidarity @LondonFaiths @hopenothate pic.twitter.com/VxfSQBLXi2 |
3.51pm BST | 3.51pm BST |
15:51 | 15:51 |
The National Front in Wales has denied any connection with the Finsbury Park suspected attacker, after it emerged the suspect hired the van used in the attack from Pontyclun in south Wales, according to my colleague Robert Booth. | The National Front in Wales has denied any connection with the Finsbury Park suspected attacker, after it emerged the suspect hired the van used in the attack from Pontyclun in south Wales, according to my colleague Robert Booth. |
In response to an inquiry from the Guardian, the Welsh regional organiser of the far-right party, Adam Lloyd, described him as a “lunatic” but said: “The man in question is not known to any of us here in South Wales National Front, and to our knowledge is not and never has been a member.” | In response to an inquiry from the Guardian, the Welsh regional organiser of the far-right party, Adam Lloyd, described him as a “lunatic” but said: “The man in question is not known to any of us here in South Wales National Front, and to our knowledge is not and never has been a member.” |
However, Lloyd added: “Although we will never condone or accept this kind of violent attacks here in SWNF, anyone with a right mind can see this is not a terrorist attack but a revenge attack. | However, Lloyd added: “Although we will never condone or accept this kind of violent attacks here in SWNF, anyone with a right mind can see this is not a terrorist attack but a revenge attack. |
“Incidents like this are only going to increase as two different cultures clash thanks to the failed multicultural and multiracial experiment forced on us by successive corrupt governments.” | “Incidents like this are only going to increase as two different cultures clash thanks to the failed multicultural and multiracial experiment forced on us by successive corrupt governments.” |
Lloyd stood for election to Bridgend council in May, but came last with only 21 votes. | Lloyd stood for election to Bridgend council in May, but came last with only 21 votes. |
Updated | Updated |
at 4.05pm BST | at 4.05pm BST |
3.35pm BST | 3.35pm BST |
15:35 | 15:35 |
My colleague Vikram Dodd has just sent news of a bomb scare at another mosque in London. | My colleague Vikram Dodd has just sent news of a bomb scare at another mosque in London. |
East London mosque has been evacuated after a bomb scare. They have just been given the all clear after police investigated. It shows the level of anxiety in British Muslim communities after the Finsbury Park attack. | East London mosque has been evacuated after a bomb scare. They have just been given the all clear after police investigated. It shows the level of anxiety in British Muslim communities after the Finsbury Park attack. |
Updated | Updated |
at 3.42pm BST | at 3.42pm BST |