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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2017/jun/19/north-london-van-incident-finsbury-park-casualties-collides-pedestrians-live-updates
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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Finsbury Park attack: one dead in 'potential terrorist attack' near London mosque, PM says – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.35am BST | |
| 05:35 | |
| At least two witnesses told Sky News that there were three men in the van, but the Met Police statement seems to directly contradict that, saying no other suspects had been identified or reported to police. | |
| 5.34am BST | |
| 05:34 | |
| 5.26am BST | |
| 05:26 | |
| Dawn has broken in London. | |
| Much quieter at this cordon (armed police gone too) – but more of the scene visible in daylight. pic.twitter.com/SyBmiDOFtM | |
| 5.26am BST | |
| 05:26 | |
| The widowed husband of murdered MP Jo Cox has tweeted in the aftermath of the attack, saying that the far right and Islamist terrorists shared an ideology and both must be defeated. | |
| Far right facists&Islamist terrorists are driven by same hatred of difference, same ideology of supremacy&use same tactics.We'll defeat both | |
| When islamist terrorists attack we rightly seek out hate preachers who spur them on. We must do the same to those who peddle Islamophobia | |
| 5.15am BST | |
| 05:15 | |
| PM: police treating incident as 'potential terrorist attack' | |
| Prime minister Theresa May said police are treating the van incident near Finsbury Park “as a potential terrorist attack”, adding: “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.” | |
| 5.03am BST | |
| 05:03 | |
| The London Ambulance Service has given an update: | |
| We have taken 8 patients to hospital following the incident on #SevenSisters Road in #FinsburyPark https://t.co/oL75V7ZUWD pic.twitter.com/KQNcFumxIC | |
| 4.54am BST | 4.54am BST |
| 04:54 | 04:54 |
| One man confirmed to have died, eight people injured | One man confirmed to have died, eight people injured |
| Police have confirmed that one man was pronounced dead at the scene and eight were injured. More than three hours after their first statement, the Metropolitan Police put out its first full update confirming that counter-terrorism police were investigating and that the area had been designated as a crime scene. | |
| The injured have been taken to three separate hospitals; two people were treated at the scene for minor injuries. | The injured have been taken to three separate hospitals; two people were treated at the scene for minor injuries. |
| 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. | 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 statement said no other suspects at the scene have been identified or reported to police. “Due to the nature of this incident extra policing resources have been deployed in order to reassure communities, especially those observing Ramadan,” it said. | The statement said no other suspects at the scene have been identified or reported to police. “Due to the nature of this incident extra policing resources have been deployed in order to reassure communities, especially those observing Ramadan,” it said. |
| Any witnesses, or anyone with any information, can contact police via 101, or via Twitter @MetCC. To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org. | Any witnesses, or anyone with any information, can contact police via 101, or via Twitter @MetCC. To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.09am BST | |
| 4.45am BST | 4.45am BST |
| 04:45 | 04:45 |
| Muslim Council of Britain: perpetrator was 'motivated by Islamophobia' | Muslim Council of Britain: perpetrator was 'motivated by Islamophobia' |
| A statement from the Muslim Council of Britain has condemned the incident, noting it is “widely being described as a terror attack”. The statement said witness accounts described the van “intentionally ploughed into a group of worshippers who were already tending to someone who had been taken ill”. Harun Khan, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain said: | A statement from the Muslim Council of Britain has condemned the incident, noting it is “widely being described as a terror attack”. The statement said witness accounts described the van “intentionally ploughed into a group of worshippers who were already tending to someone who had been taken ill”. Harun Khan, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain said: |
| During the night, ordinary British citizens were set upon while they were going about their lives, completing their night worship. My prayers are with the victims and their families. It appears from eye witness accounts that the perpetrator was motivated by Islamophobia. | During the night, ordinary British citizens were set upon while they were going about their lives, completing their night worship. My prayers are with the victims and their families. It appears from eye witness accounts that the perpetrator was motivated by Islamophobia. |
| Over the past weeks and months, Muslims have endured many incidents of Islamophobia, and this is the most violent manifestation to date.Given we are approaching the end of the month of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid with many Muslims going to local mosques, we expect the authorities to increase security outside mosques as a matter of urgency.Muslim communities have been calling for increased action to tackle the growth in hate crime for many years and transformative action must now be taken to tackle not only this incident but the hugely worrying growth in Islamophobia.Many will feel terrorised, no doubt be angry and saddened by what has taken place tonight. We urge calm as the investigation establishes the full facts, and in these last days of Ramadan, pray for those affected and for justice.” | Over the past weeks and months, Muslims have endured many incidents of Islamophobia, and this is the most violent manifestation to date.Given we are approaching the end of the month of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid with many Muslims going to local mosques, we expect the authorities to increase security outside mosques as a matter of urgency.Muslim communities have been calling for increased action to tackle the growth in hate crime for many years and transformative action must now be taken to tackle not only this incident but the hugely worrying growth in Islamophobia.Many will feel terrorised, no doubt be angry and saddened by what has taken place tonight. We urge calm as the investigation establishes the full facts, and in these last days of Ramadan, pray for those affected and for justice.” |
| Police are yet to say whether the event in Finsbury Park constitutes a terrorist attack. | Police are yet to say whether the event in Finsbury Park constitutes a terrorist attack. |
| 4.36am BST | 4.36am BST |
| 04:36 | 04:36 |
| What we know so far | What we know so far |
| A van has driven into a crowd of worshippers after they left a mosque in north London in what police described as a “major incident”. | A van has driven into a crowd of worshippers after they left a mosque in north London in what police described as a “major incident”. |
| Police have confirmed a number of casualties after the collision which happened at about 12.20am on Monday. Witnesses reported seeing up to 10 injured. | Police have confirmed a number of casualties after the collision which happened at about 12.20am on Monday. Witnesses reported seeing up to 10 injured. |
| Police have not said whether this was a deliberate attack or a terrorist attack but counter-terrorism police are at the scene and witnesses have described the van swerving towards a group of people. | Police have not said whether this was a deliberate attack or a terrorist attack but counter-terrorism police are at the scene and witnesses have described the van swerving towards a group of people. |
| The white van hit people outside the Muslim Welfare House on Seven Sisters Road. Two witnesses reported seeing three people leave the van. | The white van hit people outside the Muslim Welfare House on Seven Sisters Road. Two witnesses reported seeing three people leave the van. |
| London Ambulance Service sent a number of crews to the scene including specialist paramedics. | London Ambulance Service sent a number of crews to the scene including specialist paramedics. |
| The Muslim Council of Great Britain said the van had run over worshippers. | The Muslim Council of Great Britain said the van had run over worshippers. |
| The streets were crowded because it was shortly after prayers had finished at nearby Finsbury Park mosque | The streets were crowded because it was shortly after prayers had finished at nearby Finsbury Park mosque |
| One man was arrested at the scene by the police. | One man was arrested at the scene by the police. |
| 4.22am BST | 4.22am BST |
| 04:22 | 04:22 |
| While we await an update from the police, who have not yet confirmed if this was a deliberate attack or terrorist incident, our reporters are talking to people on the scene, many of whom have described the van purposefully driving into a group who had left the mosque. | While we await an update from the police, who have not yet confirmed if this was a deliberate attack or terrorist incident, our reporters are talking to people on the scene, many of whom have described the van purposefully driving into a group who had left the mosque. |
| Abdikadir Warfa has told Guardian crime correspondent Vikram Dodd that he and and others caught hold of the van driver, who threw kicks and punches as he tried to escape. Mr Warfa said: | Abdikadir Warfa has told Guardian crime correspondent Vikram Dodd that he and and others caught hold of the van driver, who threw kicks and punches as he tried to escape. Mr Warfa said: |
| He tried to run away he tried to escape. Some people were hitting him he was fighting to run away. I heard the sound of the van crashing. One person was under the van, some were run over. | He tried to run away he tried to escape. Some people were hitting him he was fighting to run away. I heard the sound of the van crashing. One person was under the van, some were run over. |
| He said some of the people hit by the van were wearing Islamic clothing. | He said some of the people hit by the van were wearing Islamic clothing. |
| 4.12am BST | 4.12am BST |
| 04:12 | 04:12 |
| Finsbury Park – a typically diverse London suburb | Finsbury Park – a typically diverse London suburb |
| Martin Farrer | Martin Farrer |
| Finsbury Park is a typically diverse London suburb situated a few kilometres north of the city centre. It’s home to a wide variety of nationalities and although it is undergoing a lot of change through gentrification (a theatre has opened in recent years, Pret a Manger is on the way etc), it retains a strong working-class flavour and is characterised by people from all walks of life. | Finsbury Park is a typically diverse London suburb situated a few kilometres north of the city centre. It’s home to a wide variety of nationalities and although it is undergoing a lot of change through gentrification (a theatre has opened in recent years, Pret a Manger is on the way etc), it retains a strong working-class flavour and is characterised by people from all walks of life. |
| It’s perhaps best known as the home of Arsenal football club. On match days, the streets – and pubs – are surrendered to thousands of fans who are disgorged from the Tube and railway station to walk down the road to the Emirates stadium. | |
| It’s also the centre of London’s Algerian population, with the dense pocket of coffee shops and restaurants at the top of Blackstock Road known as “Little Algiers”, and before that was a popular landing point for Irish immigrants. | It’s also the centre of London’s Algerian population, with the dense pocket of coffee shops and restaurants at the top of Blackstock Road known as “Little Algiers”, and before that was a popular landing point for Irish immigrants. |
| Finsbury Park is also known as home to the mosque linked to the radical cleric Abu Hamza. The mosque’s current leaders have sought to purge its extremist past and have it removed from black lists. | Finsbury Park is also known as home to the mosque linked to the radical cleric Abu Hamza. The mosque’s current leaders have sought to purge its extremist past and have it removed from black lists. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.10am BST | |