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London Central Mosque stabbing: Man is arrested London Central Mosque stabbing: Man is arrested
(30 minutes later)
A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a stabbing inside a central London mosque.A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a stabbing inside a central London mosque.
The victim, who is in his 70s, was found seriously injured after emergency services were called to the London Central Mosque in Park Road, near Regent's Park, at 15:10 GMT. The victim, in his 70s, was injured in an attack at the London Central Mosque, near Regent's Park, which police are not treating as terror-related.
He was taken to hospital by paramedics where his condition has been assessed as non-life threatening.He was taken to hospital by paramedics where his condition has been assessed as non-life threatening.
The Met Police said the attack is not being treated as terror related. A 29-year-old man was apprehended by worshippers who broke from prayer to restrain him until police arrived.
In a statement, the mosque said the injured man was the muazzin, the person who makes the call to prayer, and he had been stabbed during Asr Prayer. In a statement, the mosque said the injured man was the muazzin, the person who makes the call to prayer, and he had been stabbed shortly after 15:00 GMT during afternoon prayer.
Worshippers had apprehended the attacker before police arrived, the statement added. Ayaz Ahmad, an adviser to the mosque, said the stabbing "would have been life-threatening if it wasn't for the worshippers".
Images from inside the mosque showed a white man wearing a red hooded top, jeans and with bare feet being pinned to the floor by police officers.Images from inside the mosque showed a white man wearing a red hooded top, jeans and with bare feet being pinned to the floor by police officers.
One video showed a knife on the floor under a plastic chair.One video showed a knife on the floor under a plastic chair.
Abi Watik, who witnessed the attack, said the arrested man had been a regular at the mosque for several months and the muazzin was stabbed once in the shoulder. Mustafa Field, director of the Faiths Forum for London, told reporters the attack was "one stab, one strike, around the neck" of the victim.
"He was praying behind him [the muazzin] and then he stabbed him". The 59-year-old added that the suspect "was silent the whole time". He said: "Then the congregation members, some of them broke their prayers, and intervened, restrained the individual.
The London Ambulance Service said the injured man has been taken to a major trauma centre. Abi Watik, who witnessed the attack, said the arrested man had been seen at the mosque previously and the muazzin was stabbed once in the shoulder.
The service tweeted: "We sent an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a car and an advanced paramedic practitioner to this incident in Regent's Park. "He was praying behind him [the muazzin] and then he stabbed him.
"We treated a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre." "He was waiting for him I think to start praying. He was right behind him."
Miqdaad Versi, from the Muslim Council of Britain, said he had been told by people inside the mosque that the attack took place while preparations were being made for afternoon prayers. The 59-year-old added that the suspect "was silent the whole time".
"It is deeply concerning that this has happened... Given other recent attacks elsewhere many Muslims are on edge," he said. Miqdaad Versi, from the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "It is deeply concerning that this has happened... Given other recent attacks elsewhere, many Muslims are on edge," he said.
Prime minister Boris Johnson tweeted that he was "deeply saddened" by the stabbing and his "thoughts are with the victim and all those affected". Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted he was "deeply saddened" by the stabbing and his "thoughts are with the victim and all those affected".
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the Met Police would be "providing extra resources in the area" following the attack.
"Every Londoner is entitled to feel safe in their place of worship," he tweeted.
Are you in the area? Did you witness the incident? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the area? Did you witness the incident? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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