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| London Central Mosque stabbing: Man is arrested | London Central Mosque stabbing: Man is arrested |
| (about 1 hour 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, in his 70s, was injured in an attack at 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. |
| A 29-year-old man was apprehended by worshippers who broke from prayer to restrain him until police arrived. | 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 muezzin, the person who makes the call to prayer, and he had been stabbed shortly after 15:00 GMT during afternoon prayer. | In a statement, the mosque said the injured man was the muezzin, the person who makes the call to prayer, and he had been stabbed shortly after 15:00 GMT during afternoon prayer. |
| The mosque's director general, Dr Ahmad Dubayan said he had a brief phone conversation with the muezzin in hospital, who said he was "okay and feeling well". | |
| Ayaz Ahmad, an adviser to the mosque, said the stabbing "would have been life-threatening if it wasn't for the worshippers". | 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. |
| Mustafa Field, director of the Faiths Forum for London, told reporters the attack was "one stab, one strike, around the neck" of the victim. | 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 said: "Then the congregation members, some of them broke their prayers, and intervened, restrained the individual." | |
| Abi Watik, who witnessed the attack, said the arrested man had been seen at the mosque previously and the muezzin was stabbed once in the shoulder. | Abi Watik, who witnessed the attack, said the arrested man had been seen at the mosque previously and the muezzin was stabbed once in the shoulder. |
| "He was praying behind him [the muezzin] and then he stabbed him. | "He was praying behind him [the muezzin] and then he stabbed him. |
| "He was waiting for him I think to start praying. He was right behind him." | "He was waiting for him I think to start praying. He was right behind him." |
| The 59-year-old added that the suspect "was silent the whole time". | The 59-year-old added that the suspect "was silent the whole time". |
| Dr Dubayan said: "We are so sad about what has happened and we hope it's just one off incident, not related or motivated by any kind of hatred." | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Police believe the attack was an isolated incident and have increased patrols around the area to "provide reassurance to worshippers and the local community". | |
| Ch Supt Helen Harpe said: "A 29-year-old man was arrested at the scene and he has been taken into custody. | |
| "The man is believed to have been attending prayers inside the mosque. | |
| "This incident has undoubtedly caused a great deal of concern and we are working as swiftly as possible to establish the circumstances." | |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted 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. | 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. | "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. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |