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Man arrested after London mosque stabbing Man arrested after London mosque stabbing
(about 1 hour later)
Attempted murder inquiry launched after man allegedly stabbed in non-terror-related attack Attempted murder inquiry launched after man stabbed in non-terror-related attack
Scotland Yard has launched an investigation into the attempted murder of a man who was stabbed at a mosque during afternoon prayers. Scotland Yard has launched an investigation into the attempted murder of a man who was stabbed at a mosque during afternoon prayers before his attacker was wrestled to the ground by worshippers.
The mosque’s muezzin, who calls others to prayers, was said to have been stabbed in the neck, according to one witness who posted a video showing the alleged attacker being detained by police at London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park. The mosque’s muazzin, who calls others to prayers, was stabbed in the neck in front of hundreds of horrified onlookers at London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park, in what one witness described as “30 seconds of mayhem”.
The Metropolitan police confirmed the injured man was aged in his 70s. He had been assessed in hospital after being treated by paramedics at the scene and his condition was not life-threatening. Footage showed the alleged perpetrator, a 29-year-old man who is said to be a regular at the mosque, later being pinned to the ground by police.
A man, who one witness said was a regular at the mosque, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, police said. The victim, a man in his 70s who attended the mosque for 25 years, was rushed to hospital after being treated by paramedics at the scene. He was “seriously injured”, the mosque said, but his condition was not life-threatening.
“A 29-year-old man, who is believed to have been attending prayers, was arrested inside the mosque on suspicion of attempted murder. He has been taken into custody at a central London police station,” the Met said in a statement. “The incident is not being treated as terror-related at this time.” The Metropolitan police, who arrested the alleged attacker on suspicion of attempted murder, said they were not treating the incident as terror-related.
A Twitter user posted footage of a white man wearing a red top and jeans, sitting crossed-legged in the mosque, apparently being held in cuffs behind his back by a police officer. A Twitter user posted footage of a man wearing a red top and jeans, sitting crossed-legged in the mosque, apparently being held in cuffs behind his back by a police officer. The user said the victim had been taken to hospital after being “stabbed in the neck” during prayers.
The Twitter user said the victim had been taken to hospital after being “stabbed in the neck” during prayers. In a statement, the Met said: “A 29-year-old man, who is believed to have been attending prayers, was arrested inside the mosque on suspicion of attempted murder. He has been taken into custody at a central London police station. The incident is not being treated as terror-related at this time.”
One witness said the suspect had been a regular at the mosque, and had been seen there at least six months ago. One witness said the suspect had been a regular at the mosque, and had been seen there at least six months ago. Abi Watik, 59, said: “We were shocked. We didn’t know what was happening.”
Abi Watik, 59, said: “We were shocked. We didn’t know what was happening.”
He said the victim had been stabbed once in the right shoulder moments after prayers had started, and he believed the suspect had waited for that moment.He said the victim had been stabbed once in the right shoulder moments after prayers had started, and he believed the suspect had waited for that moment.
“It had just started and he was waiting for them to start. He was praying behind him and then he stabbed him. He [the suspect] was silent the whole time.”“It had just started and he was waiting for them to start. He was praying behind him and then he stabbed him. He [the suspect] was silent the whole time.”
Ayaz Ahmed, an adviser for the mosque, was doing the Asr afternoon prayer when the suspect attacked the victim, who was standing behind the imam. “It was during the first rakat of the prayer,” Ahmed said.
“We all tussled with him, a few hundred people were worshipping at the time. The muazzin has been here for 25 years, calling the prayer five times a day, he is very respected.
“The attacker is not known to us, a few have seen him before. I heard the scuffle, the muezzin yelled and screamed, the imam ended the prayer. It was 30 seconds of mayhem. He was stabbed on the right side of his neck.”
Boris Johnson tweeted that he was “deeply saddened” by the attack and added: “It’s so awful that this should happen, especially in a place of worship.”Boris Johnson tweeted that he was “deeply saddened” by the attack and added: “It’s so awful that this should happen, especially in a place of worship.”
Images posted on social media showed the alleged attacker, who was barefoot, being pinned to the floor of the mosque by police officers as worshippers looked on. In one video, a knife was seen on the floor under a plastic chair.Images posted on social media showed the alleged attacker, who was barefoot, being pinned to the floor of the mosque by police officers as worshippers looked on. In one video, a knife was seen on the floor under a plastic chair.
A statement on the mosque’s website confirmed the victim was calling worshippers to prayer. “There was an incident today at London Central Mosque where an unknown individual attacked and stabbed the muazzin (the person who makes the call to prayer) during Asr prayer around 3pm,” a statement said.
“The attacker was apprehended by the worshippers until the police arrived and arrested him. The muazzin did not sustain any life-threatening injuries but was seriously injured and is being treated at the hospital.
“We await further information from the police regarding the incident, our thoughts and prayers are with the Muazzin and his family.”
A Met spokesman said police were called to reports of a stabbing at the Park Road mosque at 3.10pm on Thursday.A Met spokesman said police were called to reports of a stabbing at the Park Road mosque at 3.10pm on Thursday.
“Officers attended along with paramedics from the London ambulance service. A man was found with stab injuries.“Officers attended along with paramedics from the London ambulance service. A man was found with stab injuries.
“He was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital … A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. A crime scene has been put in place. Inquiries continue.”“He was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital … A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. A crime scene has been put in place. Inquiries continue.”
The ambulance service said the victim had been taken to a major trauma centre.The ambulance service said the victim had been taken to a major trauma centre.
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.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.
“We treated a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre.”“We treated a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre.”