#FinsburyParkMosque: One dead and ten injured in London terror attack

On 19 June, at approximately 12:15am BST, a van was driven into pedestrians in Finsbury Park, London, causing numerous casualties. The incident occurred outside the Muslim Welfare House near Finsbury Park Mosque where the van hit several Muslims, believed to have earlier been engaged in Tarawih, nightly prayers held during Ramadan.

Ten people were injured; in addition, one man who was receiving first aid prior to the attack, died at the scene. The terrorist incident is being investigated by the Counter Terrorism Command and has been described by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, as a "horrific terrorist attack".

One person has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The attack followed three Islamic terror attacks in Great Britain in just over three months; an attack in Westminster in March, a bombing in Manchester in May, and an attack in the Southwark district earlier in June.

Shortly after midnight on 19 June, a van rammed several pedestrians on Seven Sisters Road near Finsbury Park Mosque in London, England. Witnesses first reported several people seen lying on the ground after a vehicle drove onto the pavement, and a person was taken into custody shortly after the incident. Many of the injured were seen to be wearing Muslim attire. Witnesses have said this is because worshippers were leaving the mosque at the time of the incident after tarawih prayers, which are performed by Sunni Muslims during the month of Ramadan.

Worshipers from Finsbury Park mosque restrained the attacker. Witnesses have said that the attacker was punched and beaten until the imam of the mosque intervened: "And then the imam of the mosque actually came out and said 'Don't hit him, hand him over to the police, pin him down'."

The Metropolitan Police have stated that a 48-year old male detained by members of the public, believed to be the van driver, was arrested in connection to the incident.

A witness has claimed the driver said after the attack "I want to kill Muslims. I want to kill Muslims".

Prime Minister Theresa May stated that her thoughts were with the injured. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose constituency includes Finsbury Park, stated that he is "totally shocked" and that his "thoughts and prayers are with those and the community affected by this awful event".

Reacting to the terror attack, Michael Privot, director of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), said: “We strongly condemn this attack against Muslims and our thoughts go to the victims and their families. This seems to be the latest and extremely violent manifestation of Islamophobia in Europe, as we have been witnessing an increase in racist incidents and speech targeting Muslims across Europe. Action to address Islamophobia is now urgent, especially in a context of growing securitisation of Muslims.

"The EU and member state governments must challenge hatred and the discourses that fuel it, and ensure that Muslim communities are not profiled as potential terrorists. They need to ensure hate crimes are sanctioned; support victims; and guarantee the safety of all citizens and residents. Failing to act will mean more casualties and more division.”

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