Finsbury Park attack: shadow home secretary Diane Abbott calls for review of mosque security
Police officers at the scene following an hour after the attack last night. Photograph: Hackney Citizen
Following a return to her role as shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott has called for a review of security around all mosques after an attack on worshippers at Finsbury Park that has left one person dead.
Terror attack outside #FinsburyPark mosque. Police must urgently review security for all mosques #StandTogether
— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) June 19, 2017
A van driver ploughed into a crowd of worshippers at around 12.20am last night, killing one man and injuring eight others in what police have called a “major incident”.
The attack took place as worshippers they left Finsbury Park Mosque in St Thomas’s Road, Islington, following Ramadan prayers.
Local police officers arrived on the scene, supported by armed police and the Territorial Support Group.
Counter Terrorism officers are investigating the incident.
Shomrin, a Jewish ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ scheme that covers Stamford Hill, Hackney and Haringey has condemned the attack via Twitter, saying: “We stand together in solidarity with the victims of the horrific terrorist attack in Finsbury Park.Thoughts and prayers with all those affected.”
#WeStandTogether in solidarity with the victims of the horrific terrorist attack in #FinsburyPark.Thoughts & prayers with all those affected pic.twitter.com/04kxobdpYN
— Shomrim N.E. London (@Shomrim) June 19, 2017
Prime minister Theresa May said police were treating the incident in Finsbury Park “as a potential terrorist attack”.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose constituency includes Finsbury Park, has said he was “totally shocked”.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has condemned the “horrific terrorist attack” on “innocent Londoners”.
Due to the nature of this incident extra policing resources have been deployed in order to reassure communities, especially those observing Ramadan.
London ambulance service said the eight injured were taken to three hospitals, and an unknown number of others were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
The van driver, a 48-year-old man, has been arrested at the scene by the police after being detained by members of public.
He has been taken to hospital as a precaution and will also undergo a mental health assessment.
Re #SevenSisters Rd #Finsburypark incident – At this early stage there are no other suspects, however the investigation continues.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 19, 2017