Van attack targeted London’s Muslims
LONDON — The rash of deadly terror attacks that has rattled Britain in recent months took an ominous new turn on Monday as Muslim worshippers became targets during the holy month of Ramadan, mowed down by an attacker who plowed a van into a crowd leaving prayers at two mosques in north London.
It was the same tactic Islamic extremists used in recent assaults on Westminster Bridge and London Bridge. Those attacks and a third outside a pop concert in Manchester have triggered a surge in hate crimes against Muslims in Britain.
British authorities, including Prime Minister Theresa May, and Islamic leaders moved swiftly to ease concerns in the Muslim community following the attack shortly after midnight that injured at least nine people in London’s Finsbury Park neighbourhood, which is home to a large Muslim population.
Authorities said the incident was being treated as a terror attack. One man died at the scene, although he was receiving first aid at the time and it wasn’t clear if he died as a result of the attack or from something else.
British media identified the suspect as Darren Osborne, a 47-year-old father of four living in Cardiff, Wales, who was not known to authorities before the attack.
Details about the assailant were sketchy, but the assault — the most dramatic against Muslims in London in recent years — suggested a new, dangerous level of polarization in British society.
“This was an attack on Muslims near their place of worship,” May said in a televised address. “And like all terrorism, in whatever form, it shares the same fundamental goal. It seeks to drive us apart — and to break the precious bonds of solidarity and citizenship that we share in this country. We will not let this happen.”
Mayor Sadiq Khan, London’s first Muslim mayor, also urged residents to stand together, adding that there would be “zero tolerance” for hate crimes.
May said police would assess security at mosques and provide any additional resources needed.
The Metropolitan Police Service, already stretched by investigations of the earlier attacks and a deadly high-rise apartment fire, said it was putting extra patrols on the streets.
The attack occurred about 12:20 a.m. when a speeding white van swerved into worshippers emerging from prayers outside the Muslim Welfare House and nearby Finsbury Park Mosque. People surrounded the driver and witnesses said the outraged crowd began attacking him. A local imam, Mohammed Mahmoud, said he and others shielded the man until police could take him away.
“By God’s grace, we were able to protect him from harm,” the imam said.
Police said the driver was arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism, including murder and attempted murder.
Toufik Kacimi, chief executive of the Muslim Welfare House, told Sky News the attack clearly targeted Muslims, saying the driver acted deliberately.
“The driver of the van, said: ‘I did my bit,’ ” Kacimi said. “This person was conscious. He did what he did deliberately.”
But Kacimi said there was no need for the Muslim community to panic, because police and government officials have been “very, very supportive.”
“At this stage, we are calling for calm,” he said.
Monday’s attack hit a community already feeling targeted from the fallout from three previous attacks in as many months, all blamed on Islamic extremists. Hate crimes directed at Muslims have increased nearly five-fold, according to British security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with official policy.
The prime minister, who has been criticized for failing to show compassion to victims, travelled to the attack site within hours, and met with community and faith leaders.
Britain’s terror alert level is at “severe,” meaning security officials believe an attack is highly likely.