Cops looking into hate crime aspect in car collision

LONDON: Police have launched an investigation into a possible hate crime after a car hit a crowd outside a mosque, injuring three people.

The collision, which occurred in Cricklewood, north London, early yesterday, followed the occupants of the car allegedly directing “comments of an Islamophobic nature” at the group, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The incident left a man in his 50s hospitalised with “a serious leg injury”, while two other men in their 20s suffered minor injuries.

Officers were working to trace the driver and occupants of the car – three men and a woman, all in their mid20s – which fled the scene.

“This incident is not being treated as terror related, but the hate crime aspect of the collision is being looked at by detectives as an aggravating factor,” the Met said.

The incident began when security at the AlMajlis AlHussaini Islamic centre learned that the people in the car were “behaving antisocially, drinking and allegedly using drugs”, police added.

The vehicle occupants were asked to leave the private carpark, sparking a “confrontation” with a large group of people outside the centre.

“Words were exchanged and comments of an Islamophobic nature were allegedly made by the group in the car,” the Met said.

“The car then reportedly sustained minor damage by some of those outside the centre.

“It proceeded to make off at speed, colliding with three individuals as it left.”