CARDIFF DAD IS NAMED AS MOSQUE TERROR SUSPECT
POLICE DESCEND ON CITY SUBURB AS FATHER OF FOUR IS IDENTIFIED AS THE MAN ARRESTED AFTER A VAN WAS ALLEGEDLY DRIVEN INTO A CROWD OF WORSHIPPERS IN LONDON, LEAVING ONE PERSON DEAD AND 10 INJURED
A dad of four living in Cardiff was identified last night as the Finsbury Park terror attack suspect who allegedly ploughed a van into a group of Muslim worshippers.
The suspect arrested after a van drove into worshippers near the mosque in north London has been named locally as Darren Osborne.
Speaking to ITV News, the suspect’s mother said: “I’m not going to defend him, but it’s my son and it’s a terrible, terrible shock.
“It’s not just robbing a bank - it’s an atrocity.”
The 47-year-old reportedly grew up in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, but now lives with his partner and four children in Cardiff.
The suspect was arrested “for the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism, including murder and attempted murder”.
In a statement on behalf of the family, Osborne’s nephew Ellis Osborne, 26, said: “We are massively shocked; it’s unbelievable, it still hasn’t really sunk in.
“We are devastated for the families, our hearts go out to the people who have been injured.”
Mr Osborne added his uncle was “not a racist” and said he had never expressed any racist views.
He added: “Its madness. It is obviously sheer madness.”
The Met Police confirmed yesterday that searches were being carried out at “a residential address in the Cardiff area”.
Officers were last night still standing guard outside a house in Glyn Rhosyn in Cardiff’s Pentwyn.
The van used in the attack is owned by Pontyclun Van Hire, based 12 miles west of Cardiff.
Yesterday people in Pentwyn reacted with shock at the alleged connection to the city.
One Muslim neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “He just seemed normal. Yesterday I heard him singing in the kitchen with his kids.”
Another said Osborne had two dogs, a mongrel and a Yorkshire terrier.
He said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw it on the television.”
A third said he was “a big bloke, about 6ft 4ins tall, but was “not a social man” and didn’t like talking to people.
Pentwyn councillor Joe Carter said he was “shocked and saddened” to learn of the link to Pentwyn.
He said: “The community I represent is close-knit with lots of different faiths living peacefully. We need to come together, stay calm, pray for the individuals still in hospital and see what the investigation reveals. We all deserve answers and justice.”
Leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, said: “I, like everyone I know, was deeply saddened and shocked to hear about the incident outside a mosque in London in the early hours of Monday morning and to see news reports that a man from Cardiff has been arrested in connection with this offence.
“As a Council, we will redouble our efforts, working with other agencies and partners, to reassure all of Cardiff’s communities that they are welcome, secure and safe here.
“Cardiff has always been known as a welcoming city, a city that celebrates diversity, a city that pulls together in difficult times.
“It’s important we pull together now and don’t let hate and those who promote hate to drive a wedge between our communities.
One ex-schoolmate, who attended Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College with Osborne, said he had
known him for more than three decades.
Referring to a picture of the suspect at the scene of the attack, he told Mirror Online: “I went to school with him, I’ve known him for 35 years, it’s 100% him. He lives in Wales, he has four kids and a missus.”
Witnesses claimed Obsorne, who was detained by members of the public at the scene, shouted: “I’m going to kill Muslims.”
According to public records, Osborne was born in Singapore in 1969. His mum and other relatives still live in Weston-super-Mare.
Yesterday afternoon, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said the terror attack was “quite clearly an attack on Muslims”.
Ms Dick added: “We treat this as a terrorist attack.”
“Sadly we have suffered a number of attacks and very sad events over the last few weeks.”
Ms Dick spoke as Security Minister Ben Wallace confirmed the man was not known to the security services.
He told BBC Radio 4’s World At One: “What I can say on this case is this individual, so far as we know at the moment, was not known to us, but we are aware of a rise in the far right.”
Osborne, who is believed to have acted alone, allegedly struck as the area was busy with worshippers attending Ramadan night prayers.
Last night members of the community gathered at Cardiff’s Dar UlIsra Mosque in solidarity.
Mohammed Alamgir, outreach manager of the mosque, said: “We’ve organised this after everything that’s happened in London.
“People called me after the news broke to make sure everything was ok at the mosque and we wanted to do something to show solidarity.
“People are attending from different faith groups to show that we can come together and show solidarity.
“We want to show that terrorism will not get through. We will stand together”
Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the incident as “every bit as sickening” as the recent atrocities in London and Manchester.
After meeting faith leaders at Finsbury Park Mosque yesterday, she said: “The terrible terrorist attack which took place last night was an evil borne out of hatred and it has devastated a community.
“I am pleased to have been here today to see the strength of that community coming together, all faiths united in one desire to see extremism and hatred of all sorts driven out of our society.
“There is no place for this hatred in our country today and we need to work together as one society, one community, to drive it out, this evil which is affecting so many families.”
Earlier, dramatic footage emerged showing furious crowds shouting out as Osborne was bundled into the back of a police van.
That followed a photograph of the suspect looking battered and bruised after allegedly carrying out the attack.
Witnesses said the man was hit by people at the scene as they held him for at least 15 minutes before police arrived and arrested him.
The London Ambulance Service took nine patients to hospital after the incident, which occurred during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Two of these are said to be in a very serious condition.
Other victims were treated at the scene.
London Ambulance Service Deputy Director of Operations Peter McKenna said in a statement this afternoon: “Our thoughts are with all of those affected by the incident in Finsbury Park and their friends and family.
“We took nine patients to three London hospitals and treated others at the scene for minor injuries.
“We were called to the incident at 12:15am (Monday 19 June) and sent over 60 of our medics including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, specialist response teams and an advanced trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance.
“The first of our medics arrived within 14 minutes of the first emergency call.”