Three injured in hit-and-run ‘hate attack’ outside mosque

THREE people have been injured after a car mounted a pavement and hit a crowd outside a London Islamic centre in an attack being treated as a hate crime.

The incident occurred after an altercation between the worshippers and the vehicle’s occupants, who have been accused of making Islamophobic remarks.

One man was hailed as a hero after the incident at the Hussaini Islamic centre in Cricklewood, north London, after he dragged an eight-year-old boy away from the oncoming Nissan Juke SUV at the last second.

Chief Supt Simon Rose said: “At around half past midnight, volunteer stewards challenged a small group of individuals. They were subjected to a tirade of Islamophobic and racist abuse and an altercation then took place. The people who had been challenged then drove at members of the community in a car.

“It is being dealt with as an Islamophobic and racist hate crime.”

Ali Mashkour, a former special constable

‘I froze for a fraction of a second, then realised – oh my God – this vehicle is coming right at us’

volunteer in Brent, was caught up in the attack and saved a young boy from harm by dragging him out of the vehicle’s path.

He was described as a hero by Miqdaad Versi, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain.

“I heard glass breaking, the revving of an engine, and tyres screeching,” said the 33-year-old.

“I froze for a fraction of a second, then realised – oh my God – this vehicle is coming right at us,” he added. “There was a boy on my right so I grabbed him and threw him towards the wall.

“I shouted ‘get out of the way’, but the vehicle mounted the kerb and hit the gentleman behind me. I saw him lifted at least six feet into the air and then dragged for a few more metres until the vehicle got to the fence and couldn’t get any further.

“The car moved off the pavement and 20 metres down the road he swerved towards another crowd.

“The child’s father was walking just ahead of me. After the police came, he saw me and was hugging and kissing me, saying you’ve saved my child.”

Police are still searching for the occupants of the car, described as three males and a woman all aged in their mid-20s.