1 killed as van hits crowd near mosques

LONDON — A van plowed into a group of Muslim worshipers as they were leaving prayers at a pair of north London mosques early Monday, witnesses said, in an incident that police said had caused “a number of casualties.”

The incident occurred when the van sped off the roadway and swerved into a sidewalk, which was crowded with hundreds of people who had just finished the day’s final prayers for the holy month of Ramadan, witnesses reported.

Police said that one person had been killed and that 10 were injured, eight of whom were hospitalized. The two people who were not hospitalized were treated at the scene.

Police said they were dealing with “a major incident” and that they have deployed extra officers “to reassure communities, especially those observing Ramadan.”

Police said the Counter Terrorism Command will investigate, suggesting that they think the incident was a terrorist attack, although they stopped short of saying so early Monday.

Video showed police taking a man into custody, and police confirmed they had made one arrest. The 48-year-old, who is believed to be the driver, was apprehended by bystanders and handed over to authorities, police said. There are no other suspects, they said.

The incident occurred near two mosques: the Finsbury Park Mosque and the Muslim Welfare House.

Video taken in the immediate aftermath of the incident and posted on social media showed people screaming as bystanders performed chest compressions on one of the injured. Nearby, a man held a bloody cloth to his head.

Hours after the incident, as dawn broke, a large and angry crowd remained in the streets. Many called the incident a terrorist attack, saying the driver had deliberately targeted Muslims.

Prime Minister Theresa May was made aware of the situation before dawn, and released a statement calling it “a terrible incident.”