An aerial view of the site of thee attack in Finsbury Park, London Photo: Screenshot/BBC
Britain is treating attack on people outside a mosque as an act of terrorism directed toward Muslims, with the top political leaders uniting in condemning the incident, a report in The New York Times said.
According to eye witnesses, a man plowed a van into a group of pedestrians near the Finsbury Park Mosque, in North London. Police are investigating the attack as terrorism.
Prime Minister Theresa May termed the attack “every bit as sickening” as others in recent weeks, according to a BBC report.
One person was reported dead and several others injured in the attack.
The 48-year-old driver of the van was quickly overpowered by the people. The Imam of the mosque moved quickly to save him from angry mob and handed him over to the Police.
Condemning the attack – which follows three ISIS-linked attacks in Britain in the last few weeks – Prime Minister Theresa May acknowledged “a difficult time in the life of the city.”
In the wake of recent attacks, there had been fear that some Britons might react to them violently and target the Muslims.
But May tried to reassure all Londoners that the city would overcome the challenges of division and hate.
“London is one of the greatest cities on Earth: diverse, welcoming, vibrant, compassionate, confident and determined never to give in to hate.
“These are the values that define this country. These are the values that will prevail.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim of Pakistani origin to lead the city, visited the Finsbury Park community to offer his support following the attack.
“These have been a terrible few weeks for London- We will stay a strong city.”
