Finsbury Park attack as it happened: Theresa May booed as she leaves mosque after paying respects to victims
Police: 'London is a city of many faiths and many nationalities. An attack on one community is an attack on all of us'
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One person has died and eight people have been taken to hospital after being hit by a van in a "potential terror attack" near a north London mosque.
The van driver, described by eyewitnesses as a large white man, was detained by members of the public after the attack in Seven Sisters Road at 12.20am on Monday.
One witness described being surrounded by bodies in the wake of the attack outside the Muslim Welfare House, close to Finsbury Park mosque.
Eyewitnesses said the attacker shouted about killing Muslims as he was held by local people.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said it was an attack on common values.
"Like the terrible attacks in Manchester, Westminster and London Bridge it is also an assault on all our shared values of tolerance, freedom and respect," he said in a statement.
Prime Minister Theresa May said: "Police have confirmed this is being treated as a potential terrorist attack.
"I will chair an emergency meeting later this morning.
"All my thoughts are with the victims, their families and the emergency services on the scene."
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "One man was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Officers are in the process of informing next of kin. A post mortem examination will be scheduled due course.
"Eight people injured were taken to three separate hospitals; two people were treated at the scene for minor injuries."
Commenting on reports that the van driver also produced a knife, the statement went on: "At this stage there are no reports of any persons having suffered any knife injuries.
"The driver of the van - a man aged 48 - was found detained by members of public at the scene and then arrested by police in connection with the incident.
"He has been taken to hospital as a precaution and will be taken into custody once discharged.
"He will also be subject of a mental health assessment in due course."
The force said the investigation of the incident is being carried out by the Counter Terrorism Command.
The chairman of the London Jewish Forum, Adrian Cohen, has said the organisation is "horrified" by the suspected terrorist attack in Finsbury Park.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured and the family of the person who tragically died during this attack," he said in a statement.
"Attacks like these will not turn our communities against each other and we stand shoulder to shoulder with those affected."
Theresa May met faith leaders at the Finsbury Park Mosque.
She later emerged, with the representatives of different religions at her side, to talk to reporters.
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."
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Cressida Dick, has said the Finsbury Park attack was "quite clearly an attack on Muslims".
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said Londoners will see an increase in the number of visible police officers, particularly around mosques and places of worship towards the end of Ramadan.
He said there would be zero-tolerance towards hate crime.
Mr Khan praised the police for working incredibly hard.
He also said some officers would be called off leave to ensure there was enough of a police presence across London.
Security Minster Ben Wallace has confirmed the attacker was not known to the security services.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World At One, Mr Wallace said: "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."
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