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.
Jeremy Corbyn has spoken out against the "horrific and cruel" attack.
In a statement, the Labour leader said:
“I am shocked by this horrific and cruel attack in Finsbury Park, which is being treated as an act of terror.
“I offer my condolences to the family and friends of the man who has died, and our thoughts are with the people who have been injured, their family and friends.
“As the local MP, I have met with Muslim community leaders at the Muslim Welfare House alongside Islington Council Leader Richard Watts, the council's Chief Executive Lesley Seary and the Metropolitan Police.
“Richard and I will attend prayers at Finsbury Park mosque later today. I appeal for people and the media to remain calm and respectful of those affected.
“In the meantime, I call on everyone to stand together against those who seek to divide us.”
Theresa May will chair a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee at 10am.
She is expected to give a statement outside 10 Downing Street afterwards.
"The freedom to worship without fear is a right we cherish as a nation and was won at great human cost over many years," the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has said in a statement.
"The appalling attack on Muslims in Finsbury Park is an attack on us all and on the culture and values of our country.
"At a time when we are all grieving the loss of so many precious people in London and Manchester, this brutal attack can only compound the trauma. Violence only begets more violence- it serves only the interests of those who would terrorise others.
"This wanton and cruel act can produce no good and cannot be justified or excused. In exactly the same way as previous recent attacks it is a crime against God and against humanity."
Abdul Rashid, 18, witnessed the aftermath of the attack.
Describing the suspect, he told Ben Kentish: "He wasn't distressed, not in the slightest. When people were holding him down he was saying 'you can kill me, I've done my job'.
"He was saying he had come here to kill Muslims.
"Everyone was shouting but he was completely desensitised. He looked blank. You could tell he didn't care.
"It was 100 per cent deliberate. He knew exactly what he was doing.
The imam protected him to make sure he was conscious so police could apprehend him."
Ibn Omar, a worshipper at the mosque, told Sky News:
"I've been coming to this mosque since I can remember. I came back and there was sheer pandemonium. Anarchy. People panicking and screaming.
"Some people were injuring the man on the floor and the imam said 'no don't do that'.
"After that I went home and I've been thinking they've said it's a major incident, from what I've seen, first and foremost I was dazed and confused. I didn't know what was going on.
"From what one of my companions have told me is that it was reported as a collision, so police didn't rush as maybe they would have as in a terror incident.
"Unfortunately, as you can see in widespread media outlets and even with the police, the way in which they treat incidents which come from ethnic minority individuals in particular, straight away you see it's either this can potentially be a terrorist attack or this is a terrorist attack.
"But if it's a far-right extremist then unfortunately it's not treated the same way."
Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) has responded to the Finsbury Park incident, saying:
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the appalling incident at Finsbury Park."
"Worryingly vehicles in London have once again become the latest weapon in the hands of terrorists. Unfortunately this means every innocent pedestrian going about their daily lives has become a target."
"The incidents in the last three months suggest there needs to be an honest dialogue and a fundamental shift in the way government tackles all forms of hate and terror.”
“Hate and terror must be stamped out by directly confronting all those who promote an ideology and philosophy based on hate and terror."
"Sikh teachings, history and the Sikh way of life offers not only hope, but direction on how to tackle hate and terror. Those making policies in governments across the globe need to draw upon belief systems and thinking designed to deal with hate and terror head on.”
Ibn Omar added: "This was definitely a targeted attack towards Muslims.
"There's two mosques in this vicinity and a lot of Muslims come here."
He added: "What I'm calling for is equality and justice in the way these crimes are treated."
Dr Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, said: "This is an unconscionable attack on Muslim worshippers during their holy month of Ramadan.
"We condemn this attack and its attempt to escalate tensions in the UK and we stand firmly besides our Muslim brothers and sisters in the aftermath of this attack.
"An attack on one religion is an attack on all religions and all people and faiths must stand together against terror."
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