LONDON, United Kingdom (Reuters) – London Mayor Sadiq Khan joined Muslim worshippers on Monday evening (June 19), less than 24 hours after a man driving a van had targeted a group leaving the same centre in north London, and praised the city’s response to the attack.
After attending prayers at the Muslim Welfare House, near Finsbury Park Mosque, Khan said London would not allow any such action to divide communities.
“What you’ve seen over the last 24 hours is Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, those members of an organised faith, and those who aren’t, rich, poor, old, young, coming together and saying ‘not in our name, we will not let you divide us, we will be stronger'” said Khan.
People gathered on Monday evening to hand flowers to those attending special prayers for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and held signs saying, ‘United Against All Terror’.
One worshipper told Reuters that he was not surprised by the attack as he felt “hatred, Islamaphobia is everywhere these days.”
The Chairman of Finsbury Park Mosque, Mohammed Kozbar, said he had raised this concern with Prime Minister Theresa May during her visit and had been promised action to protect the community.
The attack, in the early hours of Monday, injured 11 people, two seriously.
The driver of the van, a 47-year-old white man, was grabbed at the scene by locals and pinned down until police arrived.