A van has struck pedestrians as worshippers were leaving a mosque in north London, causing “a number of casualties,” police and witnesses say. It was not immediately known if the incident is terror-related.
The incident happened at about 12:20 a.m. local time on Monday when police were called to Seven Sisters Road for reports that a vehicle had struck pedestrians. A large number of emergency services were called to the scene.
“There are a number of casualties being worked on at the scene,” the Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement. “There has been one person arrested. Enquiries continue. More information will be released when confirmed.”
The exact number of casualties was not immediately available, but The Times reported that at least 10 people had been injured, some of them seriously so. The London Ambulance Service confirmed it had sent “a number of resources” to what has been described as a “major incident.”
It was also not immediately known if the incident was intentional and, if so, whether it is terrorism-related. The scene of the incident is close to the Finsbury Park Mosque and many Muslims were out on the street because of Ramadan.
“There is an ongoing investigation to establish the circumstances of the incident,” a police spokesman said, declining to provide further details. Sky News quoted police as saying that the vehicle struck worshippers as they were leaving the mosque.
“We have been informed that a van has run over worshippers as they left Finsbury Park Mosque,” the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said. “Our prayers are with the victims.”
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