Finsbury Park

Statement by the Archbishop of Canterbury:

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 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.

A van drove into a crowd of Muslims near a mosque in Finsbury Park in north London early this morning. The people were gathered for prayers for the holy month of Ramadan. One man was killed and eight other people were injured. In the aftermath of the attack, bystanders were able to detain the van driver, who tried to escape. Imam Mohammed Mahmoud has been praised by the Metropolitan Police for keeping the situation as calm as possible. The van driver is now in custody.