Hero Finsbury Park mosque imam describes stopping terror suspect from being attacked by angry 'mob'

Mark Chandler19 June 2017
WEST END FINAL

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A heroic imam has described how he protected a suspected terrorist from an angry "mob" after Muslims were mown down outside his Finsbury Park mosque.

Mohammed Mahmoud said he had just finished prayers when a panicked man ran in claiming someone had run over a group of people and “tried to kill them”.

Outside, he found the suspect being held by around three people while a shocked crowd encircled him, before the imam stepped in to calm the situation.

One man, who had collapsed before the attack, died and another ten were injured by a van driver who allegedly shouted “I want to kill all Muslims” and “I’ve done my bit” after driving into people on Seven Sisters Road at around 12.15am.

Mohammed Mahmoud, 30, pictured right, stopped bystanders from attacking the suspect

The imam told reporters: “By God’s grace we managed to surround him and to protect him from any harm.

“We stopped all forms of attack and abuse towards him that were coming from every angle.”

Mr Mahmoud said he told police when they arrived that a “mob” was attempting to take the suspect and “God forbid he might be seriously hurt”.

The imam said he was helped by a group of other Muslims who managed to push people back at the scene and stop them attacking the 48-year-old suspect.

He said: “They managed to calm people down and extinguish any flames of violence or anger or mob rule that would that would have taken charge had this group of mature brothers not stepped in.”

Finsbury Park attack: The scene at Seven Sisters Road where a van believed to be involved mounted the pavement
Jeremy Selwyn

Mr Mahmoud went on: “After the incident people were calm, people were praying for the victims of the attack.”

The imam said he fears one of the people injured in the attack could be paralysed for life as he was unable to move his arms and legs.

He said up to 20 people were tending to the injured before emergency services arrived on the scene.

And he claimed the man who died, who had collapsed before the attack happened, seemed to have just regained consciousness when the van drove at them.

Treating the wounded: Paramedics and police at the scene of the crash in Finsbury Park (James Gourley/Rex Features)
James Gourley/Rex

He said: “It was enough to make some people fly off to the side and he dragged two people underneath him.

“One of them, we’re worried he may have been paralysed for life because he couldn’t move his arms and legs and said he couldn’t move them.”

He went on: “It may be proof that this demonisation of the Muslim community at the hand s of those who have ulterior motives and wish to divide this country and divide this great city have succeeded to some extent influencing the vulnerable and impressionable into thinking that we’re barbaric and that we're people who like to shed blood and therefore we must be eliminated and exterminated.”

“We hope that in times of tragedy people come together and unite,” he said.

Scotland Yard said counter-terrorism officers are investigating the attack and that one man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Eight of the injured people were taken to hospital, while two were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Prime Minister Theresa May said it was being treated as "a potential terrorist attack".

In a statement released shortly after 6am, London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the incident as a “horrific terrorist attack” and said extra police would be deployed to protect the capital’s Muslim communities observing Ramadan.

Any witnesses, or anyone with any information, can contact police via 101, or via Twitter @MetCC. To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

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