Officials at Scotland Yard are investigating yesterday’s incident at a London mosque as a possible reverse terror attack. A spokesperson told media that the attack appears to have been motivated by the recent string of similar attacks on Tourists and citizens in Spain, Pairs and London carried out by Muslim Terrorists.
Video was released earlier today that is alleged to show the driver blowing a kiss at bystanders as he was hauled off to a hospital for a mental health evaluation. His attack left one person dead at the scene and 10 others injured. Witnesses said that in addition to the driver, there were two other persons in the van at the time of the attack, but both of them were able to escape in the confusion.
Currently, authorities have an unidentified 48-year-old man in custody for the attack. Reportedly persons at the scene were shouting at him as authorities lead him away asking, “Why did you do that? Why?” But I think we all know the answer to that question. It was just a matter of time before such attacks started to happen that were aimed at Muslims.
The site of the attack, was a well known London mosque once the home of the radical Jihadist cleric, Abu Hamza, also known a “hook hand” he was well known for his fiery rhetoric and extremist views supporting ISIS and al-Qaeda while calling for Jihad.
Police said the attack came just after midnight after Ramadan prayers. Police said all of the injured were members of the Muslim community. Strangely, Muslim leaders were quick to label the attack as a hate crime. This action was just the opposite of their response to the attacks on London Bridge and the nearby market area earlier this month where Muslim clerics mostly remained closed mouth.
Police said of the ten persons injured in the attack, eight were taken to three nearby hospitals and the remaining two persons suffered only minor injuries and were treated at the scene and released. Meanwhile, several witnesses reported seeing at least one person receiving chest compressions. Police said that person was the lone death in the incident, but it was unclear if it was the van that caused the death.
Of course, there was a quick call by a leader of the Muslim Council of Britain for extra security at mosques in light of the apparent attack. Meanwhile, Harun Khan, General Secretary for the group, quickly described the incident as a hate crime against Muslims. Khan claimed, “During the night, ordinary British citizens were set upon while they were going about their lives, completing their night worship. It appears from eyewitness accounts that the perpetrator was motivated by Islamophobia.” Of course, maybe the Perpetrator just wanted to give them a taste of their own medicine.
Condemnations were quick to be heard from the Muslim sector, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, called the incident a “horrific terrorist attack.” In addition the chairman of the Finsbury Park Mosque said “the van crash that hit worshipers was a cowardly attack.” But one of the best comments was made by Mohammed Kozbar, who said the Muslim community is “in shock,” and complained that the “mainstream media” was unwilling to call the attack a terrorist incident for many hours. Funny how it is when the shoe is on the other foot isn’t it?
Witnesses told British media that the van seemed to have veered off the road and hit people intentionally. They also said two men jumped out of the van and fled the scene, but police said the suspect was only one man and the investigation is still ongoing. London police have closed the area to traffic.
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