Muslim leaders call for calm, unity following London mosque attack

Record ID: 896064

  • Title: Muslim leaders call for calm, unity following London mosque attack
  • Date: 19th June 2017
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 19, 2017) (REUTERS) WIDE SHOT OF INTERFAITH GROUP WITH OPPOSITION LEADER JEREMY CORBYN CORBYN WALKING WITH MOHAMMED KOZBAR, FINSBURY PARK MOSQUE AND TOUFIK KACIMI, CEO OF MUSLIM WELFARE HOUSE KOZBAR AND CORBYN WALKING/ ZOOM OUT TO SHOW JENNIFER POTTER, CHAIR OF THE ISLINGTON FAITHS FORUM AND KACIMI WIDE SHOT OF INTERFAITH GROUP CORBYN LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOHAMMED KOZBAR, CHAIRMAN OF FINSBURY PARK MOSQUE, SAYING: "Less than 48 hours later, the same area experienced a terrorist attack aimed at killing Muslims returning home after their Ramadan prayers. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the person who died and with all those injured and traumatised by this event. An attack on one faith is an attack on all faiths and communities. Those who tried to divide us and who aim to spread fear, hatred and division will not succeed." END OF STATEMENT KOZBAR AND CORBYN LEAVING FLOWERS KOZBAR AND CORBYN SPEAKING TO OTHER LEADERS/ LEAVING WIDE SHOT OF INTERFAITH GROUP LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 3rd July 2017 14:07
  • Keywords: London attack Finsbury Park mosque terror
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016LY2EKN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Leaders of all faiths in London called for unity and calm on Monday (June 19) just hours after a van ploughed into worshippers near a London mosque, injuring 10 people in what Prime Minister Theresa May said was a sickening, terrorist attack on Muslims.
    Shortly after midnight, the vehicle swerved into a group of people leaving prayers at the Muslim Welfare House and the nearby Finsbury Park Mosque in north London, one of the biggest in the country.
    The heads of Finsbury Park Mosque and the Muslim Welfare House joined leaders of other faiths and opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in calling for calm and unity.
    The driver, a 48-year-old white man, was grabbed at the scene by locals and pinned down until police arrived.
    The attack is the fourth since March in Britain and the third to involve a vehicle deliberately driven at pedestrians.
    It also comes at a tumultuous time for the government with Britain starting complex divorce talks with the European Union and May negotiating with a small Northern Irish party to stay in power after losing her parliamentary majority following a snap election.
    The mosques' worshippers, who come mainly from North and West Africa, had just left special prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
    Police said 10 people were injured, with eight taken to hospital, two in a very serious condition.
    The man who was being given first aid at the scene before the attack had died but it was not clear whether his death was directly linked.
    Just over two weeks ago three Islamist militants drove into pedestrians on London Bridge and stabbed people at nearby restaurants and bars, killing eight.
    The latest incident also follows a suicide bombing at a pop concert in Manchester, northern England, in May which killed 22, while in March, a man drove a rented car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in London and stabbed a policeman to death before being shot dead. His attack killed five people.
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