'A number of casualties' after vehicle hits pedestrians in North London, say police
Emergency services are investigating a 'major incident' in Finsbury Park, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said.
Metropolitan Police is responding to a "major incident" in which a vehicle drove over pedestrians on Seven Sisters Road in North London, London Mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed. Officers are said to be at the scene, along with other emergency services.
Police said there are "a number of casualties" and that one person had been arrested. Witnesses told the BBC that three people were seriously injured, while Sky News reported that at least 10 people had been hit.
London Ambulance Service tweeted out: "We have sent a number of resources to an incident in Seven Sisters Road. More information will follow when we have it."
"There are a number of casualties being worked on at the scene," Metropolitan Police said.
TFL said that the road was closed over the incident, saying: "A503 Seven Sisters Rd is now closed N/B at Hornsey Rd & S/B at Rock St due to an emergency services incident." It asked people to seek an alternative route.
The Muslim Council claimed on Twitter that a van had "run over worshippers" as they left Finsbury Park Mosque. However, The Guardian reported the incident took place outside the Muslim Welfare House, which contains a mosque. Finsbury Park Mosque is about 300m away.
Driver wanted to 'kill all Muslims'
Witness Abdulrahman Saleh Alamoudi told BuzzFeed News that a white van swerved and hit a group of people that were attending to an elderly man who had fallen down. "This big van just came and went all over us," Saleh Alamoudi said. "I think at least eight or 10 people were injured. Luckily I managed to escape, and then the guy came out of his van."
Saleh Alamoudi told BuzzFeed that he and his two friends tackled the man and held him down for about 20 minutes until police arrived. "He was screaming before that — I'm going to kill all Muslims," he said. "He was throwing punches all over."
A video posted to Saleh Alamoudi's Facebook page shows emergency responders performing CPR on one person.
Police said they were called to the scene just after 00:20am BST, adding "enquiries continue" and that more information would be released as it is confirmed.
The incident comes on the heels of two attacks in London since March involving vehicles striking pedestrians. The first attack happened in Westminster in March and the second in London Bridge two weeks ago. Both incidents were terrorist attacks.
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