London mosque stabbing not terror-related, UK police say

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a stabbing inside a central London mosque.

Police outside London Central Mosque in Regent's Park, where officers have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police outside London Central Mosque in Regent's Park, where officers have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder. Source: AAP

British police said they were not treating a London mosque stabbing, in which an elderly man suffered non-life threatening injuries, as terror-related. 

The London ambulance service said the victim had been taken "to a major trauma centre" after the mid-afternoon attack.

"A 29-year-old man, who is believed to have been attending prayers, was arrested inside the mosque on suspicion of attempted murder," the London police said in a statement.

"The incident is not being treated as terror-related at this time."

Police outside London Central Mosque in Regent's Park.
Police outside London Central Mosque in Regent's Park. Source: AAP

The police said the victim was a worshipper in his 70s and his condition "assessed as non-life-threatening."

A statement issued by the London Central Mosque where the attack occurred said the assailant was apprehended by worshippers until the police arrived at the scene.

It said the mosque's Muazzin - a religious leader who calls the faithful to prayer - "did not sustain any life-threatening injuries but was seriously injured and is being treated at the hospital"

One witness said the man appeared to have been stabbed in the neck.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that he was "deeply saddened" to learn of the attack.

"It's so awful that this should happen, especially in a place of worship. My thoughts are with the victim and all those affected," Johnson said.

Photographs shared on social media from inside the mosque in Regent's Park showed a white man in a red hooded top being pinned to the ground and handcuffed by two police officers.

Security and police outside London Central Mosque in Regent's Park, where officers have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder.
Security and police outside London Central Mosque in Regent's Park, where officers have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder. Source: AAP

The picture showed a group of male worshipper in their winter overcoats standing nearby and watching the scene.

One video showed a small knife lying under a plastic white chair next to the suspect.

Another showed the suspect being silently led escorted out of the mosque by police.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AFP, SBS




Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world