1 dead, 10 injured after pedestrians hit by vehicle in London

One person died and at least 10 were injured early Monday in London when a van hit pedestrians near the Finsbury Park Mosque, police said.

Metropolitan Police said the man was pronounced dead at the scene, and despite rumors on social media, no one sustained any knife injuries. The driver of the van, a 48-year-old man, was detained by bystanders, and arrested once officers arrived at the scene, police said. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution, and will soon undergo a mental health assessment.

Miqdaad Versi, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, told Reuters a witness told him several people were assisting a man who had fallen ill when the van deliberately swerved into them. It is the holy month of Ramadan, and many worshipers were standing in the street following late prayers. British Prime Minister Theresa May said "police have confirmed this is being treated as a potential terrorist attack," and the Muslim Council for Britain has called for extra security at mosques around the country. Mohammed Kozbar, chairman of the Finsbury Park Mosque, said the Muslim community is "in shock," and the crash was "a cowardly attack."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

This is a developing story and has been updated throughout.