LONDON – Brits wake to yet another terrorist incident, where a man drove his van into a group of worshippers as they left the Muslim Welfare House, which is around the corner from Finsbury Park Mosque in London. Described as a ‘potential terrorist incident’ by Prime Minister May, one congregant has died with ten others currently injured in hospital.

The terrorist, a 48 year old man, shouted out, “I want to kill all Muslims – I did my bit.”

The Imam – religious preacher – intervened and told the crowd not to hurt him. When he was on the floor he  asked, “I’m very proud of what I’ve done, kill me, kill me,” to which the Muslims who had pinned him down said, “We are not going to kill you, why did you do that?” When the police van arrived and the terrorist was put inside and he ‘blew a kiss.’

One eye witnessed speaking to Channel 4 News said, “There was quite a few people around (the driver), trying to restrain him and so forth, waiting for the police to arrive. And there were also people who were trying to rip him apart, and there were people saying, ‘No, wait for the police to arrive.’ – He was a lucky man, he didn’t get torn apart. And there were quite a few Muslim brothers stopping the people who were trying to attack him saying, ’No no no brother, wait for the police to arrive.”

British PM Theresa May said in a statement on Monday, ““Our country woke to news of another terrorist attack on the streets of our capital city. The second this month, and every bit as sickening as those which have come before.  It was an attack that once again, targeted the ordinary and the innocent going about their daily lives.

“This time, British Muslims, as they left a mosque, having broken their fast and prayed together at this sacred time of year.  Today we come together as we have done before, to condemn this act and to state once again that hatred and evil of this kind will never succeed.”

London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan said, ‘The Metropolitan Police are responding to a horrific terrorist attack on innocent people in Finsbury Park… My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected. I am grateful to our emergency services who responded quickly and have been working on the scene throughout the night… We don’t know yet the full details, but this was clearly a deliberate attack on innocent Londoners, many of whom were finishing prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.

“While this appears to be an attack on a particular community, like the terrible attacks in Manchester, Westminster and London Bridge, it is also an assault on all of our shared values of tolerance, freedom and respect.”

From being heroes, awake in the early hours of the morning and so being credited for saving many lives in the Grenfell Tower blaze, to being victims when also being awake in the early hours of the morning and leaving the mosque, it is not easy being a British Muslim. Yes, there are some who are not good, but with more than 2 million British Muslims in our country, the significant majority are positive contributors to our society and the media must withdraw from painting a them vs us, division.

Weighing in, American writer, Charles Clymer, said, ‘This is a terrorist attack. The perpetrator is a white terrorist. We need to say these things out loud as much as possible.” While another American, ‘Wine mom’ on Twitter added, ‘British media, your double standards disgust me. The attack at Finsbur Park was a terrorist attack. Your sly racism is not welcome.’

Terrorism

British Muslims and non-Muslims understandably expressed their frustrations and upset at the casual way the incident has been reported in the media, with many outlets not referring to this incident as a terrorist attack:

‘When is this horror going to stop? All I see on social media feeds this morning is hate, abuse, double and blind standards, political and ideological point scoring, factual untruths, pseudo intellectual nonsense. Seriously sick of it. Go eff off. People are dying and the way some respond is disgusting.’

Sara K.

‘Is anyone else getting annoyed with the medias use of the word ‘potential’ this morning? Just because he’s white, doesn’t mean he hasn’t killed a person, injured others, and struck fear into a community.’

Helen B.

‘Facebook where’s your safety check-in now, and where’s your related photo frame?’

Syed R.

‘i don’t understand why it’s being termed a ‘major incident’ and not a ‘terrorist attack,’ surely as it was a targeted attack to indiscriminately kill and maim as many people as possible it was an act to inspire terror and therefore an act of terrorism?’

Bashir A.

‘What constitutes a terror incident? Under what circumstances do the police follow protocol to ‘shoot to kill?’ What community needs to be attacked in order for the major broadcasters to announce and roll special ‘break news’ feeds? Finsbury Park Masjid worshippers have been knocked over by a rented vehicle with 3 non-Muslims assailants. 1 victims has been announced dead on the scene. 1 person has been arrested. But this isn’t a terrorist attack. This isn’t breaking news. This is a drunk driver incident.’

Mabrur A.

‘How is the Finsbury attack any different to London Bridge?’

Shimylla K.

‘Is baffled why there is no breaking news or even a mention, about the terrorist attack in Finsbury park mosque, on my phones news app. Yet, there is an article about a terrorist attack in Mali. And it is almost five hours since the London terrorist attack…”

Shabnam N.

‘The driven intentionally hit pedestrians. But no, this was not a terrorist attack, the driver was white!’

Khurram S.

‘Let’s wait for Theresa May’s speech about yesterday’s attack. Oh sorry, I forgot… The attack is not important, it was a drunk or a man mad. Even though it was reported the man said, ‘I am going to kill all Muslims.’

Zeenat A.

‘A terrorist attack against Muslims coming from ramadan prayers. No doubt we will be reading in the press about how the driver was a keen gardener with a history of mental illness. Don’t expect the word ‘terrorist’ to be mentioned by the media or politicians under after days, if ever.’

Michael M.

‘Major incident???? It’s still being labelled as anything BUT a terrorist attack. They say it’s only been a few hours and they want to be careful what they call it?? Seriously BBC?? If this was an attack on a British institution and by a brown/Muslim male, you’d have been on it like a bonnet with your terrorism headlines!! Eye witness on the scene heard the terrorists shout, ‘kill all muslims,’ tell me again this is not terrorism?’

Dilruba W.

‘Enough is enough. The politics of ear mongering has a lot to answer for. And many of our leaders have not done enough.

Nabila P.

‘Who on earth drives their vehicle into people leaving a Mosque, after they have been peacefully praying and just returning home to their loved ones? This is sick.’

Salwa M.

‘Sick of all of this. When will people realise that we are all human and have more in common? we all have to choose love.’

Sarah J.

‘My husband goes to the mosque every evening for tarawi prayers…and to think thats some of those people at Finsbury park mosque did not return home to their families..that could have been my husband. I hope they arrest this psycho who intentionally tried to harm worshippers. Praying for peace and solidarity in all of our communities, ameen.’

Farah A.

Local people observe prayers at Finsbury Park in north London, where one person has been arrested after he ran a vehicle into Muslim worshippers. Photo credit: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Victim Blaming

Author J K Rowling also expressed her frustration, ‘Victim blaming in the usual newspapers is disgusting. Finsbury Park mosque won an award for combating extremism.’ She also responded to a Tweet by Nigel Farage, saying ‘Let’s talk about how the Finsbury Park terrorist was radicalized’ while sharing a photo of Farage standing in front of the infamous poster reading ‘Breaking point: the EU has failed us all’ showing a line of immigrants.”

British Imam, Ajmal Masroor, said, ‘My request to the Muslim community is to remain patient under extreme adversity and provocation. Our actions must be enveloped in patience, patience and more patience – this is the only way we can overcome evil.’

Harun Khan from the Muslim Council of Britain writes, ‘Muslim communities have been calling for increased action to tackle the growth of hate crime for many years and transformative action must now be taken to tackle not only this incident but the hugely worrying growth in Islamophobia. Many will feel terrorised, no doubt be angry and saddened by what has taken place tonight. We urge calm as the investigation establishes the full facts, and in these last days of Ramadan, pray for those affected and for justice.”

Rupa Huq, an MP said, ‘Another sickening terrorist attack on innocent Londoners. we must not allow those who seek to exploit these for political ends to succeed.’

Diane Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said, ‘Shocking terror attack outside Finsbury park mosque. Thoughts and prayers with friends and families of the victims. Police must urgently review security for all mosques. #StandTogether.’

Brits who are victim to any form of hate crime are encouraged to contact Tell Mama https://tellmamauk.org/ for advice, guidance and support.