Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2017 5:27:55 GMT
A man has died and eight people have been injured after a van ploughed into pedestrians near a north London mosque.
The van mounted the pavement and struck a group of people just after midnight near Finsbury Park Mosque in Seven Sisters Road. A 48-year-old man has been arrested.
Prime Minister Theresa May said police were treating it "as a potential terrorist attack".
The Muslim Council of Britain said a van intentionally ran over worshippers.
Counter terrorism officers are at the scene, the Metropolitan Police said.
Follow live updates here
Many of the victims are believed to have just left evening prayers at the Muslim Welfare House after breaking the Ramadan fast.
The MCB said it was a "violent manifestation of Islamophobia" and called for extra security around mosques.
The PM will chair an emergency meeting later.
She described it as a "terrible incident", adding: "All my thoughts are with those who have been injured, their loved ones and the emergency services on the scene."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-40322960
The van mounted the pavement and struck a group of people just after midnight near Finsbury Park Mosque in Seven Sisters Road. A 48-year-old man has been arrested.
Prime Minister Theresa May said police were treating it "as a potential terrorist attack".
The Muslim Council of Britain said a van intentionally ran over worshippers.
Counter terrorism officers are at the scene, the Metropolitan Police said.
Follow live updates here
Many of the victims are believed to have just left evening prayers at the Muslim Welfare House after breaking the Ramadan fast.
The MCB said it was a "violent manifestation of Islamophobia" and called for extra security around mosques.
The PM will chair an emergency meeting later.
She described it as a "terrible incident", adding: "All my thoughts are with those who have been injured, their loved ones and the emergency services on the scene."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-40322960
Former terrorism links[edit]
Al Qaeda operatives including "shoebomber" Richard Reid and Zacarias Moussaoui attended the mosque.[7] In 2002, The Guardian reported that weapons training had taken place inside the building.[8]
The mosque rose to notoriety after Abu Hamza al-Masri became Imam of the Mosque, due to his extremist ideologies and views on terrorism.[9] However, in 2003 the Mosque was raided by the Police and shut down. It was then reclaimed in 2005 by the local Muslim community with the help of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB). A new board of trustees was installed and completely transformed the Mosque from a hostile place to a friendly and cohesive environment where all members from the local community and wider society were accepted and welcomed regardless of their faith and background.[10]
In 2014, HSBC bank closed Finsbury Park Mosque's bank account. This was due to reported links to terrorism before 2005, based on information provided by the Thomson Reuters news agency. However, the mosque then filed a legal case against Thomson Reuters and won in 2017, with Reuters being required to issue an apology and pay damages.[11][12]
According to classified American documents, released by Wikileaks, Finsbury Park mosque previously served "as a haven" for Islamic extremists who subsequently fought against allied forces in Afghanistan.[13]
Wood Green ricin plot[edit]
In 2003, over one hundred armed police raided the building as part of the investigation into the alleged Wood Green ricin plot.[14] Abu Hamza al-Masri was eventually jailed for seven years in 2006 after being convicted of inciting murder and race hate. Later, he was deported to the United States to face justice for terrorism charges after a ten-year battle in the British courts based on his "indefinite leave to remain in the UK", which was granted to him by the previous Conservative government. He was eventually sentenced to life in prison.[15]
Al Qaeda operatives including "shoebomber" Richard Reid and Zacarias Moussaoui attended the mosque.[7] In 2002, The Guardian reported that weapons training had taken place inside the building.[8]
The mosque rose to notoriety after Abu Hamza al-Masri became Imam of the Mosque, due to his extremist ideologies and views on terrorism.[9] However, in 2003 the Mosque was raided by the Police and shut down. It was then reclaimed in 2005 by the local Muslim community with the help of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB). A new board of trustees was installed and completely transformed the Mosque from a hostile place to a friendly and cohesive environment where all members from the local community and wider society were accepted and welcomed regardless of their faith and background.[10]
In 2014, HSBC bank closed Finsbury Park Mosque's bank account. This was due to reported links to terrorism before 2005, based on information provided by the Thomson Reuters news agency. However, the mosque then filed a legal case against Thomson Reuters and won in 2017, with Reuters being required to issue an apology and pay damages.[11][12]
According to classified American documents, released by Wikileaks, Finsbury Park mosque previously served "as a haven" for Islamic extremists who subsequently fought against allied forces in Afghanistan.[13]
Wood Green ricin plot[edit]
In 2003, over one hundred armed police raided the building as part of the investigation into the alleged Wood Green ricin plot.[14] Abu Hamza al-Masri was eventually jailed for seven years in 2006 after being convicted of inciting murder and race hate. Later, he was deported to the United States to face justice for terrorism charges after a ten-year battle in the British courts based on his "indefinite leave to remain in the UK", which was granted to him by the previous Conservative government. He was eventually sentenced to life in prison.[15]
While I don't condone any acts of terrorism the fact remains this mosque should never been allowed to reopen.
And they can talk about about "makeovers,new management" and all that other happy horseshit,but the fact remains this mosque was(and maybe still is) a breeding ground for Islamic terrorists)
It should have been seized by the government and destroyed.