Muezzin in his 70s stabbed at mosque in London’s Regent’s Park
Written by News on 20/02/2020
An elderly man has been stabbed at a mosque in central London during afternoon prayers.
The victim, in his 70s, was taken to hospital after being attacked at London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park at about 3pm.
While he was seriously injured, his condition is not said to be life threatening and he is being treated at a major trauma centre, police said.
He is the muezzin who leads the call to prayer and was at the front of the hall when he was assaulted.
Abi Watik, 59, who was there, said the muezzin was stabbed once in the right shoulder moments after prayers got underway.
“We were shocked – we didn’t know what was happening,” Mr Watik said.
A 29-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder after worshippers pinned him down, Scotland Yard said.
Video taken by worshippers showed a white man wearing a red hoodie, black trousers and no shoes being handcuffed by police.
One piece of footage showed a knife on the floor under a plastic chair.
Witnesses said the suspect spoke with “a London accent” and had been a regular at the mosque but was last seen at least six months ago.
The incident is not being treated as terror related, a police spokesman said.
Ayaz Ahmad, adviser to the mosque, said the prime minister’s office, the Home Office and the Mayor of London’s office had called to give their regards following the incident.
Boris Johnson tweeted: “I’m deeply saddened to hear of the attack at the London Central Mosque. It’s so awful that this should happen, especially in a place of worship. My thoughts are with the victim and all those affected.”
London Central Mosque is one of the country’s largest and can hold 5,000 worshippers, with people from across the capital travelling to it for prayers every day.
About 200-300 people are understood to have been there when the attack happened.
After speaking to people at the scene, Sky News’ Inzamam Rashid said “there are heightened fears for Muslims at places like Regent’s Park Mosque and there will be heightened security in the days to come”.
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(c) Sky News 2020: Muezzin in his 70s stabbed at mosque in London’s Regent’s Park
