Finsbury Park mosque terror attacker laughed 'I want to kill Muslims' while pinned down
THE driver who ploughed into pedestrians near Finsbury Park mosque screamed “I want to kill all Muslims” moments after the incident, an eyewitness has claimed.
Finsbury witness claims attacker screamed about 'killing Muslims'
According to multiple witnesses, the white van was driving along a bus lane on Seven Sisters road before it veered onto the pavement.
One person has been confirmed dead and several others are injured after the incident at 00.20am BST took place while Muslims were leaving prayers.
Witness Saleh Alamoudi, pictured right, said the driver screamed he wanted to "kill all Muslims"
Abdulrahman Saleh Alamoudi said he was among a group of people helping an elderly worshipper who had fallen down, perhaps because of the heat, when the van swerved towards them.
He told BuzzFeed News: "This big van just came and went all over us.
"I think at least eight or 10 people got injured. Luckily I managed to escape. And then the guy came out of his van and I got him.
Police attend to scene following Finsbury Park terror attack
"He was screaming, he was saying, 'I'm going to kill all Muslims, I'm going to kill all Muslims'. He was throwing punches.
"Then we managed to get him on the floor. Then he was saying, 'Kill me, kill me'. I said, 'We are not going to kill you. Why did you do that?' He wouldn't say anything."
Witness Saleh Alamoudi recounts the horrific attack near Finsbury Park Mosque
"People were getting hit"- eyewitness describes mosque attack
Then he [the white van driver] was saying, 'Kill me, kill me'
Mr Salah Alamoudi claimed eight people were hit and up to three of them were in a "life-threatening" condition.
He also claimed they had to hold the suspect on the ground for up to half an hour before police arrived.
A police forensic tent has been erected, hours after the Finsbury Park attack
Mr Salah Alamoudi continued: “The guy, I had to keep him at least half an hour. He was a strong guy. A big man.
"It was heartbreaking. It wasn't an accident."
Worshippers hold prayers on the street moments after the van mowed pedestrians down
Nearly five hours after the terrorist incident was reported, Mrs May confirmed she is treating the incident as a terrorist attack.
She is set to chair a COBRA meeting later today.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the 48-year-old van driver was detained by members of public at the scene and then arrested by police.
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