Prayer leader stabbed in neck at London mosque pictured smiling as he recovers

21 February 2020, 22:46 | Updated: 21 February 2020, 22:51

A prayer leader who was stabbed in the neck in a knife attack at a London mosque has been pictured smiling as he recovers in hospital.

Worshippers tackled a knifeman in a mosque after he stabbed the victim, in his 70s, as he led the call to prayer.

A 29-year-old man, who is believed to have been attending prayers at London Central Mosque in Regent's Park, central London, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder at the scene yesterday afternoon.

The victim was taken to hospital, where his condition is not life-threatening, and Scotland Yard is not treating the attack as terror-related, or seeking any other suspects.

Witnesses told how the suspect attacked the muezzin, who makes the call to prayer, at around 3pm.

Ayaz Ahmad, adviser to the mosque, said: "Everybody's reaction was shock and horror, the men were screaming.

"It was a vicious attack. We live in a society where we hear a lot about knife crime and what have you but actually to physically be in a situation where you're first-hand watching an attempted murder take place it's very shocking."

Abi Watik, 59, said the victim was stabbed once in the right shoulder moments after prayers had started and the attacker "was silent the whole time".

"We were shocked, we didn't know what happened, we saw the guy on the floor and blood on his shoulder and the knife on the floor," he said.

The mosque said members of the congregation broke from their prayers and restrained the attacker until police arrived.

Mr Ahmad added: "It would have been life threatening if it wasn't for the worshippers who helped stop the guy and apprehend him.

"I called the ambulance, the ambulance came within a matter of minutes."

Mustafa Field, director of the Faiths Forum for London, told reporters outside the mosque that worshippers said it was "one stab, one strike, around the neck" of the victim.

"Then the congregation members, some of them broke their prayers, and intervened, restrained the individual," he said.

Images posted to social media showed a white man in a red hooded top, jeans and bare feet being pinned to the floor by police officers inside the mosque, as others, including a small child, watched on.

One video showed a knife on the floor under a plastic chair.

The mosque remained open on Thursday night, with worshippers moved from the main hall but continuing prayers.

Adnan Idha, 54, a regular worshipper at the mosque, said the suspect had been attending for around three months and had been seen with the victim in his office.

Mr Idha said: "He was close with the man who was stabbed, he would sit in his office with him.

The victim has been named by mosque-goers as Raafat.

Scotland Yard said the suspect was been taken into custody at a central London police station, adding: "The incident is not being treated as terror-related at this time."

Chief Superintendent Helen Harper, of Central-West Borough Command Unit, said: "This was a profoundly shocking incident inside a place of worship and an urgent investigation is being carried out into the circumstances.

"Although we believe this to be an isolated incident, patrols have been increased around the area of the mosque to provide reassurance to worshippers and the local community."

She added: "I would like to thank everybody in the mosque who helped to detain the man before he was arrested and continue to help my officers with their enquiries. I'm extremely relieved the injuries suffered by the victim do not appear to be life-threatening.

"However, this incident has undoubtedly caused a great deal of concern and we are working as swiftly as possible to establish the circumstances. No other suspects are being sought at this time."

Prime Minister 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."

Westminster City Council Leader Rachael Robathan said: "The motives for this attack are unclear, but one thing is absolutely clear - violence has absolutely no place in our City. Our thoughts are with the victim of this attack and his family."