Police using a stun gun have detained a man suspected of attacking worshippers at a mosque in central London.
The incident comes at a time of heightened tension after the terrorist attack in Finsbury Park. The man was found outside Regent’s Park mosque, brandishing a shoe horn he had allegedly stolen from within the place of worship, at around 1.20am. He was arrested on suspicion of affray and taken into custody.
The Metropolitan police said the incident was not being treated as terrorism-related and no one was injured.
Video on social media showed the suspect lying on the pavement outside the mosque and police officers shouting at passersby to get back.
Regents park mosque now I just don't understand this world pic.twitter.com/lMmQKKlZIL
— maria idrissi (@zee_hadid) June 21, 2017
A Met police spokesman said: “The item being waved was found to be a shoe horn taken from the mosque. The incident is not being treated as terrorism-related at this time. Officers are keeping an open mind regarding any motivation for the incident.”
Two days previously a man from Cardiff was arrested after one person died and 11 people were injured when a van ploughed into a group of worshippers near Finsbury Park mosque in north London.
Darren Osborne, 47, is being held on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism, including murder and attempted murder.
The Finsbury Park attack happened while a man who had been taken ill was receiving first aid from the public near the mosque, where people had been saying Ramadan night prayers. The van was driven at people who were helping him.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene and paramedics took nine other people to three London hospitals. Two others were treated for minor injuries.