Three hurt as car swerves into crowd outside Islamic Centre
London mosque crash: Car hits crowd in anti-Islamic attack in Edgware Road, Cricklewood
Share PA Sep 19th 2018 3:53AM Detectives are investigating whether an incident in which a car hit pedestrians outside a mosque was an anti-Muslim attack.
Three people were struck by the vehicle outside the Al-Majlis Al-Hussaini Islamic centre in Cricklewood, north-west London, as it sped away following a row, Scotland Yard said.
Two men in their 20s suffered minor injuries, and a man in his 50s is in hospital with a serious leg injury, Scotland Yard said.
The force said it is investigating reports the occupants of the car shouted “anti-Islamic taunts” after being asked to leave by security for drinking, using drugs and behaving anti-socially.
Others at the scene claimed to hear people from the car shouting anti-Islamic taunts, with Hussaini Association head of security Hassan Naddi claiming the group were shouting “dirty muslims”.
Occupants of the car, inside a private car park at the Islamic centre, were told to leave by security at around 12.20am for anti-social behaviour, drinking and apparently using drugs, the force said.
Detectives are investigating whether the incident was an anti-Muslim attack (PA)MoreView photosA spokesman for the Hussaini Association said the collision was a suspected premeditated Islamphobic attack (PA)MoreDetectives are analysing CCTV in a bid to trace the driver and are keeping an open mind as to the cause of the collision.
The occupants, three men and a woman in their mid-20s, were then involved in a row with a group outside the centre where anti-Muslim language was apparently used.
Three injured after car ploughs into worshippers outside mosque in possible anti-Muslim attack
Some of the crowd reportedly inflicted “minor damage” on the car before it made off at speed, hitting three people as it left, the force said.
The Islamic centre said the car was “hurtling down” the road and mounted the pavement before swerving into bystanders who were “indiscriminately mown down”.
Detectives are analysing CCTV in a bid to trace the driver and are “keeping an open mind as to the cause of the collision”, the Metropolitan Police said.
The Hussaini Association, which organized a lecture at the mosque, said on Facebook that people “were indiscriminately mown down in a suspected premeditated [Islamophobic] attack.” The driver and the passengers of the car were heard shouting “anti Islamic taunts at the crowd before they started their attack,” the association said. “We are in deep shock at such an attack.”
A spokesman for the Hussaini Association, which organises Islamic lectures at the centre, said: “We are in deep shock at such an attack taking place on our community but remain proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society.”
Police say the case is “not being treated as terrorist-related,” but added that “the hate crime aspect of the collision is being looked at by detectives as an aggravating factor.”Two of the injured were taken to the hospital, police said.
Cricklewood Islamic Centre: Car seen swerving at crowd
Kelly Schonhage from Brent CID said: “We are treating this incident very seriously and a number of inquiries are under way to trace the car and those involved.
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Cricklewood mosque crash: Car drove into pedestrians outside North London Muslim centre, causing multiple injuries
“Inquiries into the full circumstances of the collision are ongoing. If you were there at the time and have information I would urge you to contact police with information.
“Extra neighbourhood police patrols have been stepped up in the area and officers will be on hand to speak with those in the local community.”
Two men in their 20s suffered minor injuries, and a man in his 50s is in hospital with a serious leg injury after the incident outside the Al-Majlis Al-Hussaini Islamic centre in Cricklewood.
This is the shocking moment that a car ploughed into pedestrians outside a mosque – with shouts of dirty Muslims heard – before speeding off.
Car hits pedestrians outside Cricklewood mosque after passengers hurled anti-Islamic abuse
Passengers are claimed to have hurled anti-Muslim taunts before the vehicle sped off outside the Al-Majlis Al-Hussaini mosque in Cricklewood, North West London.
Two men were taken to hospital after the crash outside the Muslim prayer centre in Cricklewood about 00:35 BST. The driver failed to stop.
Three people – including two men in their 20s and a man in his 50s – were taken to hospital but their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.