Donald Trump criticised for failing to condemn terror attack against Muslims in Finsbury Park

The husband of murdered MP Jo Cox has criticised Donald Trump for failing to condemn the terror attack near a London mosque on Sunday night.

One man was killed and eight injured after a white van ploughed into a group of worshippers in Finsbury Park in the latest terror attack to hit London.

Witnesses described hearing the man, who was detained by members of the public at the scene, shout: “I’m going to kill Muslims.”

The US President, who got embroiled in a bitter slanging match with the London Mayor in the wake of the London Bridge attack earlier this month, has yet to mention the attack in a statement or on Twitter – his favoured means of communication.

And it hasn’t one unnoticed by Brendan Cox, the widower of the MP who was stabbed to death before the EU referendum last year.

Mr Cox tweeted at Mr Trump: “I fear u may have missed it but there was a terror attack last night in London on Muslims. Looking fwd to yr condemnation.”

Earlier this month, Mr Trump began a war of words with Sadiq Khan, after the Mayor urged Londoners not to be “alarmed” by the increase in number of armed police following the terror attack on Borough Market.

In a bizarre Twitter rant, Mr Trump condemned Mr Khan’s reaction, saying: “At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is “no reason to be alarmed!”

A spokesman for Mr Khan said in response: “He [Mr Khan] has more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump’s ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context his remarks urging Londoners not to be alarmed when they saw more police – including armed officers – on the streets.”

Undeterred, Mr Trump – seemingly trying to garner support for his anti-Muslim travel ban – doubled down – accusing the Mayor of being pathetic.

The attack follows warnings of an unprecedented anti-Muslim backlash after recent terrorist atrocities.

Police in London recorded a spike in the number of Islamophobic incidents in the wake of the London Bridge outrage earlier this month, with 20 recorded on June 6 – compared with a daily average of 3.5.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Cox called for far-right extremists who peddle Islamophobia to be treated in the same way as hate preachers.

He tweeted: “Far right facists&Islamist terrorists are driven by same hatred of difference, same ideology of supremacy&use same tactics.We’ll defeat both.

“When islamist terrorists attack we rightly seek out hate preachers who spur them on. We must do the same to those who peddle Islamophobia”.

Mother-of-two Mrs Cox, who represented the Batley and Spen constituency in West Yorkshire, was shot and stabbed as she arrived for a constituency surgery in Birstall on June 16 last year.

Thomas Mair was given a whole life term at the Old Bailey in November after being convicted of her murder.

Dr Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society think tank, said: “Coming a year after the murder of Jo Cox, we have witnessed what appears to be another hateful act in the community.

“It is looking increasingly likely that this is the latest example of a growing threat of far-right extremism in the UK.

Labour leader and local Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn expressed his shock at what had happened, writing on Twitter: “I’m totally shocked at the incident at Finsbury Park tonight.

“I’ve been in touch with the mosques, police and Islington council regarding the incident. My thoughts are with those and the community affected by this awful event.”

Sadiq Khan urged people to “remain calm and vigilant”.

He said: “We don’t yet know the full details, but this was clearly a deliberate attack on innocent Londoners, many of whom were finishing prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.

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“While this appears to be an attack on a particular community, like the terrible attacks in Manchester, Westminster and London Bridge it is also an assault on all our shared values of tolerance, freedom and respect.

“The situation is still unfolding and I urge all Londoners to remain calm and vigilant. Please report anything suspicious to the police, but only call 999 in an emergency.

“The Met have deployed extra police to reassure communities, especially those observing Ramadan.”