Finsbury Park attack victim was alive when van struck, inquest told

A man who died in the Finsbury Park mosque attack was alive when he was struck by a van, an inquest has heard.

Makram Ali, 51, had collapsed on Seven Sisters Road with shortness of breath during a “medical episode”, prompting passersby to come to his aid in the early hours of 19 June, St Pancras coroner’s court was told.

A van ploughed into the crowd, striking Ali and several others on the corner of Seven Sisters Road and Whadcoat Street. Ali was later pronounced dead at the scene. Three of those injured remain in hospital.

DI Edwin Hall, of the Metropolitan police, told the inquest a postmortem had concluded that Ali was alive when he was struck by the vehicle and his cause of death was multiple injuries.

Hall told the hearing: “He was seen to collapse to the ground. It’s believed he suffered a medical episode. Witnesses described him panting and his eyes half open.

“Most of those present were wearing traditional Muslim dress and were easily recognisable as members of the Muslim community.”

A van drove past and “deliberately ploughed” into the group, including Ali, Hall told the inquest.

The driver attempted to run from the scene but was “quickly apprehended”, he added.

A forensic pathologist Simon Hall conducted a postmortem on Ali’s body. Hall said: “His preliminary assessment was Mr Ali was alive when he was struck by the vehicle and he died of multiple injuries.”

Ali, who lives in north London and was born in Bangladesh, had left a prayer meeting at Muslim Welfare House when he fell ill.

In a statement released after his death, Ali’s family described him as a peace-loving and gentle person who had no enemies. They were due to fly to Canada for a family holiday.

The statement said: “We are devastated by the loss of a husband, father, brother and grandfather, Makram Ali, in this tragic event.

“Our father was a quiet gentle man, he didn’t get involved in political or social discussion, he instead took comfort and enjoyment spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren and he was always ready to make a funny joke when you least expected.

“We wish everyone to know what a loving man he was, he spent his whole life without any enemies, choosing a quiet life instead. We as a family have always believed that the actions of one person cannot be a reflection of a whole people and I have no doubt that our father would not wish for there to be any retaliation or recriminations and would urge people to remain calm and to pray for peace in these difficult times.”

The alleged driver of the van, Darren Osborne, has been charged with terrorism-related murder and attempted murder. He was remanded in custody at the Old Bailey on Tuesday and will appear again on 20 July.

The coroner for inner north London, Mary Hassell, opened and adjourned the inquest into Ali’s death until criminal proceedings had concluded.