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Jeremy Corbyn moved to tears as he visits scene of Finsbury Park terror attack

Matilda Long
·Data and Politics News Editor, Yahoo News UK

Jeremy Corbyn was moved to tears as he visited the scene of the Finsbury Park mosque terror attack, which took place in his constituency of Islington North.

The Labour leader spoke to local residents as he took in the aftermath of the attack, which left one person dead and another 10 injured.

Mr Corbyn was visibly distressed as he attended the scene, which targeted Muslims as they attended prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.

He said in a statement earlier today: ‘I am shocked by this horrific and cruel attack in Finsbury Park, which is being treated as an act of terror.

‘I offer my condolences to the family and friends of the man who has died, and our thoughts are with the people who have been injured, their family and friends.

Read more about the Finsbury Park terror attack

‘As the local MP, I have met with Muslim community leaders at the Muslim Welfare House alongside Islington Council Leader Richard Watts, the council’s Chief Executive Lesley Seary and the Metropolitan Police.

‘Richard and I will attend prayers at Finsbury Park mosque later today.

‘I appeal for people and the media to remain calm and respectful of those affected.

‘In the meantime, I call on everyone to stand together against those who seek to divide us.’

Theresa May called the attack ‘every bit as sickening’ as the recent atrocities to hit the UK.

She and Jeremy Corbyn both visited the scene today, and held separate meetings with members of the community.

The Prime Minister was heckled as she left the Finsbury Park mosque, with one bystander shouting: ‘How come you were so quick today?” in reference to her initial failure to meet with victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.

An armed policeman attends the scene in Finsbury Park (PA Images)
An armed policeman attends the scene in Finsbury Park (PA Images)

The white van ploughed into a group of Muslim worshippers in Seven Sisters in London.

Abdulrahman Saleh Alamoudi said he was among a group of people targeted. He told Buzzfeed News: ‘

‘This big van just came and went all over us.

‘I think at least eight or 10 people got injured. Luckily I managed to escape. And then the guy came out of his van and I got him.’

An eyewitness described how the suspect screamed “I’m going to kill all Muslims” before he was tackled to the floor outside the Muslim Welfare House on Seven Sisters Road.

After reportedly driving the van deliberately into the crowd, the man was detained by members of the public.

The imam of Finsbury Park mosque protected the suspected terrorist, shielding him from crowds of angry onlookers, until the police arrived on the scene shortly afterwards.

Another witness said the suspect told the injured: ‘You deserve it.’

A 48-year-old man has been arrested.