It is understood the victim, in his 70s, who was a prayer leader at London Central Mosque was stabbed in the neck.
Police and paramedics rushed to the scene, near Regent's Park, at 3.10pm on Thursday where they found the elderly man with multiple injuries.
He was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital. His condition is described as non life-threatening.
The alleged attacker, aged 29, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and taken into custody.
Scotland Yard is not treating the incident as terror-related.
Police remain at the scene (PA)
Mustafa Field, director of the Faiths Forum for London, told reporters outside the mosque that worshippers said it was “one stab, one strike, around the neck” of the victim.
He said: “Then the congregation members, some of them broke their prayers, and intervened, restrained the individual.
“The mosque security called the police, and the police were there within minutes, and he was restrained and taken away.”
Images posted to social media showed a bare footed man in a red hooded top, being pinned to the floor by police inside the mosque, as others, including a small child, watched on.
One video showed a knife on the floor under a plastic chair.
A man dressed in a hooded top was arrested at the scene (SLDN95/Twitter)
Another witness, Abi Watik, 59, said the victim had been stabbed once in the right shoulder moments after prayers had started, and he believed the suspect had waited for that moment.
“We were shocked, we didn’t know what happened, we saw the guy on the floor and blood on his shoulder and the knife on the floor," Mr Watik said.
“He was waiting for him I think to start praying. He was right behind him.”
Eyewitness Abi Watik speaks to media outside London Central Mosque (PA)
The Muslim Council of Britain said in a statement: “We condemn this attack. Our thoughts and prayers are with the muezzin and those at the London Central Mosque, its leaders and congregants.
“Although the details of the incident are still coming through, it is deeply distressing to hear of an attack of this nature, with worshippers being targeted in a mosque, a place of spiritual sanctuary.
“Regardless of the motive of the attacker, we must remain calm but vigilant, as we aim to balance the importance of retaining mosques as open spaces, and the security of worshippers. In this light, we will be reissuing our safety advice to mosques across the country.”
Police are not treating the incident as terror-related (PA)
Boris Johnson, Sadiq Khan and the Arcbishop of Canterbury were among those to share their condolences to those affected in the hours following the shocking incident.
The Prime Minister tweeted: “I’m deeply saddened to hear of the attack at the London Central Mosque. It’s so awful that this should happen, especially in a place of worship. My thoughts are with the victim and all those affected.”
The Mayor of London wrote that he was "deeply concerned" by the incident, adding: "Every Londoner is entitled to feel safe in their place of worship & I want to reassure London’s communities that acts of violence in our city will not be tolerated.
“The Met are providing extra resources in the area.”
Archbishop Justin Welby asked his followers to pray for healing for the victim.
He tweeted: “My sympathy is with those in shock after the stabbing at the London Central Mosque.
“Please join me in praying for healing for the victim and for peace across our communities.”
Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan, director-general of the Islamic Cultural Centre at the mosque, told reporters that the man injured was the mosque’s muezzin, who is appointed to lead the call to prayer.
He said another prayer hall had been opened for worshippers while police carried out their investigation.
“I feel sorry about what happened in the mosque, because this place is iconic, not only for Muslims but for all the British society,” he said.
“Many Muslims come here, many communities come here.
“We are so sorry this has happened here, and I hope it’s only an individual incident.”
A Police officer is seen outside the London Central Mosque (REUTERS)
A statement on the mosque’s website confirmed that the victim was calling worshippers to prayer at the time.
It read: “There was an incident today at London Central Mosque where an unknown individual attacked and stabbed the Muazzin during Asr Prayer around 3pm.
“The attacker was apprehended by the worshippers until the police arrived and arrested him.
“The Muazzin did not sustain any life threatening injuries but was seriously injured and is being treated at the hospital. We will provide further updates.
“We await further information from the police regarding the incident, our thoughts and prayers are with the Muazzin and his family.”
TellMAMA, an organisation which records anti-Muslim incidents in the UK, was one of the first groups to denounce the attack.
"We strongly condemn the non-life threatening attack on the Muezzin at Regent's Park Mosque," the group tweeted on social media.
"Tell MAMA is liaising with the police and the mosque, an arrest has been made."
Meanwhile East London Mosque released a statement describing its shock at the incident.
It tweeted: “We are shocked to learn of the stabbing this afternoon during prayers at the London Central Mosque.
“May Allah help our brothers and sisters there, especially the victim of this horrendous attack.”
Post time 20-2-2020 05:38 PM
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