A 48-year-old van driver was reported to have cried “I want to kill all Muslims” as he ram his van into worshipers close to a Mosque in London, today, 19th of June, at around 12 am. The attack which has left one dead and ten others injured has been described as “a potential terrorist attack” by the Prime Minister, Theresa May.
Eye witness at the scene however expressed shock on the attitude and approach at which the police force seem to handle the matter. Many complained that the security operatives have not been fair enough. Insinuating that it would have been treated differently if it were to be a case against the Muslims. They noted that while the common people took the incident for a terrorist attack, the police only managed to caption it for the public as “a vehicle had collided with pedestrians”. For the worshipers, this submission by the police has been labeled unfair.
Eye witnesses have further alleged security operatives of unwarranted sluggishness on duty. They complained that the police force did not responded swift enough as expected, saying they had to hold down the suspect for another 20 minutes before they (the police) surfaced. According to a report on Vanguard News Website, describing the incident, “Witnesses said a white van struck a crowd of Muslim worshipers who had been attending evening prayers during the holy month of Ramadan and were looking after a man who had collapsed.”
According to some narratives emerging from London, the 48-year-old suspect has been “arrested by the police on suspicion of attempted murder” and will be prosecuted accordingly. Â It is reported that the injured victims are receiving medical attentions while the 48-year-old suspect “has been taken to hospital as a precaution and is due to receive a mental health assessment”.
London in recent times have recorded a rise in Islamophobic crimes. This attack, by the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan described it as “horrific terrorist attack on innocent Londoners”. Khalid Amin, who witnessed the crime said the suspect was heard shouting: “I want to kill all Muslims”.
“Over the past weeks and months, Muslims have endured many incidents of Islamophobia and this is the most violent manifestation to date.”
The Muslim community hereby call on well-being persons to identify against violence only by supporting justice. This call was made by the head of Ramadan Foundation community group, Mohammed Shafiq.
“The British Muslim community requires all decent people to stand with us against this evil violence.”
