A MAN has been arrested after a worshipper was allegedly stabbed in the neck during a call to prayer at a London mosque.

Police were called to reports of a stabbing at London Central Mosque near Regent's Park shortly after 3pm today.

Dramatic pictures show the man sitting cross-legged on the floor as he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The victim, in his 70s, was rushed to hospital but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Police remain at the scene and an investigation has been launched.

Around 300 people are believed to have been in the mosque when the attack took place.

One worshipper said the incident unfolded during call to prayer.

In a video message posted on Twitter, the eye-witness said: "The Imam, before he led the Salat, all of a sudden this racist, terrorist person came and stabbed him on his neck.

"He was actually going for the Imam, to stab the Imam, but the Muezzin was trying to protect. And then he got stabbed in the neck.

"This is a very, very scary scenario."

Central London Mosque is one of the biggest in the country and can hold up to 5,000 worshippers.

The incident comes nearly two years after Darren Osborne launched an attack outside a mosque in Finsbury Park, North London.

He was jailed for life after ploughing a rental van into worshippers on June 19, 2017, and left a 51-year-old man dead with nine others injured.

The incident has not yet been declared as terror-related but the Met Police's SO15 counter terror unit are believed to be investigating.

A Met Police spokesman said: "Police were called to a mosque in Park Road at 3.10pm to reports of a stabbing.

"Officers attended along with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service. A man, in his 70s, was found with stab injuries.

"He was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital. His condition has been assessed as non life-threatening.

"A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder.

"A crime scene has been put in place. Enquiries continue."

Source: Read Full Article