Car Rams Into Muslim Congregation Outside London Mosque, Investigation Underway

Update 4.10 a.m. EDT: According to latest reports, three people were taken to the hospital — two men in their 20s and a man in his 50s. Their injuries were not life threatening.

Original story

At least two were injured when a car crashed into a crowd of Muslims outside a mosque in Cricklewood, northwest London on Wednesday.

Reports said the car swerved and mounted a pavement before it made its way to the pedestrians who were leaving The Hussaini (Balaghiya) Association in Oxgate Lane.

The driver, drove off following the incident, was currently being hunted down by the police. Some eyewitnesses said the perpetrators were heard shouting anti-Islamic slogans before they rammed into the crowd.

According to a Scotland Yard spokesperson, there were three males and a woman in their mid-20s inside the car. They were asked to leave a private park, after which they drove to Oxgate Lane.

“Police have established that at approximately 00.20am security at the community center were informed of occupants in a car behaving anti-socially, drinking and allegedly using drugs,” the spokesman said. “The car then drove near the center and the occupants were involved in a confrontation with a large group of people visiting the center. Words were exchanged and comments of an Islamophobic nature were allegedly made by the group in the car.”

“The car then reportedly sustained minor damage by some of those outside the center. It proceeded to make off at speed colliding with three individuals as it left,” the spokesperson said, adding the police were on the lookout for the car and its occupants.

Reports said the Metropolitan Police was keeping an “open mind” about the cause behind the incident, and currently it was not being treated as terror-related.

The injured were rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to reports.

Metropolitan Police spokesperson said they were called to the scene at 12.25 a.m. local time Wednesday (7.25 p.m. EDT Tuesday). Local borough officers and the London Ambulance Service also responded to the call.

"Two people were taken to hospital for treatment and their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening,” the spokesperson said, according to a report on Mirror. "The driver failed to stop at the scene. Inquiries are continuing. Officers are keeping an open mind at this stage as to what exactly happened. It is not being treating as terrorist related.”

The Hussaini Association said the victims were attacked in a “suspected premeditated Islamophobic attack” outside the mosque.

“Eyewitnesses saw a red Nissan Juke hurtling down Oxgate Lane just as the evening programme finished, mounting the pavement and hitting innocent members of the community who were heading home at around midnight,” Hussaini Association spokesman said, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

The spokesperson added a number of volunteers stood between the vehicle and the crowd. “These acts of bravery potentially saved the lives of dozens of innocent people from being taken.”

“We are treating this incident very seriously and a number of enquiries are underway to trace the car and those involved,” Detective Superintendent Kelly Schonhage said. “Enquiries into the full circumstances of the collision are ongoing. If you were there at the time and have information I would urge you to contact police with information. Extra neighborhood police patrols have been stepped up in the area and officers will be on hand to speak with those in the local community.”