The police have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder after a prayer leader was stabbed at a mosque in London.
According to reports, police officers were called to the London Central Mosque, which is near Regent’s Park just after 3 pm local time.
The police came to the mosque to find a man in his 70s with stab injuries.
According to the London Metropolitan Police, the victim was brought to the hospital.
Official reports suggest that the injuries the man sustained are not life-threatening.
The incident is not being treated as a terrorist attack.
Images and videos that are shared on social media show police officers arresting and guiding a man wearing a red sweater.
It is said that there were around 100 people in the mosque when the incident happened.
During the attack, a number of people pinned down the assailant to the ground.
Eyewitnesses of the scene said they had seen the attacker attend the mosque in recent weeks.
In a statement that was released by the police, they said, “A 29-year-old man, who is believed to have been attending prayers, was arrested inside the mosque on suspicion of attempted murder.”
They added, “He has been taken into custody at a central London police station. A crime scene has been put in place. Enquiries continue.”
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, released a statement about the incident, where he said, “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.”
Mayor Khan said the police have increased security in the area.
After the incident, the London Central Mosque released a statement.
In the statement, they said, “There was an Incident today at London Central Mosque where an unknown individual attacked and stabbed the muazzin (the person who makes the call to prayer) during Asr Prayer around 3 p.m.”
The statement added, “The attacker was apprehended by the worshipers 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.”
Miqdaad Versi, a spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain, said the attack that happened at the Central London Mosque is extremely worrying.
Mohammad Shafiq, the CEO of the Ramadhan Foundation, said, “We must have no hesitation in condemning such evil. Mosques and all places of worship are sacred and should be protected.”
The London Central Mosque is a place where Muslims worship and pray.
The Mosque is known for attracting a large number of worshipers and visitors.