At least three people have been injured after a vehicle rammed into pedestrians close to a mosque in northwest London, British police have said.

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that the suspected "hate crime" took place shortly after 12:20am local time on Wednesday, when three males and a woman, all aged in their mid-twenties, were asked to leave a private car park in Cricklewood belonging to the Hussaini Association.

After engaging in a confrontation with a group of worshippers at the Shia Islamic centre, "comments of an Islamophobic nature were allegedly made," then the car "proceeded to make off at speed colliding with three individuals as it left."

"The car and its occupants failed to stop and injured three people," the police statement added.

Police said they had launched an investigation but the incident was not being treated as terror-related but as a possible hate crime.

"We are treating this incident very seriously and a number of enquiries are under way to trace the car and those involved," Kelly Schonhage, an officer from a local branch of the CID said.

The incident left a man in his 50s hospitalised with a "serious leg injury," while two other men in their 20s suffered minor injuries, the police said.

'P remeditated Islamophobic attack '

Ali Salman, who claims he was at the scene of the incident, said he was "milliseconds" from injury when the car swerved into groups of people leaving the centre.

"The driver was swerving into people, trying to run over as many people as possible," he said in a Facebook post.

Miqdaad Versi, the assistant secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), the largest Muslim umbrella body in the United Kingdom, claimed eyewitnesses reported hearing "anti-Islamic" slogans being shouted during the incident.

"Reports of Islamophobic insults being hurled mean that the incident is being treated as a potential hate crime," he said in a statement sent to Al Jazeera.

Images posted on social media appeared to show paramedics delivering first aid to the wounded, with one of the injured appearing to need help to breathe.

Reports suggest a car swerved into a crowd of Muslims outside the The Hussaini (Balaghiya) Association in Cricklewood, with 5 injured (3 seriously). Eye-witnesses apparently suggest perpetrators were heard shouting anti-Islamic sloguns.https://t.co/VmvysZgpC5 pic.twitter.com/niMOgf8ccM — Miqdaad Versi (@miqdaad) September 19, 2018

The Hussaini Association called the incident a "premeditated Islamophobic attack," adding that the worshippers were attending a 10-day series of lectures commemorating the death of Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed 1379 years ago according to the Islamic calendar, a date which will coincide with Thursday this year.

"We are in deep shock at such an attack taking place on our community," a spokesman for the association said in a statement.

"We remain proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society and as such we remain unintimidated."

London's Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: "We have a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime in London. Places of worship - for people of all faiths - must remain safe."

We have a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime in London. Places of worship - for people of all faiths - must remain safe. — Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) September 19, 2018

Surge in Islamophobia

Tell MAMA, an NGO tracking hate crimes against Muslims in the UK, reported a surge in Islamophobic attacks last year, with 1,201 verified reports submitted.

It said the 2017 figures marked a 26 percent increase on 2016, and were the biggest number since it began recording incidents in 2012.

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Reports of Islamophobia in the UK, including within the ruling Conservative Party, have come under scrutiny in recent months with calls to look into the problem.

Sayeeda Warsi, a senior Tory member, called for an inquiry into allegations of Islamophobia in the party in July, after writing an open letter in the Guardian newspaper.

"There should be a forensic, wide-ranging and transparent inquiry into Islamophobia in the party," Warsi, a member of the House of Lords said, adding "the process should be published, those who are found wanting should be publicly named and membership withdrawn".</s>Three people were injured after a car rammed into pedestrians outside a mosque in London, police said. Law enforcement hasIt happened shortly after midnight on Wednesday in the Cricklewood area of northwest London. Cricklewood is home to a number of mosques and Islamic centers.According to the Metropolitan Police,Then the vehicle "proceeded to make off at speed" colliding with three pedestrians. They are currently being sought by police."We are treating this incident very seriously and a number of enquiries are underway to trace the car and those involved," DS Kelly Schonhage from Brent CID said.Police say the case is "not being treated as terrorist-related," but added that "the hate crime aspect of the collision is being looked at by detectives as an aggravating factor."Two of the injured were taken to the hospital, police said.The Hussaini Association, which organized a lecture at the mosque, said on Facebook that people "were indiscriminately mown down in a suspected premeditated [Islamophobic] attack." The driver and the passengers of the car were heard shouting "anti Islamic taunts at the crowd before they started their attack," the association said. "We are in deep shock at such an attack."</s>British police have launched an investigation after three people were injured in a collision near a Muslim community center in northwest London, a statement said Wednesday morning.

The statement said police are treating the incident outside the Al-Majlis Al-Hussaini Centre at the junction of Oxgate Lane and Edgware Road as a hate crime.

"Two people were taken to hospital for treatment; two of those injured are males in their twenties," Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the London Metropolitan Police, said.

One of the men, in his fifties, remains in hospital and is being treated for a serious leg injury.

"Police have established that at approximately 12:20 a.m. security at the community center were informed of occupants in a car behaving anti-socially, drinking and allegedly using drugs," according to the police.

The car drove near the center 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."

Appealing for information from the public, the police also said the "incident is not being treated as terror related but a hate crime."

"We are treating this incident very seriously and a number of inquiries are underway to trace the car and those involved," Kelly Schonhage from Brent police said.

"Inquiries into the full circumstances of the collision are ongoing," she added.

The driver was a male and three passengers -- two males and a female -- were of Caucasian origin, according to eyewitnesses.

"They were heard shouting anti-Islamic taunts at the crowd before they started their attack," the Hussaini Association said.

Last year a similar attack killed Makram Ali, 51, and injured a dozen others when far-right extremist Darren Osborne plowed into a crowd of Muslim worshippers outside the Muslim Welfare House in Finsbury Park, London.

This February Osborne was jailed for life with no chance of parole for 43 years for murder and attempted murder.</s>Police in London launched an investigation Wednesday into a possible hate crime after a car hit a crowd outside a mosque, injuring three people.

The collision, in Cricklewood in north London in the early hours of Wednesday, followed the occupants of the car allegedly directing "comments of an Islamophobic nature" at the group, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The incident left a man in his 50s hospitalised with "a serious leg injury", while two other men in their 20s suffered minor injuries, it added.

Officers are working to trace the driver and occupants of the car -- three men and a woman, all aged in their mid-20s -- which fled the scene.

"This incident is not being treated as terror related but the hate crime aspect of the collision is being looked at by detectives as an aggravating factor," the Met said in a statement.

The incident began when security at the Al-Majlis Al-Hussaini Islamic centre learned the people in the car were "behaving anti-socially, drinking and allegedly using drugs," police added.

The vehicle occupants were asked to leave the private car park, sparking a "confrontation" with a large group of people outside the centre.

"Words were exchanged and comments of an Islamophobic nature were allegedly made by the group in the car," the Met said.

"The car then reportedly sustained minor damage by some of those outside the centre.

"It proceeded to make off at speed colliding with three individuals as it left."

Detective Sergeant Kelly Schonhage, from the local investigating team, said the incident was being treated "very seriously" and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

"Extra neighbourhood police patrols have been stepped up in the area and officers will be on hand to speak with those in the local community," she added.

The number of hate crimes in England and Wales increased by 29 percent in 2016-2017, according to the latest Home Office statistics.

On June 19 last year Darren Osborne ploughed a van into people leaving late-night prayers at a mosque in Finsbury Park in north London, killing one man and injuring 11 others.

Osborne, who had left a note in the van in which he said he was seeking revenge for Islamist terror attacks and a child sex scandal, was charged with terrorism-related murder and sentenced to life in prison in February.</s>Witnesses claimed the car swerved into pedestrians outside a mosque in Cricklewood, north west London. A spokesman for the Hussaini Association, who were running the Al Hussaini Majis commemorating an Islamic prophet, claimed the incident was a "deliberate Islamophobic attack" and said they were in "deep shock". Cops are hunting the male driver who failed to stop at the scene, as well as two men and one woman in the car, all in their 20s. Two people have been taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. One man in his fifties is being treated for serious leg injuries.

Others at the scene claimed to hear people from the car shouting anti-Islamic taunts, with Hussaini Association head of security Hassan Naddi claiming the group were shouting "dirty muslims". A Met Police spokeswoman confirmed to Daily Star Online that they are aware of these comments and are currently investigating. Metropolitan Police confirmed: “Two people have been taken to hospital for treatment; their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. “Officers are currently retaining an open mind regarding the cause of the collision. “The incident is not being treated as terrorist-related.”

Police were called to the scene 12.35 this morning on Oxgate Lane in Brent. The group in the car were reported to be drinking and taking drugs before the incident, according to police. A spokesman for the Hussaini Association said: "We are in deep shock at such an attack taking place on our community." He added: "We remain proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society and as such we remain unintimidated."

DS Kelly Schonhage from Brent CID said: “We are treating this incident very seriously and a number of enquiries are underway to trace the car and those involved. "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 neighbourhood police patrols have been stepped up in the area and officers will be on hand to speak with those in the local community.” Anyone with information concerning the car involved or the occupants should call Brent CID on 07747 476 161 or 101 quoting CAD 150/29 Sept or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also tweet police via @MetCC.</s>Two people have been injured after a car hit pedestrians outside a London mosque.

Two people have been injured after a car hit pedestrians outside a London mosque.

Two hospitalised after car hits pedestrians outside London Mosque

Officers were called to the Oxgate Lane, Cricklewood, north west London, after reports a car collided with people at around 00.35 am on Wednesday, Scotland Yard said.

The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The force said the driver failed to stop and that officers are "keeping an open mind as to the cause of the collision".

It is not being treated as terror-related, the Met said.</s>LONDON: Police in London launched an investigation Wednesday into a possible hate crime after a car hit a crowd outside a mosque, injuring three people. The collision, in Cricklewood in north London in the early hours of Wednesday, followed the occupants of the car allegedly directing “comments of an Islamophobic nature” at the group, according to the Metropolitan Police. The incident left a man in his 50s hospitalised with “a serious leg injury”, while two other men in their 20s suffered minor injuries, it added.

Officers are working to trace the driver and occupants of the car — three men and a woman, all aged in their mid-20s — which fled the scene. “This incident is not being treated as terror related but the hate crime aspect of the collision is being looked at by detectives as an aggravating factor,” the Met said in a statement. The incident began when security at the Al-Majlis Al-Hussaini Islamic centre learned the people in the car were “behaving anti-socially, drinking and allegedly using drugs,” police added. The vehicle occupants were asked to leave the private car park, sparking a “confrontation” with a large group of people outside the centre. “Words were exchanged and comments of an Islamophobic nature were allegedly made by the group in the car,” the Met said. “The car then reportedly sustained minor damage by some of those outside the centre. “It proceeded to make off at speed colliding with three individuals as it left.”</s>British police said two people have been taken to hospital after reports of a car hitting pedestrians outside a mosque in northwest London on Tuesday, LBC radio reported.

Police were "retaining an open mind regarding the cause of the collision," LBC said on Twitter.

London's Metropolitan Police was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters on Wednesday.</s>Three people were injured after a car hit pedestrians near a Muslim community center in northwest London, Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Detectives have launched an investigation after three people were injured following a collision near a Muslim community centre in Cricklewood," the statement read.

Two people were taken to hospital with minor injuries. One did not need hospital treatment, according to the statement.

"Police were called at 00:35hrs on Wednesday, 19 September to reports of a car in collision with a number of pedestrians on Oxgate Lane in Brent," police spokesman said as quoted by The Sun.

"The driver failed to stop at the scene and enquiries are underway to trace them," he added.

Police are searching for the driver, who fled the scene.</s>LONDON – British police are investigating a possible hate crime after a car hit pedestrians near a Muslim community centre, injuring three people.

Police were called early Wednesday morning after a confrontation developed between four people in a car and a large group of people visiting a Muslim community centre and mosque in the Cricklewood area of northwest London.

Officials said some anti-Muslim comments were made and the car reportedly sustained minor damage from some of the people from the centre. It then sped off, mounting the pavement twice, and hitting three people without stopping.

Police said the injuries are not life threatening although two people needed hospital treatment. The case is not being treated as related to terrorism.

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“It is being dealt with as an Islamophobic hate crime and it is being dealt with as a racist hate crime,” Simon Rose, the metropolitan police chief superintendent, said.

The Hussaini Association, which had organized a lecture at the mosque, called the collision “a suspected premeditated Islamophobic attack.”

In a statement, the group said the car “swerved into innocent bystanders” and the occupants were heard shouting anti-Islamic taunts just before the attack.

Police are searching for the car and its occupants, reported as three men and a woman.

“This incident is not being treated as terror-related but the hate crime aspect of the collision is being looked at by detectives as an aggravating factor,” police said in a statement.
Three people are injured after a car rammed into pedestrians near a mosque in northwest London. The Metropolitan Police are treating the incident as a hate crime.