London mosque attack: Finsbury Park suspect 'was not known to security services'

The London mosque attack suspect was detained at the scene by members of the public

Patrick Grafton-Green19 June 2017

A man arrested by police after the terror attack near a mosque in Finsbury Park was not known to the security services, a government minister has said.

Security Minster Ben Wallace confirmed the news in an interview on BBC Radio 4's World At One on Monday afternoon.

He said: "What I can say on this case is this individual, so far as we know at the moment, was not known to us."

He added: "But we are aware of a rise in the far right."

The suspected terror attacker was detained at the scene

One man died after a man driving a van ploughed into pedestrians on Seven Sisters Road in north London in the early hours of Monday.

Witnesses described hearing the man, who was detained by members of the public at the scene, shout: "I'm going to kill Muslims."

Moment the Finsbury Park mosque attacker is arrested

The 48-year-old suspect, described as a large white man, was by police on suspicion of attempted murder.

The alleged attacker, who is believed to have acted alone, struck as the area was busy with worshippers attending Ramadan night prayers at the mosque.

Prime Minister Theresa May has condemned the incident as "every bit as sickening" as the recent atrocities in London and Manchester.