Police: Man arrested ‘on suspicion of attempted murder’ after attack in London mosque

Police reportedly arrested a man at the London Central Mosque Thursday after the muazzin, who calls the faithful to prayer, was stabbed.

The muazzin, who is in his 70s, was taken to the hospital, where medical staff said that his injuries were not life-threatening, NBC News reported, citing a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police.

“A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder,” the police statement read, adding that authorities don’t believe the crime was terror-related.

Just heard about the knife attack on the Muaddin at Regent’s Park Mosque, London. Prayers for the victim. Glad the attacker is under arrest. Never play into the hands of those trying to divide us. Majority of us want to live in peace & harmony, & that’s the msg we must promote. pic.twitter.com/EuinksTvVA

— Bilal Mahmood (@bilalmahmooduk) February 20, 2020

Footage posted on social media shows a white man in a red hoodie and jeans being pinned to the floor by police officers inside the mosque.

A witness who saw the stabbing said the arrested man was a regular at the mosque for several months.

The muazzin was stabbed once in the shoulder, according to NBC.

“He was praying behind him, and then he stabbed him,” the witness, Abi Watik, said, adding the suspect “was silent the whole time.”

The attack comes just one day after a deadly shooting in the German city of Hanau, where a gunman officials say may have had “far-right extremist, racist motives” killed nine people.