United Kingdom: One fatality in June 18-19 north London car incident /update 1

Event

A vehicle drove into a group of pedestrians on Seven Sisters Road in Finsbury Park (north London) shortly after midnight (local time) overnight June 18-19. According to police, one person was killed and ten others injured in the incident. The 48-year-old driver has been taken in custody. It is still unclear whether the incident was accidental or a deliberate act. The anti-terrorist services have taken over the investigation.

Context

The incident took place near a mosque in Finsbury Park and occurred seven days before Eid al-Fitr celebrations, marking the end of Ramadan in the Muslim community.

Eid al-Fitr celebrates the conclusion of 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting and remains one of the most important dates on the Muslim calendar. Generally speaking, the month of Ramadan is historically marred by a significant increase in terrorist threats and as such there is a potential for attacks to be carried out during Eid celebrations.

Advice

All those present in London are advised to monitor developments to the situation, adhere to instructions issued by the local authorities, and report any suspicious objects or behavior.