London mosque attack: 'Racist' thug calls Muslim worshippers 'terrorists'

Two thugs are seen brandishing weapons after allegedly carrying out an attack near a mosque.

LONDON (Dunya News) - Hours after 49 people were mercilessly shot dead in terror attack on two mosques in New Zealand, another man was attacked "with a hammer" and a "batten" outside an east London mosque. A disturbing footage shows thugs armed with hammers fleeing after they attacked a worshipper.

A group of three men shouted Islamophobic abuse as they drove past the place of worship on Cannon Street Road, eyewitnesses said.

They called people attending Friday prayers “terrorists”, they added.

In the clip, two men, aged in their 20s, are seen holding weapons while attempting to jump inside a moving car on Cannon Street Road in Whitechapel.

A few worshippers followed the blue car, only for the men to climb out of the vehicle and attack one of them with a weapon, thought to be a hammer. Police said the 27-year-old victim sustained head injuries.

The two groups fought before the men climbed back into the car and drove away.

"The suspects returned to their car and left the scene before police arrived," a spokesperson for London’s Metropolitan Police said, adding that officers were called to the scene at around 1pm on Friday afternoon. Enquiries are ongoing to trace this vehicle.

The London Ambulance Service was called but the 27-year-old victim was driven to an east London hospital by friends instead.

"At hospital, it was established that the victim had sustained a head injury, which was not believed to be serious," the spokesperson added.

"However, he was abusive towards hospital staff, and left the hospital without being treated. Investigations are ongoing and officers have not identified any motive for the attack."

No arrests have yet been made.

This comes as security at mosques across Britain was stepped up as experts warned a New Zealand-style massacre could happen here.

"Whilst there is no intelligence linking these appalling events in Christchurch to the UK, additional uniform patrols will continue in London and nationally over the coming days, focusing on places of worship and specific communities," Neil Basu, the national policing lead for counter-terrorism, said.

"We are paying specific attention to Mosques, particularly Friday prayers.

"Many communities will be understandably concerned and local officers will be out and about providing reassurance and protective security advice to communities, places of worship and businesses."

Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, is also due to hold talks with anti-terrorism chiefs and security officials to discuss possible further measures to protect mosques in the UK.