Shots fired after gunman enters mosque in London during Ramadan prayers

Armed police rush to mosque after gunman enters during Ramadan prayers

The Seven Kings Mosque in Ilford, north-east London. Photo via Google Streetview

Armed police were called after a gunman entered a mosque in London during Ramadan prayers and fired a weapon outside.

The gunman walked into the mosque as terrified worshippers were praying.

It comes after 51 people were murdered at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, by a far right extremist who entered the venues firing at innocent victims.

The incident happened at Seven Kings Mosque in Ilford, east London, on Thursday evening but police say they are not treating it as a terror incident.

The armed man, said to have had his face covered, was reported to have entered the mosque before being chased out by worshippers and is then understood to have fired his weapon outside the building.

The mosque's imam Mufti Suhail said: "There was a firearm incident outside Seven Kings Mosque tonight during Ramadan night prayers.

"The suspect ran from the scene when stopped by brothers standing guard at the mosque.

"A shot was fired which fortunately did not hit anyone."

Police believe the weapon was a blank firing firearm.

London's Metropolitan Police Service said: "Police were called at 10.45pm on Thursday to reports that a man, believed to be in possession of a firearm, had entered a mosque on High Road in Seven Kings.

"The man was ushered outside of the building by those inside. A gunshot was then heard.

"Officers, including firearms officers, attended. There were no reported injuries or damage to the building.

"At this early stage, ballistic evidence recovered from the scene suggests that the weapon was a blank firing handgun.

"Officers will continue to work closely with representatives from the mosque and are providing reassurance to the local community."

Security has been heightened around mosques in London during Ramadan.

It comes after a terrorist attacked worshippers close to the Finsbury Park mosque in north London two years ago, killing one person.

London mayor, Sadiq Khan, said he was relieved to hear that nobody was injured, adding: “Everyone should be free to practise their faith free from danger and fear.”

Those in the mosque report hearing the sound of a gunshot.

Ibraheem Hussain, 19, said the disturbance happened half an hour after prayers began.

"There are three sections of the mosque and at taraweeh during this time of Ramadan the mosque is packed out," he said.

"We were upstairs in the classrooms and about 30 minutes into the night prayer a large noise went off.

"I just continued my prayer, it sounded like a firework or maybe something heavy had been dropped, so no-one really thought anything of it.

"After we finished we were leaving the shoe area and someone said it was a gunshot, someone had come into the mosque and he had a firearm on him."

Ilford North MP Wes Streeting tweeted: "I am aware of the reports of a man with a firearm at Seven Kings Mosque during prayers tonight and am relieved that no one appears to have been hurt or injured. Thank you to @MPSRedbridge for a swift response."

Police are continuing to work closely with representatives from the mosque and are providing reassurance to the community.

In March the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, announced he was doubling funding for security at places of worship, including mosques, to £1.6m.

He also pledged a new £5m fund for security training after calls by the Muslim Council of Britain for increased funding amid a rise in far right extremism incidents.