One person has died and at least 10 more have been injured after a man drove a van into people leaving a mosque in London's Finsbury Park neighborhood. Taking place just after midnight GMT, the attacker was a white man who drove the vehicle into a crowd of Muslims who are currently acknowledging the Holy Month of Ramadan.
"When the guy came out from his van he wanted to escape, run away and he was saying 'I want to kill Muslims. 'I want to kill Muslims.'," eyewitness, Abdul Rahman told the BBC. "I hit him on his stomach... and then me and the other guys... we held him to the ground until he couldn't move. We stopped him until the police came."
So now it's the vans fault??? #Finsburyparkpic.twitter.com/WjFip65Vzx
- Shafeeq (@Y2SHAF) June 19, 2017
NO, the "vehicle" didn't just drive itself into worshippers
This is a terrorist attack
The perpetrator is a white terrorist#FinsburyParkpic.twitter.com/Z3xeHDF2Ga- The Hummingbird (@SaysHummingbird) June 19, 2017
Twitter has given me more insight on recent events than any other news station #FinsburyParkpic.twitter.com/aOC8N3pQJe
- The Dark Knight (@U1M2A4R5) June 19, 2017
While the social media response has included much sympathy from people of all races and religions, many of the Tweets have pointed out how the mainstream media in the UK initially reported the news.
Thinking of everyone affected by events in London's #FinsburyPark. Take care of each other.
- Richard Branson (@richardbranson) June 19, 2017
Dear Muslim community, I stand with you. You are valued & there are so many of us fighting with you for equality & acceptance#FinsburyPark
- Matthew Wintle (@matthew_wintle) June 19, 2017
Shocking news of terror attack on worshippers in #FinsburyPark. My thoughts are with victims and the local community today.
- Angela Rayner MP (@AngelaRayner) June 19, 2017
Noting British Prime Minister, Theresa May's initial statement, as well as headlines from the likes of the BBC, Daily Mirror and more, people have pointed out that similar attacks in the capital have quickly been labeled terrorism straight off the bat. However in the case of this white male, the media has hesitated to make the claim.
Check out the Tweets below. They certainly have a point!
The Age of Hypocrisy
Black man shoots =Thug
Muslim guy shoots = Terrorist
White guy shoots = "Mentally ill"#FinsburyPark- 💕Proud Muslimah💕💚 (@shamsaali10) June 19, 2017
Why is the coverage of this attack so different because he is a white. Hate is hate! Stop broadcasting it differently #FinsburyPark
- Fiona (@irnbruaddict) June 19, 2017
I mean seriously, if this guy just had a beard or his name started with Abdul/Mohammed, He would have been a terrorist! #FinsburyPark
- Sameeh Mc Laurie (@ShamiegMcLaurie) June 19, 2017
British media, your double standards disgust me. The attack at #FinsburyPark was a terrorist attack. Your sly racism is not welcome.
- wine mom (@ItsNicoletteee) June 19, 2017
So the idiot driver of the #FinsburyPark van was not shot on sight and will have a mental health assessment? Why treated differently? 🤦🏼♀️ pic.twitter.com/CujKMDpjib
- Great Quotes (@lion_faisal) June 19, 2017
Theresa May calls #FinsburyPark attack a "terrible incident"
Where's her anger and "enough is enough" talk...This is terrorism afterall.- Fitzy (@fitzy_blue) June 19, 2017
Terrorism has no race, religion or ethnicity.
Terrorism is terrorism, treat terrorism without considering their background.#FinsburyPark- Mustafa Imam (@thisaintmustafa) June 19, 2017
Absolutely tragic events in #FinsburyPark last night. A clear terror attack on innocent people, it shouldn't matter who they are
- Daniel Grabowski (@DLeeGrabowski) June 19, 2017
I'm guessing there won't be a nationwide one minute silence for the fatalities from this terrorist attack for obvious reasons #FinsburyPark
- Habiba Da Silva (@HabibaDaSilva) June 19, 2017
Will the guy who mowed down people going about their business in #FinsburyPark be called a terrorist or do Muslim pedestrians not count?
- Laura Sefton (@LolSefts) June 19, 2017
White privelge is being able to commit attacks of hate seeking to terrorize communities & still not be branded a terrorist. #FinsburyPark
- Simar (@sahluwal) June 19, 2017
#FinsburyPark Terrorist attack has just happened,and @BBCNews are talking about making fish. This can't be ignored. pic.twitter.com/I5od7XwZ7H
- NOTORIOUS👑 (@fxrhxxn7) June 19, 2017
As a white British man I am a little uncomfortable with the reporting of #FinsburyPark This is a targeted attack. It IS Terrorism
- Just me (@baldandzbeardy) June 19, 2017
Terrorism has no race or religion... Apart from in the media that is #FinsburyParkpic.twitter.com/BBBTjiXwna
- Tom Knight (@TJ_Knight) June 19, 2017