London mosque cordoned off due to police operation

LONDON

London’s central Regent’s Park Mosque was cordoned off Thursday by police after reports of stabbing on a nearby road, according to a police statement.

Metropolitan Police (Met) said the incident was not terror related but they sealed off the mosque as they searched for suspects.

Met said officers were called to the scene at Elmton Court, Cunningham Place in NW8 at 6.15 p.m. and the man was treated at the scene but later died.

Muhammed Yusuf from the congregation told Anadolu Agency two suspects ran into the mosque to hide and police did not let anyone go or come out of the mosque.

“Nobody from the mosque was hurt,” Yusuf said.

“It [stabbing] has all happened outside the mosque,” he added.

Armed police officers went inside the mosque and kept it closed during the operation.

Police said “enquiries continue to trace the suspects, who fled the scene.”

They said a crime scene is in place and no arrests have been made in an updated statement.