Muslim worshipper assaulted at East London mosque after NZ attack

Hours after dozens of people were killed in an attack on two mosques in New Zealand, a man was attacked “with a hammer” and a “batten” outside an east London mosque. 

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. 

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 assault occurred the same day 49 Muslims were killed in a terrorist attack at two mosques in New Zealand.

Following the New Zealand attack police officers in the UK stepped up patrols around mosques on Friday.

Officers were deployed to provide reassurance and advice on protective security as Muslims attended Friday prayers around the country.

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.