Street iftar marks anniversary of Finsbury Park terror attack as ‘hero imam’ declares: Darren Osborne failed epically

The street iftar in Seven Sisters Road on Wednesday evening. Picture: Vicky Munro (Image: Archant)

Speakers including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn praised the community’s response to the attack outside the Muslim Welfare House in Seven Sisters Road on June 19, which killed Makram Ali and injured at least eight others.

The welfare house, Finsbury Park Mosque and Muslim Aid distributed an estimated 1,500 meals as worshippers broke their daily Ramadan fast in a huge iftar.

Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn joins supporters as he sits and eats at a street iftar to celebrate community spirit one year after the Finsbury Park terrorist attack. Picture: Rick Findler/PA Wire (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Muslim Welfare House “hero imam” Mohammed Mahmoud, who was praised for keeping attacker Darren Osborne safe until the police arrived to arrest him, said: “It was a year ago when a cowardly attacker perpetrated a heinous crime, not only against the Muslim community but against everyone living in London.

“He wished to create a rift between communities to tear us apart and he failed. He failed epically.”

A general view of preparations before hundreds sit and eat during a street iftar outside Finsbury Park Mosque. Picture: Rick Findler/PA Wire (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Ruzina Akhtar, whose father Mr Ali died in the attack, said: “Although last year was a very tragic year for our family that took our beloved father from us, we would like to remember the positives that came out from those days, with the community showing love and support.”

Labour leader Mr Corbyn thanked everyone who attended, including two Conservative MPs, Dominic Grieve and Anna Soubry.

Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn joins supporters as he sits and eats at a street iftar to celebrate community spirit one year after the Finsbury Park terrorist attack. Picture: Rick Findler/PA Wire (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

To enthusiastic applause, he said: “We will not be divided, we will not be defeated, the racists will never win, we will not allow them to win.”

He added he was proud of the children of local schools for the support they offered, particularly Pakeman Primary School, whose students marched in white around the community playing The Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” on a loudspeaker.

Muslim Aid CEO Jehangir Malik said: “We as a community have come together in defiance, in resistance, in resilience to demonstrate the beauty of Londoners and human beings.

“The amount of solidarity and support that the mosque has been receiving over the last year has been phenomenal.”

Ramadan in numbers: How the Muslim holy month sees millions of pounds donated to good causes. The street iftar saw hundreds of meals distributed around Finsbury Park Mosque. Graphic: Vicky Munro (Image: Archant)

However, the event’s optimism was tempered by the recognition that Islamophobia remains a serious problem.

Supt Nick Davies said: “There is some clear Islamophobia, particularly in the aftermath of these attacks, and a rise in the far right – but we have also seen a rise in reporting and trust.”

Osborne was jailed for life with a minimum of 43 years after being convicted of murder in February. A memorial to Mr Ali was unveiled the following month in the Six Acres Estate.