Sheffield Imam calls for more protection for religious groups after London attack
South Yorkshire Muslims say they're frightened of more violence after the attack outside a Mosque in North London
An Imam from Sheffield has told Hallam more needs to be done to protect religious groups, after an attack outside a mosque in North London last night.
A van was driven into a group of pedestrians believed to have just finished worshipping at the Finsbury Park mosque.
One person has died, but it's unclear whether it was as a result of the attack.
Imam Sadaqat Hussain, from Sheffield's Islamist Centre, says authorities need to do more to protect people practicing religion:
"I think there needs to be an increase in security for our mosques, for our places of worship, for all places of worship. There needs to be an increase in security, there needs to be an increase in protection for the different faiths. People from the Islamic religion are going to be concerned - it's going to make people think twice about whether they want to go out to the mosques or whether they'd rather stay at home.
"There's been a lot of incidents where there have been attacks on mosques since the London Bridge attack, since the Manchester attacks, so there needs to be more being done by the authorities in order to give security to the innocent people.
"This is our shared home. Whatever religion we come from, whatever background we come from, we're part of this country and we share this as our home. There needs to be enough done for everyone so they feel that sense of security."
Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, has issued a statement in the wake of the attack:
"I have asked the Chief Constable to ensure that South Yorkshire Police have an enhanced visible presence around local mosques, especially during Ramadan.
"These acts of terror, wherever they come from, are utterly repugnant to the vast majority of us. They will achieve nothing other than to make us more united around our shared values because we understand very well that a house divided against itself cannot stand."
The increased police presence is a gesture Imam Hussain finds encouraging:
"When you've got that kind of protection then it gives us more hope, it gives us more peace of mind that there is something happening to protect us - but I think there needs to be more done to tackle such hate and such prejudice in our country.
"We will remain united, and we will seek to rid these people who try to tear our communities apart, because this community is built on values of unity, of tolerance, of love, affection and harmony. We're not going to allow them to come into our communities and try to break them."