‘DO not let hate divide us’ is the message from a North-East police force following a terrorist attack that targeted Muslims outside a London mosque.

One person died and several others were injured after a man drove a van into a group of people outside a Finsbury Park mosque shortly after midnight on Monday, June 19.

Witnesses say the suspect, 48-year-old Darren Osborne from Cardiff, shouted “I’m going to kill all Muslims” before being detained by onlookers and later arrested on suspicion of terror-related offences including attempted murder.

Today (Tuesday, June 20), Cleveland Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Roberts urged the community to stand together, support each other and come forward to report hate crime.

Saying that the force will be providing “reassurance patrols” and engaging with communities to provide information and support, he added: “We stand together with our communities following the news of another horrific terrorist incident, which appears to be a deliberate attack on innocent people as they walked home from Finsbury Park Mosque after prayers.

“Like the terrorist incidents in London and Manchester, this incident seeks to erode our shared values of tolerance and mutual respect.

“By supporting each other and standing together, we can ensure that hate does not divide us.”

The assistant chief constable said the force was continuing to monitor incidents of hate crime, adding: “We will thoroughly investigate the incident and do all we can to bring the perpetrator to justice and provide victims with bespoke support.

“We do not tolerate hate crime in any form.”

To report hate crime, call police on non-emergency number 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Assistant Chief Constable Roberts said: “We continue to urge the public to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police by calling 0800 789 321 in confidence, or 999 in an emergency.

“In the highly unlikely event any member of the public finds themselves in the midst of an incident, remember to ‘Run, Hide and Tell’.”