'I feel no hatred for him': Muslim prayer leader forgives man who plunged knife into his neck at Regent's Park mosque - as he rejoins worshippers less than 24 hours after horror attack

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A Muslim leader returned to one of Britain's biggest mosques today with his arm in a sling less than 24 hours after being stabbed - and said he has forgiven his attacker.

Raafat Maglad, 70, collapsed when he was allegedly stabbed in the neck or shoulder by a 29-year-old man who was standing behind him with a five-inch kitchen knife.

Amid the mayhem yesterday, 20 worshippers pinned the knifeman to the ground, while others administered first aid to Mr Maglad at the London Central Mosque.

The Metropolitan Police arrived minutes later to the mosque near Regent's Park shortly after 3pm, and arrested the attacker on suspicion of attempted murder.

Today, Mr Maglad, who leads the call to prayer five times a day, returned to the mosque after being released this morning from a hospital's major trauma unit.

Mr Maqlad was flanked by security at the mosque today, saying: 'I forgive him. I feel no hatred for him, he's a human being and what happened to me is my fate.  

Muslim prayer leader Raafat Maglad arrives at the London Central Mosque this afternoon less than 24 hours after he was stabbed in the neck with a five-inch kitchen knife

Mr Maglad arrives at the London Central Mosque near Regent's Park in London this afternoon

Mr Maglad is greeted as he arrives at the London Central Mosque for prayers this afternoon

Raafat Maglad speaks to reporters at the mosque in London today following his ordeal

'However the law must be implemented. All I can remember is someone approaching me from behind and then feeling great pain in my neck. 

'He did not say anything to me. It was a really deep cut. I rushed myself out of the room and someone rushed me to hospital.

'I'm still in pain but I wanted to come here today and pray. I felt it was important to do that but now I'm returning to hospital. I don't know the man. I have seen him in the mosque before but I don't know much about him.'

The father-of-three, who lives in Queen's Park, West London, also told the Evening Standard that he was lucky to survive and said: 'Nothing will stop me from praying'. 

Arriving home today, he said: 'I was closing my eyes to pray and put down my head. It felt like someone hit me with a brick. It was terrible, there was so much blood. 

'I put my hand up and tried to close the cut. Everyone stopped him and called the ambulance. I feel lucky. It could have cut my jugular and I'd have had no chance.' 

Mr Maglad speaks to the media at London Central Mosque near Regent's Park this afternoon

Mr Maglad smiles today as he returns home to Queen's Park, West London, after being treated at a major trauma unit for a serious stab wound to his shoulder

A police officer holds a man on the floor following the stabbing at Regent's Park Mosque

Doctors told Mr Maglad he could not move his right arm and gave him six stiches in his neck. He asked them to discharge him early because he wanted to be at home.

Reverend from nearby church visits with a bouquet of flowers 

Reverend Dr Anders Bergquist, vicar at the nearby St John's Wood church, visited the mosque this morning with a bouquet of flowers.

He said he had come with a message of 'solidarity, and of support and of deep regret that something like that should happen'.

Reverend Anders Bergquist from St John's Wood Church delivers flowers this morning

He said he had spoken to the mosque's director general Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan, who he described as 'extremely calm and very measured' in the immediate aftermath of the attack.

Rev Bergquist said: 'We had some discussion about the dilemma when something like this happens because you want a church or a mosque to be easily accessible and open and welcoming to everybody and you really don't want to have to start putting up metal airport style screens for people as they're coming through.

Reverend Anders Bergquist at London Central Mosque near Regent's Park today

'So they're going to have to be thinking very carefully together with the police about what their security arrangements are.'

But he said he hoped the mosque would remain 'as welcoming and accessible as it's always been'.

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Mr Maglad added: 'I would like to thank everyone who helped. Last night the emergency room was full of so many people supporting me. It was nice.

'This attack won't change my behaviour. Nothing will stop me praying, and I will be back calling prayers as soon as I can. I have to find out if I need surgery first.'

Mosque advisor Asayaz Ahmad said their morning prayer was meant to be dedicated to being good to your parents, but following the attack it changed to a focus on living in a secure society and looking out for one another.

He said: 'There was blood everywhere, it was all over his (Mr Maglad's) neck. They had to keep pressure on it. He discharged himself from hospital, I think he went home.

'He is doing well, he is with his brother. We will have some 1,000 people come here in the next hour. Then there will be samosas and hot drinks and Raafat might be here.

'There are five prayers in the day. He has been coming here to give every prayer for the last 25 to 30 years.

'Today's prayer was about being good to your parents but we changed it to be about living in a secure society and environment and looking out for everyone. The Imam asked the prayer to talk about it today.'

Worshippers said the suspect had attended prayers at the mosque sporadically for the past six months and had previously been spotted acting strangely.

Mr Maglad has been the mosque's muazzin – the person who leads and recites the call to prayer – for almost 30 years and was about to retire.

He is a senior elder at the mosque and oversaw the funeral of Dodi Fayed in 1997 following his death in a car crash in Paris with Princess Diana. 

Regular prayer goers at the mosque said the knifeman was a 'friend of the mosque' who would pray there regularly, but displayed signs of odd behaviour.

They said he would pace up and down the mosque just seconds before prayer, and stand next to the imam or behind prayer leader Mr Maglad.

A man arriving at the mosque for prayer this morning said of the knifeman: 'He is not well - every time he comes his behaviour is odd.

Mr Maglad, 70, smiled as he was treated in hospital yesterday following the mosque attack

The image above shows a close up of the man who was arrested after attacking Mr Maglad

A man points to a knife on the floor following the incident at the Regent's Park Mosque

'The prayer caller used to look after him and treat him nicely. I know the man, he acted very strangely.

'Sometimes he would come here and he would go to the front where the imam prays, which is not the done thing, and he would do an extra prayer.

'He would stay a long time. He acted very strange. He would be walking up and down before prayer, and then he would take his space at the last second.

'He was definitely not here every day, but he would go through phases of coming here for every prayer and then not coming at all for a while. Last time I saw him was about six months ago.'

A fellow worshipper at the gates this morning said: 'I was not here yesterday, but I saw the video of what happened. I thought 'what is this?' I was shocked when I saw his face. His behaviour was strange.

Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan, the mosque's director general, greets London Mayor Sadiq Khan at the London Central Mosque today

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan arrives at the London Central Mosque near Regent's Park today

London Mayor Sadiq Khan outside Regent's Park Mosque in London this afternoon

'He would stand behind Raafat. Sometimes you saw him everyday, sometimes you never saw him. I know him, but I never talked to him. I didn't know his name.'

A woman visiting the mosque this morning said: 'I was here yesterday, but I was outside. I did not see the man, but I saw the people flee.

'The man used to come and pray at the mosque. He was a friend of the mosque. I think he was unwell. Why did he do this?'

Mr Maglad's friend Waleed Mohammed, 49, said: 'There is only one Rafaat in the mosque, his voice comes out of that minaret five times a day.

'For this to happen right at the end of his career is very, very sad for the whole Muslim community.'

Mr Maglad (circled) is the muezzin at the London Central Mosque and calls Muslims to prayer

Witnesses said that the attacker had waited for Mr Maglad (pictured above) to start the call to prayer before he attacked 

One of his neighbours said Mr Maglad, who has lived on his street for more than 30 years, said: 'No one could ever have held a grudge against him. He was such a lovely man, always very cordial.'

Another said that despite his private nature, he used to greet each of his neighbours jovially every day. They said: 'He was always very nice and neighbourly, and got on with everyone in this street.'

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan went to the mosque today to join worshippers for Friday prayers. He was greeted with a hug by director general Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan.

Speaking after the 'Jummah' prayer, the second of the Friday worship, the Mayor addressed hundreds of men, women and children leaving the mosque.

He said: 'I am here as your Mayor to reassure you after the awful incident we saw yesterday that our places of worship - whether they are mosques, synagogues or churches - are temples and should be sanctuaries and safe havens, safe from the fear of attack.'

He added: 'The good news is that Abu Azim, our brother who was injured yesterday, is with us today for Jummah prayers. Unfortunately there are some people who will attack people at their most vulnerable, which is then they are worshipping.'

Local Church of England Reverend Dr Anders Bergquist brought flowers to the mosque today and said security measures may need to be discussed.

Dr Bergquist, of St John's Wood Church said of the director general: 'He was extremely calm and we had some discussion about the dilemma when something like this happens.

'You want a church or a mosque to be easily accessible and open or welcoming to everybody.

'You really don't want to be putting up metal airport style screens for people as they're coming through. So they're going to have to be thinking very carefully with the police about what their security measures are.

'It is much too early to say, but all of us hope this place will continue to be as welcoming and accessible as it has always been. We keep our church open all day every day and welcome all sorts of people to come in.'

The attack came less than 24 hours after a far-Right extremist shot dead nine people in shisha bars in Germany.

However, Scotland Yard said that it was not treating the stabbing in the mosque as a terror attack.

Some said he was from Eastern Europe, possibly Albanian, and had mental health issues.

A dramatic video was published on social media last night showing the handcuffed suspect, who was wearing a red hoodie and had bare feet, being held down by officers before being led away.

Worshipper Abi Watik, 59, said: 'The victim had just said 'Allahu Akbar' and five seconds later he was stabbed in the right shoulder.

'Suddenly the victim was screaming and was on the floor with lots of blood coming from his shoulder. The knife was on the floor. We did not know what was going on.

'Twenty people jumped on the attacker. One person kicked him in the back then he was pushed to the floor. We are all shocked.'

The mosque has 24-hour security but it does not have airport-style metal detectors.

A man is held by police following the incident at the mosque in North London yesterday

Police escort a man out of the mosque in London following the stabbing incident 

Mustafa Field, director of the Faiths Forum for London, told reporters outside the mosque that worshippers had said it was 'one stab, one strike, around the neck' of the victim.

He said: 'Then the congregation members, some of them broke their prayers, and intervened, restrained the individual. The mosque security called the police, and the police were there within minutes, and he was restrained and taken away.'

He added: 'I understand he was in the mosque for a while. He may have witnessed the beginning of the prayers.' 

Religious leaders from all spheres tweeted their condolences and the Archbishop of Canterbury said: 'My sympathy is with those in shock after the stabbing at the London Central Mosque.

Members of the Muslim community arrive this morning as a police car is parked outside the Regent's Park Mosque in London

Members of the Muslim community talk outside the Regent's Park Mosque in London today

People arrive at the mosque today as a police vehicle is parked outside after the attack

'Please join me in praying for healing for the victim and for peace across our communities.'

Chief Superintendent Helen Harper, of Central-West Borough Command Unit, said: 'This was a profoundly shocking incident inside a place of worship and an urgent investigation is being carried out into the circumstances.

'Although we believe this to be an isolated incident, patrols have been increased around the area of the mosque to provide reassurance to worshippers and the local community.'

She added: 'I would like to thank everybody in the mosque who helped to detain the man before he was arrested and continue to help my officers with their enquiries. I'm extremely relieved the injuries suffered by the victim do not appear to be life-threatening.

'However, this incident has undoubtedly caused a great deal of concern and we are working as swiftly as possible to establish the circumstances. No other suspects are being sought at this time.'

Worshippers film the moment the man is taken out of the London Central Mosque

Mr Maglad (pictured above) was  stabbed once in the right shoulder moments after prayers had started, a witness said

Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan, director-general of the Islamic Cultural Centre at the mosque, said another prayer hall had been opened for worshippers while police carried out their investigation.

'I feel sorry about what happened in the mosque, because this place is iconic, not only for Muslims but for all the British society,' he said.

'Many Muslims come here, many communities come here. We are so sorry this has happened here, and I hope it's only an individual incident.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: 'I'm deeply saddened to hear of the attack at the London Central Mosque.

'It's so awful that this should happen, especially in a place of worship. My thoughts are with the victim and all those affected.'

A police car can be seen parked outside the mosque yesterday as police investigate 

Officers remained at the scene yesterday and a cordon had been put in place outside 

An officer speaks to a man in the mosque while another holds the arrested man on the floor

Zainab Gulamali from the Muslim Council of Britain told ITV News: 'It's really shocking, and I know lots of people are really concerned. The Regent's Park Mosque is a great mosque, it's very friendly, Central London, so it's a real community hub.

'And it's really distressing for people – not just Muslims, but people of lots of faiths who worship at particular places of worship that this sort of thing could happen and particularly at a prayer time, that's really key.

'This mosque is hugely facilitating, it's got a great location, and because it's half term we'd have expected lots of people to be here for the afternoon prayers, so it's really sad that this happened and it must be really distressing for the people who witnessed it.

'We do understand amongst Muslim communities that there is a sense of fear and apprehension. Mosques are traditionally a place of sanctuary, and they often have an open door policy.

'We have a whole day dedicated to people visiting mosques and mosques opening their doors and people coming in and going to mosques where they probably haven't before.

A police officer holds a man on the floor following the stabbing incident at the mosque

'I think we need to consider the balance between having an open door policy and being really welcoming to people of faith and no faith, and also prioritising the security of members.

'I'd like to see a real honest conversation about the rise in attacks against mosques, be they arson or vandalism or things like this, and a real conversation about security at mosques.' 

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has tweeted his concern after the stabbing and said he was 'deeply concerned by the incident'. 

'Every Londoner is entitled to feel safe in their place of worship & I want to reassure London's communities that acts of violence in our city will not be tolerated.

'The Met are providing extra resources in the area.'

Police officers are seen outside the London Central Mosque in London yesterday afternoon

Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted: 'Terrible to hear of violent incident at Regent's Park Mosque. Thoughts are with victim, those directly affected and wider community. Grateful for rapid response of police & emergency services. Police must now be given space to investigate.' 

Mr Field told ITV News: 'I think it's really concerning, I mean it could have been any of us in many ways who come to the mosque. We need to think more about how we would intervene if there was an incident.

'People need to be more equipped to protect others, but also first aid and what support we can provide. The police were very, very swift and it's really important, but this is a key London mosque.' 

And Ayaz Ahmad, adviser to the mosque, said the Prime Minister's office, the Home Office and the Mayor's office had called the mosque to give their regards following the incident. 

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott tweeted: 'My thoughts are with the victim, his loved ones and the entire community. Once again, this is a terrible crime. We must condemn all hate crime, wherever it occurs and whoever the perpetrators are.'  

Father Stephen Evans, the priest at St Marylebone Parish Church, a short walk away from the mosque, told Premier Christian Radio: 'I'm very saddened by it. I know the mosque well - those who are the leaders there and my prayers and sympathies go out to all at the Islamic and cultural centre, especially to the director general Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan and his team and our prayers are with very much the person who's been stabbed and his family. 

'People need to hold - not just the community - but those who think of the Central Mosque as their home in their thoughts and their prayers and also everybody who may feel very threatened or very vulnerable when an event like this happens which seems to tear at the day heart of a free and open and liberal democracy.

'I think we all have to be both vigilant, but also aware of the world around us and some of the awful things that happen, sadly, in the name of religion, or against religion, I think it works both ways.'

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Police were called to a mosque in Park Road, NW8, at 3.10pm on Thursday, February 20, to reports of a stabbing. 

Zainab Gulamali from the Muslim Council of Britain told ITV News last night: 'It's really shocking, and I know lots of people are really concerned'

One witness said the suspect had been a regular in the mosque, and had been seen at least six months ago. Abi Watik, 59, said: 'We were shocked, we didn't know what was happening'

'Officers attended along with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service. A man, in his 70s, was found with stab injuries. 

'He was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital. His condition has been assessed as non life-threatening.

'A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. A crime scene has been put in place. Enquiries into the circumstances continue.'

The police added yesterday afternoon: 'A 29-year-old man, who is believed to have been attending prayers, was arrested inside the mosque on suspicion of attempted murder. He has been taken into custody at a central London police station. The incident is not being treated as terror-related at this time.'

A London Central Mosque spokesman said: 'There was an incident at London Central Mosque where an unknown individual attacked and stabbed the Muazzin (the person who makes the call to prayer) during Asr Prayer around 3pm. 

Muslim worshippers inside the London Central Mosque following the stabbing incident

Police officers are pictured after responding to the stabbing incident in London yesterday

'The attacker was apprehended by the worshippers until the police arrived and arrested him. The Muazzin did not sustain any life threatening injuries but was seriously injured and is being treated at the hospital.

'We will provide further updates. We await further information from the police regarding the incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Muazzin and his family.'

The London Ambulance Service said the man stabbed at the mosque had been taken to a major trauma centre.

The service tweeted: 'We sent an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a car and an advanced paramedic practitioner to this incident in Regent's Park.

'We treated a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre.' 

Police were called to the scene near Regent's Park in London at around 3.10pm yesterday

Mustafa Field, director of the Faiths Forum for London, told reporters outside the mosque that worshippers had said it was 'one stab, one strike, around the neck' of the victim

Police did not speculate on a possible motive, but British Muslims have been the target of past attacks by far-right extremists.

How the Regent's Park Mosque can house 5,000 worshippers 

The Regent's Park Mosque, also known as the London Central mosque or the Islamic Cultural Centre was built in 1977.

The main hall can accommodate more than 5,000 worshippers, with women praying separately on a balcony overlooking the hall.

The land that it stands on was donated to the Muslim community of the UK by George VI in return for land given to the British to build an Anglican cathedral on in Cairo by King Farouk of Egypt and Sudan.

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In June 2018, an attacker drove a van into a crowd of people leaving evening prayers in London. One man died and a dozen people were injured.

Yesterday was not the first time the flagship London mosque has seen violence.

In March last year two knifemen ran into the building and 'washed their hands and faces' to blend in with worshippers after stabbing a man in his 20s to death nearby.

That incident was not linked to the mosque, but it left worshippers shaken after they were locked in for five hours while armed police and helicopters searched the surrounding area. It was not terror-related. 

Westminster City Council Leader Rachael Robathan said: 'I am saddened by the attack at Regent's Park Mosque.

'The motives for this attack are unclear, but one thing is absolutely clear – violence has absolutely no place in our City. Our thoughts are with the victim of this attack and his family.

'We will work with the community to offer whatever help and reassurance we can.'

The Regent's Park Mosque, also known as the London Central mosque or the Islamic Cultural Centre, was built in 1977. 

** Do you know the attacker? Email tips@dailymail.com or mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk or call 020 3615 1838 **  

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