Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Van attack man’s family ‘in shock’
THE family of Darren Osborne, the man held by police over the Finsbury Park attack, say they are “massively shocked” and “their hearts go out to the injured”.
Osborne, a 47-year-old father-of-four from Cardiff, was arrested after pedestrians were targeted by a man driving a van near Finsbury Park Mosque in north London early on Monday.
In a statement on behalf of his family, Osborne’s nephew Ellis Osborne, 26, said: “We are massively shocked. It’s unbelievable. It still hasn’t really sunk in.
“We are devastated for the families. Our hearts go out to the people who have been injured.”
Nicola Osborne added: “I’m sorry that my brother has been so troubled that it has taken him to this level of troubledness. He has just been troubled for a long time.”
Ellis added that his uncle was “not a racist” and said he had never expressed any racist views.
He added: “It’s madness. It is obviously sheer madness.”
The London Ambulance Service took nine people to three London hospitals. Two others were treated for minor injuries at the scene.
Witnesses described hearing the driver, who was detained by members of the public at the scene, shout: “I’m going to kill Muslims.”
He was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but Scotland Yard said he was later arrested for the commission, preparation or i nstigation of terrorism including murder and attempted murder. Residents near Cardiff said they were “shocked” after seeing photographs of their neighbour being arrested in London.
In an interview, his mother described him as a “complex” person but said “that’s all I can say”.
She said: “It’s a terrible, terrible shock.”
Police have been searching a residential address in Pentwyn, where Osborne is listed as living.
Five residents identified images of the man being arrested as their neighbour, Osborne.
Neighbour Khadijeh Sherizi said: “I saw him on the news and I thought ‘oh my God’ that is my neighbour.
“He has been so normal. He was in his kitchen yesterday afternoon singing with his kids. He was the dad of the family. He has kids. He seemed polite and pleasant to me.”