Man attempts to assault Ramadan worshippers with a hammer in Southall

Ramadan worshippers detained a man at a mosque in Southall after he reportedly attempted to attack people with a hammer.

The Metropolitan police said officers was called to a mosque in Hayes Road, Southall, shortly after 4.30 am of Monday (3).

“A 38-year-old man is reported to have attempted to attack people,” the Met said. “He was detained by worshippers prior to police arrival. He has subsequently been arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm and is in custody at a west London police station.”

The incident was not being treated as terror-related.

“It is believed the man may have been involved in a dispute with people who he believed to have been attendees from the mosque the previous day,” police said.

This incident follows a series of attacks on mosques in Birmingham in March, when five mosques had their windows smashed.

Two men -- a 34-year-old man from Perry Barr and a 38-year-old man from Yardley -- were arrested following the attacks.