AN ELDERLY man in his 70s was stabbed in a London mosque today during afternoon prayers.

The man was taken to hospital following the attack at London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park during the Asr prayer just after 3pm.

Police confirmed that the man, who leads the call to prayer as the mosque’s muezzin, has been assessed and his condition is not life-threatening.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder at the scene after worshippers pinned him down.

The Met Police said that the attack is not being treated as a terrorist incident.

A witness to the stabbing said that 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.”

“He was praying behind him and then he stabbed him. [The suspect] was silent the whole time.”

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: “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.”

Faiths Forum for London director Mustafa Field said that worshippers reported “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.”