Finsbury Park suspect’s family 'in shock and devastated'

The family of the Finsbury Park terror attack suspect say they are “massively shocked” and “their hearts go out to the injured”.

Darren Osborne, a 47-year-old father-of-four was arrested after a van hit pedestrians near a London mosque on Monday.

In a statement, the family 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."

He added: "Its madness. It is obviously sheer madness."

In a separate telephone interview with ITV News, Darren Osborne’s mother she said she only found out her son was in custody after seeing him on television.

Asked what she thought when that happened, she said:"Oh God... you just can't imagine."

Breaking down in tears, she added: "I just can't talk about it, I just don't know".

Osborne's sister said she is "very sorry for what's happened."

Osborne was arrested after a van ploughed into Muslims injuring 11 people attending prayers at a north London mosque in the early hours of Monday morning. Of the 11, eight were taken to hospital for treatment.

Witnesses described hearing the van driver, who was detained by members of the public at the scene, shout: "I'm going to kill Muslims."

One man later died, although it is unclear at this stage if that was a result of the attack as he had collapsed beforehand.

Osborne, who is listed as living in Pentwyn, Cardiff, is now being held on suspicion of terror offences, including murder and attempted murder.

His mother said the last time she saw him was about a month ago.

Asked if he had ever expressed extremist views or behaviour, she said: "No, none whatsoever. Nothing at all."

She described her son as being a "complex" person but said "that's all I can say".

"I'm not going to defend him, but he's my son and it's a terrible, terrible shock.

"It's not just robbing a bank, it's an atrocity. And at this moment in time, I can't cope with it, I can't. I don't want to say anything more."