Finsbury Park Attack: Victim remembered on the fifth anniversary

The daughter of a Muslim man killed in a north London terror attack has given a moving and tearful tribute to him on the fifth anniversary of his death.

Speaking at Finsbury Park Mosque, close to where the attack happened, Ruzina Akhtar remembered her father, Makram Ali, as "one of the most gentle human beings you could have met".

Mr Ali, 51, died when Darren Osborne drove a hired van into worshippers outside the Muslim Welfare House shortly after evening Ramadan prayers in 2017.

Ms Akhtar was joined by council and police officials including Matt Jukes, assistant commissioner for specialist operations in the Metropolitan Police, in remembering his life on Sunday.

Fighting back tears, Ms Akhtar told them: "He has been tragically taken from us five years ago.

"Our dad was first and foremost one of the most gentle human beings you could have met, who always had a smile on his face and was cracking jokes at the most random of times to make others laugh.

"He was a compassionate husband, a loving father and doting grandfather who was adored by everyone.

"His death has left a black hole but, remembering his smile and laughter, we surround that hole with more love for one another, as he would have wanted."

His daughter, Ruzina Akhtar, will be among those remembering his life at a service at Finsbury Park Mosque on Sunday.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said his thoughts were with their family and the 12 worshippers who were also injured, adding that "London stands united against terrorism" on the fifth anniversary of the attack.

Mr Khan said: "On the fifth anniversary of the awful Finsbury Park terror attack, we remember Makram Ali, who tragically lost his life, and all the innocent Londoners who were injured after being deliberately targeted while leaving their mosque following Ramadan prayers.

"Our thoughts are with Makram's family and everyone who was impacted by this dreadful attack...

"That senseless attack five years ago was an assault on our shared values of openness, freedom and respect.

"But the solidarity shown by all communities in our city in the wake of the attack showed that we will never let terrorists win by dividing us."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also condemned the attack on the anniversary. On Twitter, he said: "Five years on from this cowardly act of terrorism my thoughts are with the family of Makram Ali and those affected by the Finsbury Park Mosque attack.

"Freedom of worship and tolerance for different faiths is fundamental to our values.

"Terrorists will never change our way of life."

Darren Osborne, from Cardiff, was found guilty of terrorism-related murder and jailed for life in February 2018.