A MOSQUE community are ‘shocked’ at the sudden death of a man who was knocked down on his way to prayers.

The incident happened in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, shortly after 12.30pm on Thursday, February 16.

The victim has been named locally as Mohammad Yousef, 79, a retired butcher of Boundary Road, Walthamstow.

The pensioner was hit by a lorry as he crossed the road on his way to Jamia Masjid Ghousia for prayers.

Mohammad Ilyas, general secretary at the mosque says the community are praying for the victim.

Mr Ilyas said:  “All of us in the mosque community are shocked.

“I was in my office when it happened and my colleagues came in and told me. Some of the people outside recognised him and said he was crossing the road to the mosque to pray.

“He is a regular and comes to pray here every day and it happened around the time of prayers.

“We are sorry to hear about what happened and we are sending messages of condolences to his family.

“We will pray for his forgiveness today at Friday prayers and I will make an announcement about what happened.”

Mr Yousef was hit by a HGV as he cross the road at the traffic lights. Paramedics attended and he was taken to hospital. He was pronounced dead shortly before 2pm.