Iain Duncan Smith has called for calm after the terror attack on worshippers outside a mosque and said we must not let it “divide us as a nation”.

One man died and eight others were injured when a van drove into a group of people outside Finsbury Park Mosque in the early hours of yesterday.

Worshippers were leaving evening prayers after breaking the Ramadan fast and were helping an elderly man who had collapsed near the mosque in Seven Sisters Road.

Witness Abdul Rahman told the BBC the attacker shouted he wanted to “kill all Muslims” and Scotland Yard declared it a terror incident within eight minutes.

Darren Osborne, 47, from Cardiff, has been held on suspicion of attempted murder and alleged terror offences.

The Metropolitan Police said he was being held on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism including murder and attempted murder.

The MP for Chingford and Woodford Green said he woke to "shocking news about the attack" like many others yesterday.

He said: "This follows two previous recent attacks, one bombing in Manchester and the attack on Borough Market, in which a number of people lost their lives as a result of terrorist activity.

“We should treat all these incidents in exactly the same way, requiring the full response of both the security services and of the justice system.

“What we must not do is allow such attacks to divide us as a nation.

“I believe that the vast majority of British people, who are tolerant and decent, will not allow this to affect them.

“By going about our business in the normal way, whilst giving our support, thoughts and prayers to those who have been affected, we will not let these extremists, no matter where they come from or who they are, destroy our way of life.”