Cardinal Nichols 'appalled' at Finsbury Park attack

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has expressed his shock at the attack on Muslims praying at Finsbury Park last night. A white van was driven into worshippers outside the Muslim Welfare House, with reports of at least one fatality at time of writing. Tweeting in response to the attack, Cardinal Nichols said: https://twitter.com/CardinalNichols/status/876738599034777601

Every one of us must repudiate hatred & violence from our words & actions. We must all be builders of understanding, compassion & peace.

— Cardinal Nichols (@CardinalNichols) June 19, 2017

I pray for all who have been injured & affected by this deliberate act of violence. In particular I pray for the person who has been killed.

— Cardinal Nichols (@CardinalNichols) June 19, 2017

The cardinal continued in a statement:

"Violence breeds violence. Hatred breeds hatred. Every one of us must repudiate hatred and violence from our words and actions. We must all be builders of understanding, compassion and peace, day by day, in our homes, our work and our communities. That is the only way."

Cardinal Nichols also wrote to Mohammed Kozbar, Trustee and General Secretary of Finsbury Park Mosque, expressing his 'profound shock' at the attack:

"I write to express my profound shock at the attack on your congregation as they left your mosque last night. I am horrified that people should, again, be targeted in this way. I write to assure you of my prayers for the person who has died, for those who have been injured and for all deeply affected by this brutal attack. I know that I speak for all Catholics when I assure you of prayers and support."