A MAN has died and eight people have been taken to hospital after a van was driven into pedestrians near a North London mosque.

The attack in Seven Sisters Road at 12.20am this morning is being treated by the Metropolitan Police as a terrorist attack.

The van driver has been described by eyewitnesses as a large white man and was detained by members of the public.

One witness described being surrounded by bodies in the wake of the attack outside the Muslim Welfare House, close to Finsbury Park mosque.

Another said the attacker shouted about killing Muslims as he was held by local people.

Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu said: "This is being treated as a terrorist attack."

He confirmed all the casualties were Muslims. 

He added: "The attack unfolded whilst a man was receiving first aid from the public at the scene; sadly, he has died.

"Any causative link between his death and the attack will form part of our investigation.

"It is too early to state if his death was as a result of the attack."

The force said the investigation of the incident is being carried out by the Counter Terrorism Command.

The force added: "Due to the nature of this incident extra policing resources have been deployed in order to reassure communities, especially those observing Ramadan."

Prime Minister Theresa May will chair a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergencies committee to discuss the Seven Sisters attack at 10am, and is expected to give a statement outside 10 Downing Street afterwards.