The son of a van hire company boss whose van was used to mow down a group of worshippers in Finsbury Park has been criticised for comments made on Facebook (Picture: Getty)

The son of a van hire company boss whose van was used to mow down a group of worshippers has sparked outrage after saying: ‘It’s a shame they don’t hire out tanks’.

Finsbury Park terror attack victim doesn’t remember anything about what happened

Darren Osborne, 47, was identified as the attacker who allegedly hired the £80-a-day Pontyclun Van Hire van to carry out his attack in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Richard Gear Evans, who is the son of the van hire company’s boss, responded to messages of support on his Facebook, writing: ‘It’s my dad’s company I don’t get involved, it’s a shame they don’t hire out a steam rollers or tanks could have done a tidy job then.’

Richard Gear Evans’ Facebook account has now apparently been deleted following these comments (Picture: Facebook)

One man died and eight others were injured after the shocking attack in Finsbury Park on Sunday night.


Finsbury Park suspect named as father-of-four Darren Osborne

The 47-year-old was subsequently arrested after he allegedly shouted ‘I’m going to kill all Muslims – I did my bit’ and rammed into the crowd gathered on the pavement.



Forensic officers were last night investigating a white van which has Pontyclun Van Hire on it, a company based in South Wales.

Writing yesterday morning at 10.42am, Evans, who reportedly is a driver for Eddie Stobart, insisted his dad had nothing to do with the attack.

Darren Osborne, 47, was identified as the attacker who allegedly hired the £80-a-day Pontyclun Van Hire van to carry out his attack in the early hours of yesterday morning. (Picture: Nawaf Atiq/Facebook)

He said: ‘He wasn’t involved only the van they just said they are deeply sorry glad I’m not running the Van Hire the police wouldn’t like what my answer would be.’

He later responded that he wished a ‘steam roller’ or ‘tank’ had been used.

People have now lashed out at the ‘utterly disgusting’ comments, with one person describing Evans as a ‘hateful scumbag’.

Evans has also reportedly deleted his Facebook account since yesterday after his comments were widely shared and criticised.

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A spokesman for Eddie Stobart Logistics told Metro.co.uk that they are aware of the ‘reprehensible remarks made by Richard Gear Evans on social media and said: ‘These remarks in no way reflect the view of Eddie Stobart Logistics and we have taken immediate action.’

Van driven at worshippers in Finsbury Park ‘clearly an attack on Muslims’

Osborne is believed to have hired the van from Pontyclun Van Hire, 15 miles away from his home in the Welsh capital.

Owners of the company hit out at the ‘cowardly’ attack using one of their vehicles more than 160 miles away and said they were ‘shocked and saddened’ that one of their vans was used.

The director of the Pontyclun van hire company, Lee Evans, told Metro.co.uk that he disowned comments made by his son on Twitter.

A police van is seen parked at Pontyclun Van Hire at the East Side Cambrian Industrial Estate on June 19, 2017 in Pontyclun, Wales. (Picture: Getty Images)

He said: ‘I want to condemn in the strongest possible terms these ill-considered Twitter comments, which in no way reflect my own view or indeed those of anyone else in the family.

‘The attack in Finsbury Park was shocking and cowardly. Together with all the staff at Pontyclun Van Hire, I am doing everything I can to assist the Metropolitan police in their inquiries.’

Co-director of the company, Paul Evans, said: ‘I’d like to make it clear that my nephew Richard is not involved in any way in this company, and all of us here were horrified by his despicable comments.

‘The directors have written to Finsbury Park mosque and all those affected by this crime to offer our sympathy on behalf of all our staff, and to thank them for their calm response.’