A 13-year-old boy who celebrated an alleged terror attack on Muslim worshippers in Finsbury Park has been referred to the government’s anti-extremism programme.

The teenager, who was reported to the Prevent scheme by his school, described the north London van attack, which left one man dead and several other people injured, as “wonderful news”, according to The Sunday Times.

The youth is thought to have previously displayed racist signs, which were being dealt with by his school, the newspaper reported.

He is also believed to have an older relative with links to the English Defence League, which staged a rally in London on Saturday.

Finsbury Park attack June 19 25 show all Finsbury Park attack June 19 1/25 Treating the wounded: Paramedics and police at the scene of the crash in Finsbury Park James Gourley/Rex 2/25 The suspect is pinned to the ground by brave members of the public 3/25 Forensic investigators examine the van Jeremy Selwyn 4/25 James Gourley/Rex Features 5/25 Injured: Paramedics take one of the wounded away James Gourley/Rex Features 6/25 Rescuers: Emergency services staff treat victims after a vehicle hit pedestrians in Finsbury Park Thomas van Hulle/PA 7/25 Crash: The scene in Seven Sisters Road PA 8/25 Response: An armed police officer mans a cordon on the Seven Sisters Road at Finsbury Park Yui Mok/PA 9/25 Shock: Local people observe prayers at Finsbury Park Yui Mok/PA 10/25 Emergency service workers at Finsbury Park in north London Yui Mok/PA 11/25 Fears: Police officers talk with local people at Finsbury Park Yui Mok/PA 12/25 Paramedics: Ambulances in Finsbury Park Jennifer Heape/PA 13/25 Police on one of the cordons in north London Yui Mok/PA 14/25 Patrol: Armed officers near Seven Sisters Road Yui Mok/PA 15/25 Cordon: Police in Finsbury Park Yui Mok/PA 16/25 People scuffle near a police cordon near Finsbury Park EPA 17/25 PA 18/25 Muslims pray on the street NIGEL HOWARD © 19/25 Armed Police at the scene in Seven Sisters Road Nigel Howard 20/25 Finsbury Park attack: The scene at Seven Sisters Road where a van believed to be involved mounted the pavement Jeremy Selwyn 21/25 Forensic investigators at Finsbury Park PA 22/25 The suspect is put in the back of a police van after being restrained at the scene 23/25 Police at the scene neat Seven Sisters Road Chloe Chaplain 24/25 Aerial view of forensics at the scene of Seven Sisters Road Jeremy Selwyn 25/25 Flowers are left near the scene at Seven Sisters Road Chloe Chaplain 1/25 Treating the wounded: Paramedics and police at the scene of the crash in Finsbury Park James Gourley/Rex 2/25 The suspect is pinned to the ground by brave members of the public 3/25 Forensic investigators examine the van Jeremy Selwyn 4/25 James Gourley/Rex Features 5/25 Injured: Paramedics take one of the wounded away James Gourley/Rex Features 6/25 Rescuers: Emergency services staff treat victims after a vehicle hit pedestrians in Finsbury Park Thomas van Hulle/PA 7/25 Crash: The scene in Seven Sisters Road PA 8/25 Response: An armed police officer mans a cordon on the Seven Sisters Road at Finsbury Park Yui Mok/PA 9/25 Shock: Local people observe prayers at Finsbury Park Yui Mok/PA 10/25 Emergency service workers at Finsbury Park in north London Yui Mok/PA 11/25 Fears: Police officers talk with local people at Finsbury Park Yui Mok/PA 12/25 Paramedics: Ambulances in Finsbury Park Jennifer Heape/PA 13/25 Police on one of the cordons in north London Yui Mok/PA 14/25 Patrol: Armed officers near Seven Sisters Road Yui Mok/PA 15/25 Cordon: Police in Finsbury Park Yui Mok/PA 16/25 People scuffle near a police cordon near Finsbury Park EPA 17/25 PA 18/25 Muslims pray on the street NIGEL HOWARD © 19/25 Armed Police at the scene in Seven Sisters Road Nigel Howard 20/25 Finsbury Park attack: The scene at Seven Sisters Road where a van believed to be involved mounted the pavement Jeremy Selwyn 21/25 Forensic investigators at Finsbury Park PA 22/25 The suspect is put in the back of a police van after being restrained at the scene 23/25 Police at the scene neat Seven Sisters Road Chloe Chaplain 24/25 Aerial view of forensics at the scene of Seven Sisters Road Jeremy Selwyn 25/25 Flowers are left near the scene at Seven Sisters Road Chloe Chaplain

The attack on worshippers outside the mosque in Seven Sisters Road in the early hours of Monday morning led to an increase in referrals to the Prevent scheme of neo-Nazi sympathisers heard praising the actions of the alleged attacker.

The attack followed three Isis-inspired terror atrocities in London and Manchester that left 35 people died.

William Baldet, a senior Prevent co-ordinator, told the Sunday Times: “It's not unusual to see a spike in referrals immediately after a significant incident or terrorist attack.

"For some people it's a case of joining the dots in the light of an individual's past behaviour."