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A mosque is on lockdown after a man believed to be carrying a gun tried to make his way inside during prayers.

Police say the suspected gunman was ushered outside before a shot was fired at Seven Kings mosque in Ilford, London.

The Metropolitan Police are not treating the incident as terrorist-related and believe the weapon used was a blank firing handgun.

People at the mosque reportedly 'chased' the suspected gunman out of the building, according to multiple posts on social media.

Police have launched a manhunt for the suspected shooter.

No-one was injured in the incident and police said officers stayed at the scene overnight.

Worshipper Abu Chowdhury, 28, told Mirror Online he heard people shouting 'he's got a gun, he's got a gun' in the mosque, before a shot rang out.

Did you see what happened? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk

(Image: Abu Chowdhury) (Image: Abu Chowdhury)

Mr Chowdhury, from Whitechapel, London, who was praying when the gunman burst in, initially feared the shooting was a copycat attack inspired by the Christchurch mosque massacre in New Zealand.

He said: "I was inches away from where he [the gunman] was.

"I could not see him but I heard the commotion. I could hear pushing, shoving and shouting. People were saying 'get away, take your mask off'.

"About three to four people stormed inside the mosque. I could hear one man saying 'he's got a gun, he's got a gun'.

"I was thinking 'I need to break my prayer now... I need to run because I'm going to be shot'. The guy said 'he's got a gun' and then the shot was fired."

Several social media users said the alleged armed man had his face covered when he entered the mosque.

The incident took place place during prayers for Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, take part in self reflection and improve their spiritual connection with the Quran and God.

(Image: Majid Rahman / Facebook)

Worshipper Ibraheem Hussain, 19, described hearing the gunshot around half an hour after prayers began.

He said: "There's three sections of the mosque and at taraweeh [evening prayers] during this time of Ramadan the mosque is packed out.

"We were upstairs in the classrooms and about 30 minutes into the night prayer a large noise went off.

"I just continued my prayer, it sounded like a firework or maybe something heavy had been dropped, so no-one really thought anything of it.

"After we finished we were leaving the shoe area and someone said it was a gunshot, someone had come into the mosque and he had a firearm on him.

"The managers had seen him, he was masked and acting suspicious and the firearm was let off."

The incident comes amid heightened concerns over security at places of worship around the world following recent attacks in New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the US.

Mr Hussain, an apprentice data analyst at one of the Big Four city firms, said the incident left him concerned over the safety of worshippers during Ramadan.

"The main thing that was in my mind was that (due to the layout of the mosque) it could have gone very wrong," he said.

"[Christchurch] comes to mind, it's crazy to think this would happen in London, especially after everything that has happened.

"Another thing that is quite worrying is that the guy was on foot, so he could be in the surrounding area still.

"A lot of people - loads and loads of Muslims - were in that area in traditional garments so they could be targets, although we don't know what the aim was."

A statement from Mufti Suhail at Seven Kings Mosque says: "There was a firearm incident outside Seven Kings Mosque tonight during the Ramadan night prayers.

"The suspect ran from the scene when stopped by brothers standing guard at the mosque.

"A shot was fired which fortunately did not hit anyone.

"There is a full police presence outside the Mosque and we would like to reassure the community the Police have secured the area and there were no injuries.

"We are yet to establish the motive or all the facts surrounding the incident. The police are investigating the matter.

"A polite request to all to kindly avoid speculating and circulating unconfirmed information."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Police were called at 22.45pm on Thursday, May 9, to reports that a man, believed to be in possession of a firearm, had entered a mosque on High Road in Seven Kings.

“The man was ushered outside of the building by those inside. A gunshot was then heard.

“Officers, including firearms officers, attended. There were no reported injuries. A large police presence remains at the scene.

“At this early stage, ballistic evidence recovered from the scene suggests that the weapon was a blank firing handgun.



“Officers will continue to work closely with representatives from the mosque and are providing reassurance to the local community.



“The Trident and Area Crime Command has been informed and the investigation is being led by detectives from the East Area Command Unit.



“There have been no arrests and enquiries continue. The incident is not being treated as terrorism-related.



“Anyone with information is asked to contact borough officers via 101 quoting reference 8585/9May.”



(Image: Majid Rahman / Facebook) (Image: Majid Rahman / Facebook)

Following the incident the mosque's imam urged people not to speculate over the gunman's motives.

"There was a firearm incident outside Seven Kings Mosque tonight during Ramadan night prayers," Mufti Suhail said.

"The suspect ran from the scene when stopped by brothers standing guard at the mosque.

"A shot was fired which fortunately did not hit anyone."

Abdul Ahad wrote on Facebook: "Keep safe... during taraweeh prayers this evening there was an incident involving a firearm at Seven Kings masjid [mosque].

"A man with fully covered face entered the masjid during taraweeh prayers.

"Alhamdulillah [thank God] no one injured or hurt, but one shot was fired and unfortunately he ran away."

