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The son of van hire boss whose vehicle was used to mow down Muslim worshippers has been arrested after a vile Facebook rant about the Finsbury Park attack .

South Wales Police detained Richard Gear Evans, 37, after a tweet was posted stating: "shame they don't hire out steam rollers or tanks could have done a tidy job then".

Evans was responding to messages of support after one of his dad's vans ploughed into pedestrians leaving midnight prayers.

One man died and eight others are in hospital after the shocking attack in Finsbury Park.

Evans, who is a driver for Eddie Stobart, posted at 10.42am on Monday morning that his dad had nothing to do with the attack.

(Image: Reuters) (Image: Sky News) (Image: REUTERS/Ritvik Carvalho)

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.”

Comments by a 'Richard Gear Evans' on Facebook and Twitter also read: "It's a shame that van was a nice drive as well.

"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."

The comments were widely shared on Facebook and condemned.

One called it as "utterly disgusting" while another described Evans as a "hateful scumbag".

The comments and account profiles for 'Richard Gear Evans' appear to have since been deleted.

A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said: "A 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of displaying threatening abusive / insulting written material with intent / likely to stir up racial hatred.

"He is currently in police custody."

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(Image: Reuters) (Image: Reuters/Neil Hall) (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Len Evans, the father of Richard Evans, runs Pontyclun Van Hire in the Rhondda valley, south Wales, with four brothers.

"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," he said.

"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 Paul Evans said company staff and directors were "horrified" by what his nephew had written.

"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," he said.

"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."

Richard Evans works as a driver for haulage company Eddie Stobart.

A spokesman for the firm said: "We can confirm that we are aware of the reprehensible remarks made by Richard Gear Evans on social media.

"These remarks in no way reflect the view of Eddie Stobart Logistics and we have taken immediate action."