An imam who protected a man suspected of attacking Muslims outside Finsbury Park Mosque from angry members of the public has described how he stopped “kicks and punches” that were coming from “every angle”.

Mohammed Mahmoud was one of the first on the scene of the attack and intervened to save the suspect from a crowd that had formed.

Speaking next to the police cordon in north London on Monday afternoon, the imam said: “We found that a group of people quickly started to collect around the assailant and some tried to hit him with either kicks or punches.

“We managed to surround him and to protect him from any harm. We stopped all forms of attack and abuse towards him that were coming from every angle.

“We pushed people away from him until he was safely taken by police into custody.”

Mr Mahmoud said he had had been helped by other members of the local community who prevented the suspect from being hurt.

“It wasn’t me alone; there were a group of brothers … who were calm and collected and managed to calm people down and to extinguish any flames of anger or mob rule that would have taken charge had this group of mature brothers not stepped in.”

Finsbury Park attack Show all 14 1 /14 Finsbury Park attack Finsbury Park attack Police officers attend to the scene after a vehicle collided with pedestrians in the Finsbury Park, killing one person and injuring eight Reuters Finsbury Park attack The incident is being treated as a potential terror attack Reuters Finsbury Park attack A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder Reuters Finsbury Park attack Police cordon off a street in Finsbury Park AFP/Getty Images Finsbury Park attack A man prays in the street after the attack Reuters Finsbury Park attack Men gather and pray together in the street in the aftermath of the attack AFP/Getty Finsbury Park attack Reuters Finsbury Park attack PA Finsbury Park attack Onlookers gather near a police cordon EPA Finsbury Park attack Forensic investigators arrive at the scene PA Finsbury Park attack A forensic tent stands next to a van PA Finsbury Park attack A police officer talks with residents AFP/Getty Images Finsbury Park attack Onlookers watch proceedings at the security cordon AFP/Getty Finsbury Park attack Local residents react at the scene AFP/Getty Images

He also spoke about the “demonisation” of the Muslim community and warned that people with “ulterior motives wished to divide this great country and this great city”.

“It was touching our non-Muslim neighbours woke us up this morning to give us their support,” he said. “It is proof that the fabric of this society is not torn, but that we have to continue to keep the fabric of society, and this community of London, intact.”

Praising Mr Mahmoud's “bravery and courage”, Toufik Kacimi, the chief executive of the nearby Muslim Welfare House community centre, said the imam’s actions “prevented further injuries and potential loss of life”.