Finsbury Park attack: 'It’s a shame they couldn't hire a tank', son of van owner reportedly says

South Wales police are reportedly investigating the comments

(AFP/Getty)

The son of a vehicle-hire business owner whose van was used in a terrorist attack in Finsbury Park has allegedly claimed it was a “shame they don’t hire out steamrollers or tanks”.

One man died and 11 people were injured when 47-year-old Darren Osborne allegedly rammed a white van into a crowd of worshippers in north London at around 12:30 on Monday morning.

A van from the Pontyclun Van Hire company was involved in the attack. Richard Gear Evans, who claims to be the son of the company owner, posted on Facebook that he was glad he wasn’t contacted by police as “they wouldn’t like what my answer would be”.

In comments that now appear to have been deleted, Mr Evans allegedly wrote: “It’s my dads 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 [sic]”.

He was responding to a comment from a woman expressing hope that the attack in Finsbury Park would not hurt his father’s van hire business.

Mr Evans appeared to have previously responded to the news of one of his father’s vans being involved in the attack with the comment: “Well it’s all we needed at the moment but 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 [sic].”

South Wales Police are now investigating the comments, according to Wales Online.

Mr Evans reportedly works as a freight movements director at Eddie Stobart.

A number of people responded to the comments with anger, while others posted screenshots of the comments on the Facebook page for the Stobart Group, which owns the company.

Pontyclun Van Hire’s owners issued a statement following the attack, expressing shock and sadness that one of the company’s vehicles was used in the incident.

Responding to Mr Evans's comments, company director Mr L Evans said in a statement: “I want to condemn in the strongest possible terms these ill-considered comments, which in no way reflect my own view or indeed those of the other directors.

“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.”

Eddie Stobart Logistics said in a statement: “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,” the Daily Mirror reported.

Osborne seems to have deliberately targeted Finsbury Park at a time when it was busy with Muslim worshippers attending Ramadan night prayers at their local mosques.

Witnesses described hearing Osborne shout: “I’m going to kill all Muslims.”

He has been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism including murder and attempted murder.

The Stobart Group have been contacted by The Independent for comment.