A leading Dutch Muslim organisation has appealed for calm in the wake of the attack on a mosque in London that left 10 people injured.

A white van ploughed into a crowd of people gathered outside the Finsbury Park mosque just after midnight on Monday. An elderly man who was being given first aid treatment outside the mosque died, but it is not clear if his death was a direct result of the attack.

A statement by the Council of Moroccan Mosques in the Netherlands, issued on Monday, said: ‘We ask the Dutch Muslim community to keep their heads and not let themselves be provoked by this.

‘That is exactly what terrorists want. They will only stop when our society has been torn apart. We will not let that happen.’

The council advised mosque administrators to consider whether they need extra security measures in the wake of the attack. The organisation has also been in touch with the national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism and security.

The driver of the white van in the London incident, a 48-year-old man, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder after being overpowered by bystanders.

Eight people were taken to hospital while two others were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Police confirmed all the victims were Muslims.

UK prime minister Theresa May branded it a terrorist attack and said the driver had ‘targeted the ordinary and the innocent going about their daily lives’.