World at War: US Shoots Down Syrian Aircraft as Van Runs Over Pedestrians in Front of London Mosque

A U.S. warplane shot down a Syrian army jet on Sunday in the southern Raqqa countryside, with Washington saying the jet had dropped bombs near U.S.-backed forces and Damascus saying the plane was downed while flying a mission against Islamic State militants.

A Syrian army statement released on Syrian state television said the plane crashed and the pilot was missing in the first such downing of a Syrian jet by the United States since the start of the conflict in 2011.

The army statement said it took place on Sunday afternoon near a village called Rasafah. The “flagrant attack was an attempt to undermine the efforts of the army as the only effective force capable with its allies … in fighting terrorism across its territory,” the Syrian army said.

“This comes at a time when the Syrian army and its allies were making clear advances in fighting the Daesh (Islamic State) terrorist group,” it added.

The U.S. Central Command later issued a statement saying the Syrian plane was downed “in collective self-defense of Coalition-partnered forces,” identified as fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near Tabqah.

A van ploughed into a crowd on Seven Sisters Road near Finsbury Park Mosque

More than ten pedestrians were hit by a van which veered onto a pavement near a renowned north London mosque late last night, according to reports. Several people were reportedly hurt after the van ploughed into a crowd on Seven Sisters Road near Finsbury Park Mosque, where hate cleric Abu Hamza once preached.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing bystanders wrestle the suspect to the floor and pin him down until officers arrived.

Emergency service crews were also spotted trying giving cardiac massages to the injured in a desperate bid to save them.

Twitter users claimed the victims were Muslims leaving late-night prayers being observed for the month of Ramadan.

A Metropolitan Police helicopter was seen circling overhead as photographs posted on social media showed a huge response from the emergency services.

Dozens of police cars and vans cordoned off a large area of the normally bustling thoroughfare as stunned locals gathered at the scene.

Images on Twitter appeared to show a clean-shaven white man with black hair being detained by police officers behind a van, surrounded by a group of shouting onlookers.

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