“At its core, Islam is a religion of peace.” That’s the message Jeremy Corbyn gave to worshippers at Finsbury Park Mosque today following this morning’s terrorist attack.

The Labour leader followed Theresa May in visiting the mosque, after earlier attending prayers at the Muslim Welfare House across Seven Sisters Road.

In a defiant speech, greeted with applause, he thanked the Muslim community for its charitable work in the area.

He said: “We will not tolerate any form of racism in our society.

“That is where our strength as a community comes together. This mosque has made the most incredible contribution to our community around here in Finsbury Park, as has Muslim Welfare House.

“Countless meetings I’ve been to in the community room downstairs. The room has been given to us by all of you who contribute to build and sustain the mosque because you believe in the strength of communities.

“The open days full of people who are following the Roman Catholic faith, Church of England and Methodist, Jewish, of Hindu and many other faiths. Because at its core, Islam is a religion of peace.

“It is a religion of support. It is a religion of charity: you have the collecting boxes downstairs to which you all give incredibly generously.

“And I tell you this. I went to Cumberland last year during of the floods. There was no electricity, families were in a desperate state and who was there a group of young Muslims from Manchester with a van load of food and a vehicle in which to cook and provide meals for people for days and days on end.

“And when the fire took place at Grenfell Tower, who was knocking on the doors to try and get those families out and save lives?

“I want to thank the Muslim community for the fantastic contribution it makes to my community here, to our community across the country and the contribution they make to bringing up our young people, to understand that to be good is to behave well, to be good is to respect others, to be good is to give to others, to be good is to inspire and help others.

“What I see in this mosque is that inspiration for so many young people to achieve their very best in life.

“And if there are difficult questions we have to put to our public services – to the police, or anybody else – then we put those questions in a respectful way. But above all we stay together united. We will not be divided.”