A man arrested by police after an alleged terror attack on a group of worshippers near a mosque was not known to the security services, Security Minster Ben Wallace has said.
One man died after pedestrians were targeted by a man driving a van near Finsbury Park Mosque in north London early on Monday.
Witnesses described hearing the man, who was detained by members of the public at the scene, shout: "I'm going to kill Muslims."
The suspect, described as a large white man, was arrested by police on suspicion of attempted murder.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World At One, Mr Wallace said: "What I can say on this case is this individual, so far as we know at the moment, was not known to us, but we are aware of a rise in the far right."
The alleged attacker, who is believed to have acted alone, struck as the area was busy with worshippers attending Ramadan night prayers at the mosque.
Prime Minister Theresa May has condemned the incident as "every bit as sickening" as the recent atrocities in London and Manchester.
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