The son of a vehicle hire company boss whose van was used in an attack in Finsbury Park has said it’s a ‘shame they don’t hire out tanks’.
Richard Gear Evans – whose dad, he claims – runs the company Pontyclun Van Hire, reportedly posted the hateful comment on his Facebook page.
Darren Osborne, 47, from Cardiff, has been identified as the attacker who hired a van from the company, which he used to mount the pavement outside Muslim Welfare House – which is also a community centre – on Seven Sisters Road in the early hours of Monday.
Evans, who works for Eddie Stobart, wrote:
It’s my dad’s 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.
The comment came after he’d said he was ‘deeply sorry’ and that the ‘police wouldn’t like’ what his answer would be.
Osborne was arrested after he allegedly shouted ‘I’m going to kill all Muslims – I did my bit’.
Evans has also reportedly deleted his Facebook account after the comments were widely shared and criticised.
The comment has caused outrage with people calling for his arrest.
Louise Primrose wrote on the Metro’s Facebook page: “Innocent people were killed and injured by a lunatic terrorist but this imbecile wishes more were killed using a tank or steam roller??!! He is as bad as the attacker, inciting hatred, racism, and religious intolerance.”
Nicola Halliwell said: “That comment is disgusting. He should get done for that.”
And Becky Heaviside added: “Well, that’s one way to lose your job and dick over your family’s business in one fell swoop!”
A spokesman for Eddie Stobart Logistics told Metro.co.uk they were aware of the ‘reprehensible remarks’ made by Richard Gear Evans on social media and said:
These remarks in no way reflect the view of Eddie Stobart Logistics and we have taken immediate action.
Police are yet to charge Darren Osborne.