An eight-year-old boy was killed after a motorbike struck his family as they walked to their local mosque in south London for evening prayer.

Mustafa Mohammed Ahmed is understood to have been crossing the road with his father and brother to pray Isha at Greenwich Islamic Centre on Sunday night when the motorcyclist crashed into them.

Emergency services attended the scene but despite their best efforts Mustafa sadly died at the scene.

His father, Mohammed Mow Ahmed, who was holding Mustafa’s hand at the time of the incident, is said to be in critical condition. Mustafa’s 10-year-old brother, Ahmed, is also fighting for his life in the hospital.

The motorbike rider was also rushed to hospital with non life threatening injuries.  

Local residents took to social media to share the horrifying news.

Adel Khaireh, cabinet member for culture at Greenwich council, said on Twitter: “Horrific scenes outside @GICMosque a father and his two young children were hit by a speeding motorcycle on the way to prayer.”

Another person tweeted: “A brother who prays with us at the masjid and his two sons were hit by a motorbike as they were crossing the road to enter the masjid for Salah Al-Isha. The 4 yr old [sic] son has passed away, and the other son and father have been taken by air ambulance. Pray for them.”

“Kind hearted, smart and loving”

A family friend, Mustafa Zachariah, told the Evening Standard: “They were going to the mosque when it happened. I was there just minutes after.

“The three were thrown quite a distance. The father is seriously injured.

“His eight-year-old son was killed and ten-year-old brother was also injured.”

Greenwich Mosque released a statement expressing its “heartfelt condolences to the family.”

“We are extremely saddened to witness the passing of an 8-year-old boy in a collision with a motorbike last night (19th February’23) while walking to the Mosque for isha prayers,” it said on Facebook.

“While no words can ease the loss of the family, we hope that these gestures of sympathy will be a comfort to them. Anyone who knew the young boy would know how kind hearted, smart and loving he was.  

“He would have done anything for anybody, he was truly an amazing person. This is a massive shock to the community.  

“May Allah give the family sabr in this difficult time. May Allah taala accept his good deeds and enter him into jannat ul-firdaus and forgive any of his shortcomings.”

The Met Police, who confirmed no one has been arrested, are appealing for witnesses.  

“Any witnesses or anyone with information that may assist police is asked to call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit,” it said in a statement.

“There is nothing at this stage to suggest this is terrorism related or a hate crime. Enquiries continue to establish the circumstances.”