London man died after mosque attack from 'multiple injuries'

London police say 51-year-old man found dead after mosque attack last week died of "multiple injuries."

The Metropolitan Police statement on Thursday is important because it had not been certain whether Makram Ali died of illness or as a result of the actions of a 47-year-old man who plowed a large van into a crowd of worshippers spilling out of two London mosques following Ramadan prayers.

Witnesses near the Finsbury Park attack say Ali seemed to suffer a medical episode just before the attack.

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Ali came to Britain from Bangladesh when he was 10 years old. His family described him as "a quiet, gentle man" who took comfort from "spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren."

His family says they were due to fly to Canada for a holiday.

"Our father was a quiet gentle man, he didn't get involved in political or social discussion, he instead took comfort and enjoyment spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren and he was always ready to make a funny joke when you least expected," a statement from the family said. 

The alleged assailant, identified by British media as 47-year-old Darren Osborne, is being held on terror charges. Police say he was not known to them or associated with extremist groups, but investigators are exploring reported anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim remarks. Police are also looking into a statement made by his family that he was "troubled for a long time."