A “perfect” boy was killed after a motorcyclist struck his family as they crossed the road to go to evening prayer at a south London mosque on Sunday night.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said the fatal crash happened about 7.30pm outside Greenwich Islamic Centre in Plumstead Road.
The “football-loving” boy, aged, 8, died at the scene according to family friends and three others, including the rider, were taken to hospital.
Their father, a bus driver, who was walking hand-in-hand with his two sons to go to evening prayers is said to be fighting for his life in hospital. The other son, 10, also suffered critical injuries in the horror crash.
The rider, a 20-year-old man, has been assessed as not life threatening in hospital.
He has not been arrested.
Shocking images from the scene appear to show a blue superbike that had crashed into a parked car outside the mosque.
Deputy Imam Sayed Kafil Ahmed at the mosque told the Standard: “I was calling prayers when someone came in and said what happened.
“I went outside it was a mess. The road was blocked. We will say prayers for him.
“The boy who died used to come here for lessons, he was the perfect student. He listened and was so respectful. He was our best student. Normally kids don’t listen, he was different. He had lots of friends.”
Their mother is said to be in a state of “deep shock”, according to family friends.
Family friend Mustafa Zachariah told the 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.
“I’m like an uncle to them. We are all devastated.”
Abdullahi Osman, 53, a security guard who knows the family said: “They are lovely people just going to the mosque when it happened. The little boy was very polite, just perfect. We are all very upset.”
Adel Khairehc, 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.”
A Met spokesman said: “There is nothing at this stage to suggest this is terrorism related or a hate crime. Enquiries continue to establish the circumstances.”
