![\"\"](\"https:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Imam-Mohammed-Mahmoud.jpg\")
An Imam who restrained a crowd from attacking a terrorist who drove a van into worshippers at London\u2019s Finsbury Park Mosque in 2017 was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Duke of Cambridge on Thursday.\nImam Mohammed Mahmoud was awarded the OBE for his services to the community, having protected far-right attacker Darren Osborne immediately after he had driven a van into a packed pavement of Muslim worshippers in June 2017.
\nPrince William, whose title is the Duke of Cambridge, awarded the honor to Mahmoud at Buckingham Palace.
\nSpeaking to British news channel ITV, he said he did not accept the term \u201chero,\u201d but that he was \u201chumbled\u201d to receive the award.
\n\u201cHeroes are those who go beyond the line of duty, whereas what I did on that night, with a group of other congregants from our mosque, was not extraordinary,\u201d the Imam said.
\n\u201cIt was our duty to de-escalate the situation and to calm people down and to bring people to their senses and that thankfully is what happened.\u201d
\nDespite Osborne\u2019s actions killing 51-year-old Makram Ali and injuring nine other worshippers, Mahmoud protected the terrorist from a growing, angry crowd by standing over him until Metropolitan Police officers arrived.
\nHis actions were widely praised, both in the UK and around the world.
\nMahmoud\u2019s award was among a record number for British Muslims in Queen Elizabeth\u2019s 2019 New Year\u2019s Honours list.
\nFollowing a trial in February 2018, Osborne was convicted of murder and attempted murder and was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 43 years.<\/p>\n