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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/06/teenager-zakaria-bulhan-admits-russell-square-killing-of-us-tourist-in-stabbing-spree
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| Teenager admits killing US tourist in Russell Square stabbings | Teenager admits killing US tourist in Russell Square stabbings |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A teenager has pleaded guilty to killing an American tourist and wounding five others in a series of random stabbings in Russell Square, central London, last August. | A teenager has pleaded guilty to killing an American tourist and wounding five others in a series of random stabbings in Russell Square, central London, last August. |
| Appearing at the Old Bailey on Monday, Zakaria Bulhan, 19, admitted the manslaughter of Darlene Horton, 64, on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and the wounding of five others with the intent to do them grievous bodily harm. | Appearing at the Old Bailey on Monday, Zakaria Bulhan, 19, admitted the manslaughter of Darlene Horton, 64, on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and the wounding of five others with the intent to do them grievous bodily harm. |
| He had been due to stand trial on one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder. After pleading guilty to the lesser charges, the prosecution said it accepted his not guilty pleas to murder and attempted murder. | He had been due to stand trial on one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder. After pleading guilty to the lesser charges, the prosecution said it accepted his not guilty pleas to murder and attempted murder. |
| The court heard that Bulhan was undergoing an acute episode of paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attacks. | The court heard that Bulhan was undergoing an acute episode of paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attacks. |
| The prosecutor, Mark Heywood QC, said the case had been considered at the “highest level” and it was decided that it was right to accept the pleas. | The prosecutor, Mark Heywood QC, said the case had been considered at the “highest level” and it was decided that it was right to accept the pleas. |
| Opening the facts of the case, Heywood said that on the evening of 3 August 2016 a man was seen “moving in an erratic fashion” in Russell Square, armed with a large kitchen knife. | |
| “As he passed members of the public, he veered across the pavement towards them,” Heywood said. “Without warning or provocation, the man stabbed six people in quick succession, saying nothing to any of them, moving on after each stabbing towards his next victim.” | “As he passed members of the public, he veered across the pavement towards them,” Heywood said. “Without warning or provocation, the man stabbed six people in quick succession, saying nothing to any of them, moving on after each stabbing towards his next victim.” |
| Five of the victims sustained non-fatal injuries and had made good recoveries. However, Horton received a stab wound to her back that penetrated her left lung and heart, sustaining “a devastating injury from which she died at the scene”, Heywood said. | Five of the victims sustained non-fatal injuries and had made good recoveries. However, Horton received a stab wound to her back that penetrated her left lung and heart, sustaining “a devastating injury from which she died at the scene”, Heywood said. |
| Mr Justice Spencer ordered the attempted murder charges to lie on file. | |
| After Bulhan’s guilty pleas, Det Insp Tony Lyons, of the Metropolitan police homicide and major crime command, said: “Bulhan’s actions caused an enormous amount of fear and distress, with initial concerns this incident may be linked to terrorism. This was quickly found out not to be the case and we now know Bulhan was suffering a severe episode of mental illness. | |
| “He clearly poses an enormous risk to the general public and I hope he can now get the help he needs.” | |
| He said thoughts must remain “with Bulhan’s victims who were simply enjoying a night out on a summer’s evening when they were subjected to this terrifying ordeal. And, of course, the friends and family of Darlene Horton who so sadly lost her life.” | |
| Bulhan, who was born in Norway after his parents emigrated from Somalia, is the second of three children and was living in Tooting, south London, with his mother, siblings and stepfather at the time of the attacks. | Bulhan, who was born in Norway after his parents emigrated from Somalia, is the second of three children and was living in Tooting, south London, with his mother, siblings and stepfather at the time of the attacks. |
| He dropped out of college in April 2016 and “began to behave in an odd fashion”. After a number of consultations with his GP, Bulhan was referred to a community mental health team. | He dropped out of college in April 2016 and “began to behave in an odd fashion”. After a number of consultations with his GP, Bulhan was referred to a community mental health team. |
| Two days before the attacks, while his mother was in the Netherlands, there were concerns about Bulhan’s behaviour, prompting his father to collect him and take him to a mosque in Camberwell, south London. | Two days before the attacks, while his mother was in the Netherlands, there were concerns about Bulhan’s behaviour, prompting his father to collect him and take him to a mosque in Camberwell, south London. |
| On the evening of 3 August 2016, they attended a mosque in east London and said prayers, but the defendant got up and ran away, the court heard. | On the evening of 3 August 2016, they attended a mosque in east London and said prayers, but the defendant got up and ran away, the court heard. |
| Horton, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was attacked in front of her husband, Richard Wagner, a psychology professor at Florida State University. He had been in London teaching summer classes and they were due to fly back to the US hours after the incident. | Horton, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was attacked in front of her husband, Richard Wagner, a psychology professor at Florida State University. He had been in London teaching summer classes and they were due to fly back to the US hours after the incident. |
| She reportedly died while being cradled in the lap of a Spanish tourist after trying to warn others that their lives could be in danger. Friends of Horton described the retired special education teacher as an “inspiration”. | She reportedly died while being cradled in the lap of a Spanish tourist after trying to warn others that their lives could be in danger. Friends of Horton described the retired special education teacher as an “inspiration”. |
| The only British victim was Bernard Hepplewhite, 67, from Kent, who was seriously injured after being stabbed in the stomach. | The only British victim was Bernard Hepplewhite, 67, from Kent, who was seriously injured after being stabbed in the stomach. |
| The other victims were: Martin Hoenisch, from the US, who was stabbed in the chest; Australians Lillie Selletin, 23, who was stabbed in the back, and David Imber, 40, who was stabbed in the chest; and Israeli Yovel Lewronski, 18, who was stabbed in her bicep. | The other victims were: Martin Hoenisch, from the US, who was stabbed in the chest; Australians Lillie Selletin, 23, who was stabbed in the back, and David Imber, 40, who was stabbed in the chest; and Israeli Yovel Lewronski, 18, who was stabbed in her bicep. |
| Outlining details of the attack, Heywood said Sellentin saw an individual “smiling and skipping” along the road and watched as he skipped towards an older couple in front of her – Hepplewhite and a Canadian friend with whom he had been to the theatre. | |
| Bulhan appeared to have something in his clenched fist and seemed to skip and wave his arms in a swaying motion. He swerved towards Hepplewhite who shouted “Ouch”. | |
| Heywood said Bulhan skipped on towards Sellentin, who tried to move out of his way but he jumped towards her and she thought she had been punched in her ribs. | |
| Someone shouted “He’s got a knife” and Hepplewhite and Sellentin looked down to see blood and realise they had been stabbed, the judge heard. | |
| Wagner, who was walking with Horton, became aware of a commotion and suddenly a black male “rushed” past them and his wife said “Ouch”. Wagner shouted a warning to others and chased Bulhan. | |
| Hoenisch, who had arrived in London with his wife on holiday that day, saw Bulhan running at them and raised his right arm to protect himself, then felt a sharp pain in his side as he was stabbed below the armpit. His wife, Laurie Kelly, saw Bulhan zigzag past them. | |
| Imber described the defendant as having a “crazed smile”. Lewkowski, who was with her grandfather, felt a pain as Bulhan appeared to bump into her. | |
| One witness said he saw Bulhan inserting his knife into Horton’s back “up to the hilt” and shouting angrily in a foreign language. | |
| Bulhan was Tasered and then arrested by armed police. One officer said he could hear him muttering “Allah, Allah, Allah”, while others found a pamphlet entitled “Fortress of the Muslim” in the pocket of his tracksuit trousers. | |
| In police interviews Bulhan said he did not know why he had committed the offences and that after leaving the mosque he had wandered around for hours thinking he was being followed. He said he had gone to stay with his father on 2 August because he thought people were trying to kill him. He had found the knife while walking around, possibly on a shop counter, and while he was in Russell Square he said he was hearing voices, the judge heard. | |
| While under constant watch after his arrest, Bulhan was at times heard to be shouting and saying the devil had made him, the court was told. | |
| The hearing continues. |