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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/04/britain-first-supporter-drove-van-harrow-curry-house-owner-court-hears
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| Britain First supporter drove van at curry house owner, court hears | Britain First supporter drove van at curry house owner, court hears |
| (11 days later) | |
| A Britain First supporter gave a Nazi salute and shouted “white power” before driving at a curry house owner during a drunken rampage, a court has heard. | A Britain First supporter gave a Nazi salute and shouted “white power” before driving at a curry house owner during a drunken rampage, a court has heard. |
| Marek Zakrocki, 48, vented his anti-Muslim rage before the attack outside the Spicy Night restaurant in Alexandra Parade in Harrow, north-west London, on the anniversary of the Brexit vote on 23 June. | Marek Zakrocki, 48, vented his anti-Muslim rage before the attack outside the Spicy Night restaurant in Alexandra Parade in Harrow, north-west London, on the anniversary of the Brexit vote on 23 June. |
| He was heard to say: “I’m going to kill a Muslim. I’m doing it for Britain. This is how I’m going to help the country. You people cannot do anything.” | He was heard to say: “I’m going to kill a Muslim. I’m doing it for Britain. This is how I’m going to help the country. You people cannot do anything.” |
| The Old Bailey heard that the Polish-born window fitter then used his white van as a weapon against Kamal Ahmed and mounted the pavement twice. He was driving at 5mph and was in effect trying to pin Ahmed against the front of the restaurant window, which smashed. | The Old Bailey heard that the Polish-born window fitter then used his white van as a weapon against Kamal Ahmed and mounted the pavement twice. He was driving at 5mph and was in effect trying to pin Ahmed against the front of the restaurant window, which smashed. |
| Following his arrest by armed officers, police found a Nazi coin in Zakrocki’s pocket and a number of Britain First flyers and newspapers at his home in Harrow. | Following his arrest by armed officers, police found a Nazi coin in Zakrocki’s pocket and a number of Britain First flyers and newspapers at his home in Harrow. |
| At the Old Bailey on Monday, Zakrocki pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and beating his wife. Further charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and having a knife in Northolt Road, Harrow, were ordered to lie on file. | At the Old Bailey on Monday, Zakrocki pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and beating his wife. Further charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and having a knife in Northolt Road, Harrow, were ordered to lie on file. |
| The prosecutor Denis Barry said: “Mr Zakrocki had plainly, during the course of that afternoon, had far too much to drink. During the course of that evening he assaulted his wife, drove off in his work vehicle, insulted a series of passersby and then drove his vehicle at the owner of a curry house, breaking the window of the curry house. | The prosecutor Denis Barry said: “Mr Zakrocki had plainly, during the course of that afternoon, had far too much to drink. During the course of that evening he assaulted his wife, drove off in his work vehicle, insulted a series of passersby and then drove his vehicle at the owner of a curry house, breaking the window of the curry house. |
| “It’s plain that his conduct is very likely to have been motivated by his views about our diverse society.” | “It’s plain that his conduct is very likely to have been motivated by his views about our diverse society.” |
| Barry said Zakrocki had been “fixated” by Muslims and had made donations to Britain First in the past. | Barry said Zakrocki had been “fixated” by Muslims and had made donations to Britain First in the past. |
| Because of the increased state of alert at the time of the incident, armed police arrested Zakrocki in a “hard stop”. | Because of the increased state of alert at the time of the incident, armed police arrested Zakrocki in a “hard stop”. |
| Barry said the defendant appeared to have a history of depressive illness and alcohol problems. | Barry said the defendant appeared to have a history of depressive illness and alcohol problems. |
| Earlier on June 23, he had grabbed his wife’s arm and threatened to “kill people” and then kill himself. | Earlier on June 23, he had grabbed his wife’s arm and threatened to “kill people” and then kill himself. |
| The prosecutor said Zakrocki made a Nazi salute, pushed an unknown Asian man and shouted “white power, white power” before ending up outside Spicy Night restaurant blocking the road with his van. | The prosecutor said Zakrocki made a Nazi salute, pushed an unknown Asian man and shouted “white power, white power” before ending up outside Spicy Night restaurant blocking the road with his van. |
| Following an altercation in the street, the defendant started the engine and twice aimed the vehicle at Ahmed, the court heard. | Following an altercation in the street, the defendant started the engine and twice aimed the vehicle at Ahmed, the court heard. |
| Barry said: “Because of the time that all this took place, the police took what had happened particularly seriously and there was a hard stop by armed police officers.” He told the court that Britain First, formed by members of the BNP, was anti-Muslim and held views that were regarded by most people as “very extreme indeed”. | Barry said: “Because of the time that all this took place, the police took what had happened particularly seriously and there was a hard stop by armed police officers.” He told the court that Britain First, formed by members of the BNP, was anti-Muslim and held views that were regarded by most people as “very extreme indeed”. |
| Judge Anthony Leonard QC remanded the defendant into custody to be sentenced on January 12. He ordered a report but warned he was considering a jail sentence. | Judge Anthony Leonard QC remanded the defendant into custody to be sentenced on January 12. He ordered a report but warned he was considering a jail sentence. |
| • This article was amended on 7 December 2017 to remove some personal details. | • This article was amended on 7 December 2017 to remove some personal details. |
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