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Jury in Finsbury Park van attack trial hears how driver was tackled Jury in Finsbury Park van attack trial hears how driver was tackled
(35 minutes later)
Witness in trial of man accused of attack near mosque feared it was London Bridge-style raidWitness in trial of man accused of attack near mosque feared it was London Bridge-style raid
Kevin RawlinsonKevin Rawlinson
Wed 24 Jan 2018 14.56 GMTWed 24 Jan 2018 14.56 GMT
First published on Wed 24 Jan 2018 12.35 GMTFirst published on Wed 24 Jan 2018 12.35 GMT
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The trial of a man accused of carrying out a van attack on Muslims in Finsbury Park last year has heard how people dragged an injured person out from under a vehicle and tackled its driver, even as they feared another London Bridge-style terror attack was under way.The trial of a man accused of carrying out a van attack on Muslims in Finsbury Park last year has heard how people dragged an injured person out from under a vehicle and tackled its driver, even as they feared another London Bridge-style terror attack was under way.
One witness giving evidence on Wesdneday at the trial of Darren Osborne, 48, at Woolwich crown court described a “horrific attack on Muslims” and said he had suffered from nightmares ever since the incident. One witness giving evidence on Wednesday at the trial of Darren Osborne, 48, at Woolwich crown court said the incident was a “horrific attack on Muslims” and said he had suffered from nightmares ever since.
Another witness at said there were bodies strewn on the ground after the van hit and, while he wanted to run – fearing the driver was armed and could try to kill more people, he went back to tackle him. As the people wrestled with him, the court heard, a local imam came out to implore them not to hurt him. Another witness said there were bodies strewn on the ground after the van hit and he had wanted to run, fearing the driver was armed and could try to kill more people, but instead went back to tackle him.
Witnesses described the vehicle revving up and ploughing into a group of people. As the people wrestled with the driver, the court heard, an imam came out to implore them not to hurt him.
“As the van drove into the road, I could hear the engine revving … The van just ploughed the people,” said Mahad Mohamed Ismail in a witness statement read to the jury. “There were people underneath the van … It was revving like the driver had his foot flat down on the accelerator,” he said. Witnesses described the vehicle revving up and ploughing into a group of people. “As the van drove into the road, I could hear the engine revving … The van just ploughed the people,” said Mahad Mohamed Ismail in a witness statement read to the jury. “There were people underneath the van … It was revving like the driver had his foot flat down on the accelerator.”
Ismail told the jury that since the attack he had been having nightmares. “I am paranoid when I go out and hear a van revving. I witnessed a horrific attack on Muslims. I feared for my life when that van was coming towards me. Words cannot describe how I felt,” he said. Ismail said that since the attack he had been having nightmares. “I am paranoid when I go out and hear a van revving. I witnessed a horrific attack on Muslims. I feared for my life when that van was coming towards me. Words cannot describe how I felt.”
Osborne denies one charge of murdering Makram Ali and another of attempting to murder other people during the incident in north London.Osborne denies one charge of murdering Makram Ali and another of attempting to murder other people during the incident in north London.
During Wednesday’s hearing witnesses described seeing Ali collapse and a group of people gather to help him shortly before a white van hit them. The driver tried to escape but was apprehended by people nearby, the jury heard witnesses testify.During Wednesday’s hearing witnesses described seeing Ali collapse and a group of people gather to help him shortly before a white van hit them. The driver tried to escape but was apprehended by people nearby, the jury heard witnesses testify.
A statement was read to the court from Waleed Salim, who said he and his cousin Hamdi Alfaiq had been hit by a van. “I helped a group of people trying to lift the van, but it was really heavy, so they had to drag my cousin out. I heard the voice of the Muslim imam telling people not to hurt the driver and to leave him for the police.” A statement was read to the court from Waleed Salim, who said he and his cousin Hamdi Alfaiq had been hit by a van. “I helped a group of people trying to lift the van, but it was really heavy so they had to drag my cousin out. I heard the voice of the Muslim imam telling people not to hurt the driver and to leave him for the police,” he said.
Giving evidence in person, Alfaiq said he did not remember being under the vehicle.Giving evidence in person, Alfaiq said he did not remember being under the vehicle.
The court heard an audio recording of a 999 call by Adnan Mohamud, who initially asked for an ambulance for a man who had collapsed. A lengthy pause followed before Mohamud returned and told the call handler: “Someone’s just come and run over a whole lot of people. He ran over a lot of people. A lot of people are dying. He has just run over everyone … people are dying, man.” The court heard an audio recording of a 999 call by Adnan Mohamud, who initially asked for an ambulance for a man who had collapsed. A lengthy pause followed before Mohamud told the call handler: “Someone’s just come and run over a whole lot of people. He ran over a lot of people. A lot of people are dying. He has just run over everyone … people are dying, man.”
In a witness statement read to the court, he said: “I remember [the driver] saying: ‘I have done my job. You can kill me now.’ He was smiling as he said it.” Mohamud said the smile on the driver’s face had convinced him the incident was no accident.In a witness statement read to the court, he said: “I remember [the driver] saying: ‘I have done my job. You can kill me now.’ He was smiling as he said it.” Mohamud said the smile on the driver’s face had convinced him the incident was no accident.
Another witness, Mohammed Geedi, said he had been on his way to a nearby mosque when the incident happened on 19 June. He told the jury he could see the van’s headlights and was aware of it accelerating and shifting up from first gear to second.Another witness, Mohammed Geedi, said he had been on his way to a nearby mosque when the incident happened on 19 June. He told the jury he could see the van’s headlights and was aware of it accelerating and shifting up from first gear to second.
He said he had been knocked to the ground. “I looked at a lot of people splattered all over the place.” After the incident, he said, he had helped a group of people restrain the man they believed to be the driver. He said he was knocked to the ground. “I looked at a lot of people splattered all over the place.” After the incident, he said, he helped a group of people restrain the man they believed to be the driver.
Geedi told the jury he had seen Ali speaking before the van struck. “He was alive. He looked alive,” he told the jury. Immediately after the impact, he said, he saw tyre marks across Ali’s body and said the man’s “tongue was sticking out”. Geedi told the jury he saw Ali speaking before the van struck. “He was alive. He looked alive,” he said. Immediately after the impact, he said, he saw tyre marks across Ali’s body and the man’s “tongue was sticking out”.
Geedi said he feared an ongoing attack with guns or knives, similar to that at London Bridge, but went back to help.Geedi said he feared an ongoing attack with guns or knives, similar to that at London Bridge, but went back to help.
The trial continues.The trial continues.
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