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Finsbury Park mosque attack suspect denies driving van Finsbury Park mosque attack suspect denies driving van
(about 1 hour later)
The man accused of driving a van into a crowd of people near a north London mosque has denied he was behind the wheel during the attack.The man accused of driving a van into a crowd of people near a north London mosque has denied he was behind the wheel during the attack.
Darren Osborne, 48, told Woolwich Crown Court a "guy called Dave" was driving during the incident on 19 June 2017.Darren Osborne, 48, told Woolwich Crown Court a "guy called Dave" was driving during the incident on 19 June 2017.
Earlier, evidence from the prosecution alleged Mr Osborne told police on the day of his arrest he was "flying solo". He said they originally hired the van to kill Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at a march he was expected to attend.
He is accused of mowing down people in Finsbury Park, killing Makram Ali, 51, and injuring nine others. Mr Osborne is accused of mowing down people in Finsbury Park, killing Makram Ali, 51, and injuring nine others.
Mr Osborne, from Cardiff, denies charges of murder and attempted murder. He denies charges of murder and attempted murder.
Defence barrister Lisa Wilding QC asked Mr Osborne: "Were you the driver of the van?" to which he replied: "No". Taking to the witness box, Mr Osborne said "a guy called Dave" was driving the van during the attack.
Ms Wilding said: "Did you know who was the driver of the van?" and he replied: "A guy called Dave". He said the pair had met at a pub in Treforest, South Wales, in early April or March last year, while he also met a man called Terry Jones, and that the trio discussed their political views.
Taking to the witness box, Mr Osborne said he had met "Dave" at the Pick and Shovel pub in Treforest, South Wales, in early April or March last year. Corbyn 'plans'
He said they initially planned to murder a Labour politician in Rochdale, before planning to target Mr Corbyn, believing he would be at the annual Al Quds march in London.
Mr Osborne told the court he was alone in the van as he drove towards the march - but that "road blocks" in central London had "thwarted their plans".
Later, he said he travelled to the Finsbury Park area, because "it was Jeremy Corbyn's constituency", where he met the others.
Mr Osborne said they swapped drivers and he was "in the footwell" while Dave was driving, adding he had "no idea" where Dave went after the collision.
He said the opportunity to attack the Labour leader would mean "one less terrorist off our streets", adding that it would have been "even better" if London Mayor Sadiq Khan had been at the march.
"It would have been like winning the lottery," he told the court.
'Flying solo''Flying solo'
Earlier, the court heard evidence on whether Mr Osborne acted with accomplices - namely two men, known only as "Dave" and "Terry Jones".Earlier, the court heard evidence on whether Mr Osborne acted with accomplices - namely two men, known only as "Dave" and "Terry Jones".
Concluding the prosecution case, Jonathan Rees QC said Mr Osborne told the Metropolitan Police on the day of the attack that he was acting alone.Concluding the prosecution case, Jonathan Rees QC said Mr Osborne told the Metropolitan Police on the day of the attack that he was acting alone.
He read a statement from Det Con Paul Dring, who interviewed Mr Osborne as he was under armed guard at University College Hospital, on the day of the attack.He read a statement from Det Con Paul Dring, who interviewed Mr Osborne as he was under armed guard at University College Hospital, on the day of the attack.
DC Dring said he asked Ms Osborne: "In terms of what happened today, is there anyone else involved?" to which the defendant allegedly replied "no". During the interview, Mr Osborne allegedly told DC Dring: "I'm flying solo", the court heard.
The court heard that at the end of the interview, DC Dring asked: "Finally from me, is there anything at all that you know about that could harm anyone?"
Mr Osborne replied "no", and after a pause added: "I'm flying solo", the court heard.
'Couple of pints''Couple of pints'
Mr Osborne is said to have spoken to officers after he was detained and told them he "lost control" of his van.Mr Osborne is said to have spoken to officers after he was detained and told them he "lost control" of his van.
The court was shown footage from the body camera of PC David Jones, who is said to have handcuffed Mr Osborne while he was on the ground after the incident.The court was shown footage from the body camera of PC David Jones, who is said to have handcuffed Mr Osborne while he was on the ground after the incident.
A man - who the prosecution says is Mr Osborne - can be heard saying: "I lost control of the van", and "lost control, man".A man - who the prosecution says is Mr Osborne - can be heard saying: "I lost control of the van", and "lost control, man".
Mr Jones then says: "Were you driving, yeah?" and the man is heard to reply: "Yeah".Mr Jones then says: "Were you driving, yeah?" and the man is heard to reply: "Yeah".
Asked if he had been drinking, the man said he had consumed a "couple of pints".Asked if he had been drinking, the man said he had consumed a "couple of pints".
Mr Osborne denies the murder of Mr Ali and attempted murder of "persons at the junction of Seven Sisters Road and Whadcoat Street, London".Mr Osborne denies the murder of Mr Ali and attempted murder of "persons at the junction of Seven Sisters Road and Whadcoat Street, London".
Mr Ali, from Haringey, had collapsed at the roadside shortly before being hit by the vehicle after leaving a prayer meeting.Mr Ali, from Haringey, had collapsed at the roadside shortly before being hit by the vehicle after leaving a prayer meeting.