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Finsbury Park mosque attack suspect hoped to kill Jeremy Corbyn | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The man accused of driving a van into a crowd of people near a north London mosque had hoped to kill Jeremy Corbyn. | |
Darren Osborne, 48, has denied he was behind the wheel during the attack on 19 June 2017, telling Woolwich Crown Court a "guy called Dave" was driving. | |
He said they originally hired the van to kill the Labour leader on a march he was expected to attend. | |
Mr Osborne also said that it "would have been even better" if London Mayor Sadiq Khan had been present. | |
"It would have been like winning the lottery," he added. | |
Mr Osborne 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. |
He denies charges of murder and attempted murder. | He denies charges of murder and attempted murder. |
Taking to the witness box, Mr Osborne said he met Dave 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. | |
Corbyn 'plans' | Corbyn 'plans' |
Mr Osborne 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. | |
He 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. | 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. | 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". | |
Asked if he had contact with Terry and Dave after the attack, Mr Osborne told the court they were planning to form a far-right group, adding: "We were going to call ourselves the 'Taffia'." | Asked if he had contact with Terry and Dave after the attack, Mr Osborne told the court they were planning to form a far-right group, adding: "We were going to call ourselves the 'Taffia'." |
'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. |
During the interview, Mr Osborne told DC Dring: "I'm flying solo", the court heard. | During the interview, Mr Osborne told DC Dring: "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. |