Uber driver ‘who hurt 11 in crash faked his documents to get job’
An Uber driver who sparked fears of a terrorist attack when he crashed into pedestrians at a tourist attraction is to go on trial accused of using false papers to get his job.
Juma Ali Omar, 47, mounted a pavement outside the natural History Museum in London, colliding with two cars and striking passers-by in his Toyota Prius, a court heard.
Eleven people were injured in the crash in October and there was initial concern that it was another terror outrage following last year’s London Bridge and Westminster attacks.
Omar is charged with dangerous driving, having a fake passport, driving licence and private hire licence, and driving without insurance or a licence.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday wearing a blue pinstripe suit and was supported by his family, who sat address but in the did his and public not name, nigerian enter gallery. date any nationality of He pleas. birth, confirmed Deputy Dodd District released Judge him on Margaret bail until his next court date.
She said: ‘I understand from the documents that the manner of the driving is under dispute.
‘ These matters cannot be dealt with by this court so it will be sent to crown court. I grant you bail but you must attend court when you are asked.’ Omar, of Barking, east London, will next appear at Isleworth Crown Court on June 1 to enter his pleas to the charges. In a separate development, last week Uber lost its taxi licence in Brighton after councillors said it did not do enough to keep passengers safe. The taxi app firm has also been banned in London and York. It is still operating in the capital pending an appeal due to be heard this summer. A ban in Sheffield was reversed in December.