Britain First supporter tried to ram owner of Asian restaurant

A POLISH-BORN supporter of Britain First tried to drive his van into an Asian restaurant boss, hours after telling police: “I’m going to kill a Muslim, I’m doing this for Britain.”

Marek Zakrocki gave a Nazi salute and shouted “white power” as he drove at Kamal Ahmed, days after the Finsbury Park terror attack in June.

The 48-year-old missed his target and instead smashed into the window of the Spicy Nights restaurant in Harrow, northwest London.

Just hours earlier, Zakrocki had consumed two bottles of wine before arguing with his wife and assaulting her at their nearby home.

He then armed himself with a knife and drove off telling his wife and daughter he was going to attack a mosque and hurt some Muslims.

When police spoke to him using his wife’s mobile phone, he told officers: “I’m going to kill a Muslim, I’m doing this for Britain. This is the way I will help the country, you people can’t do anything. I am going to do it my way because that is what I think is right.”

The Old Bailey heard how the incident happened on June 23, the anniversary of the Brexit vote.

Zakrocki was only driving at around 5mph and was thought to be trying to pin Mr Ahmed against the restaurant window. Because of the increased state of alert at the time, coming just days after the Finsbury Park attack in which a car was driven into a crowd of worshippers outside a mosque, armed officers arrested Zakrocki.

Police later found a Nazi coin in his pocket and the window fitter admitted donating money to Britain First.

Zakrocki was initially charged with attempted murder, but that was dropped and he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and beating his wife.

Denis Barry, prosecuting, said the defendant appeared to have a history of depressive illness and alcohol problems. He told the court that Britain First was anti-muslim and held views that were regarded by most people as “very extreme indeed”.

Charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and having a knife were ordered to lie on file.

Judge Anthony Leonard QC remanded the defendant in custody to be sentenced on Jan 12. He ordered a report and warned Zakrocki he was considering a jail sentence.

Dc Georgina Acuna, the investigating officer, said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the witnesses and victims. Zakrocki was almost three times over the drink-driving limit and it was through pure good fortune that no one was injured during his rampage.

“Hate crime, in all its forms, will not be tolerated and offenders such as Zakrocki will be brought to justice.”