Yorkshire scandal ‘inspired attack on Muslims’
A MAN accused of carrying out the Finsbury Park attack “decided to take matters into his own hands” after growing angry at the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal, a court has heard.
Darren Osborne, of Glyn Rhosyn in Cardiff, allegedly mowed down Makram Ali, 51, and nine other people on a crowded pavement in north London shortly after 12.15am on June 19, last year.
The 48-year-old, described by his partner as a “loner and functioning alcoholic”, had become obsessed with Muslims in the weeks before the attack and accused them all of being rapists and belonging to paedophile gangs, the jury at Woolwich Crown Court was told.
Opening the trial, prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC said the scene of the attack, near two mosques, was busy with worshippers attending Ramadan night prayers.
Mr Rees said it is alleged Osborne “was trying to kill as many of the group as possible” as he deliberately drove a van into them.
He told the jury: “In the event, he killed one person, a 51-yearold man called Makram Ali, and in addition he injured many others, some of them seriously.”
Osborne is charged with the murder of Mr Ali and attempted murder of “persons at the junction of Seven Sisters Road and Whadcoat Street, London”, which he denies.
His partner of 20 years Sarah Andrews described him as a “ticking timebomb” who became obsessed with a TV drama about the Rotherham scandal.
A “TOTAL loner” who tried to kill as many Muslims as possible by driving into worshippers near a mosque became “brainwashed” after watching a television drama about the Rochdale grooming sex scandal, a court has heard.
Darren Osborne, of Glyn Rhosyn in Cardiff, deliberately drove into Makram Ali, 51, and nine other people on a crowded pavement in north London shortly after 12.15am on June 19 last year, prosecutors said.
The 48-year-old had become obsessed with Muslims in the weeks before the attack after watching BBC programme Three
Girls, based on testimony from victims of the Rochdale grooming gangs, the jury at Woolwich Crown Court was told.
Prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC said the “act of extreme violence” was considered by the prosecution to be a terrorist attack.
Osborne, who is said to have accused all Muslims of being rapists and belonging to paedophile gangs, was described by his partner as a “total loner” who would binge-drink to “get blotto and forget everything”.
Describing Osborne’s response to watching the BBC drama, his partner of 20 years Sarah Andrews said in a statement read to the court: “He seemed brainwashed and totally obsessed with the subject.
“He has been openly saying a lot of racist things and tarring all Muslims with the same brush.”
In the statement she added that she had noticed him reading posts on Twitter by English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson.
“I think he was a ticking timebomb. I should have realised what was going on and I feel so bad that I did not see it, so that I could have done something to stop it,” she said.
She added that one of their daughters had been “too scared” to bring her Muslim friends home because of the way he was acting.
Opening the trial, Mr Rees said Osborne “was trying to kill as many of the group as possible” as he drove a van into worshippers who had attended Ramadan night prayers near two mosques. Mr Ali died following the attack and many others were left injured, some seriously, the court heard.
The defendant had driven from Cardiff to London the previous day, originally intending to drive the van into people taking part in the Al Quds Day march, but began looking for another target when this did not prove viable, the court heard. Osborne denies the murder of Mr Ali and attempted murder of “persons at the junction of Seven Sisters Road and Whadcoat Street, London”. The trial continues.