Bravery of Tube attack passengers is praised
HEROES who took on a Muslim extremist after he tried to behead a man were praised yesterday.
Mentally-ill Muhiddin Mire attacked musician Lyle Zimmerman claiming it was revenge for the bombing of Islamic State forces in Syria.
Armed with a bread knife, he tried to slash four other people before he was Tasered by police.
A bystander shouted: “You ain’t no Muslim, bruv.”
Mire, 30, was on CCTV sawing at Mr Zimmerman’s neck as he lay defenceless in Leytonstone Tube station, north London.
Yesterday, a woman and three men who confronted the maniac last December were praised for their “conspicuous bravery”.
Jonathan Rees, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey their selfless actions kept the Somalian refugee at the station until police arrived.
Louise McGuinness pleaded with Mire to stop his attack on Mr Zimmerman, 56. David Pethers and Andrius Sabaliauskas tried to disarm him. Daniel Bielinski filmed Mire prowling for a second victim. Mr Rees said Mr Bielinksi “did so plainly to make sure that he was properly held to account”.
He added: “They have been contacted and have not come to court. But that doesn’t detract from the way they behaved.”
Mire, who has a long history of mental illness, attacked three days after the House of Commons vote on the bombing of IS in Syria.
He shouted: “This is for my Syrian brothers. I’m going to spill your blood. If you’re Muslim, you get bombed. I’s going to attack your civilians.”
Handcuffed he said: “Why don’t you finish me off? That’s what we do.” Mire, of Leytonstone, denied attempted murder but was found guilty by a jury last month. He is in Broadmoor to be sentenced later.