The 25-year-old Libyan man who is accused of killing three people and attempting to murder another three people before being stopped by a police officer, shouted “Allahu Akbar” moments before the attack, a court has heard.
Khairi Saadallah, who was living in the Berkshire town, is charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court via video link from Coventry Magistrates Court. The accused was dressed in a grey prison-issue tracksuit and wearing a surgical face mask, he spoke only to confirm his name and address and did not enter a plea.
Saadallah, who moved to the UK as a refugee in 2012, is alleged to have attacked his victims in Forbury Gardens on June 20 “without warning or provocation”.
Jan Newbold, prosecuting, said: “At the time of the incident, the defendant was heard to shout words to the effect of “Allahu Akbar” meaning (God is great).”
The court was told how just before 7pm, Saadallah is alleged to have targeted a group of seven sitting on the grass, stabbing four of them before turning to a group of five nearby, stabbing one in the back and one in the face.
An off-duty police officer who was a witness to the horrific scenes phoned 999.
Sadly, three friends were killed were James Furlong, 36, David Wails, 49, and Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39.
Mr Furlong, who was a history teacher, and Mr Ritchie-Bennett, a US citizen, were each stabbed once in the neck while scientist Mr Wails was stabbed once in his back. They were all declared dead at the scene.
Saadallah is also charged with attempting to murder their friend Stephen Young as well as Patrick Edwards and Nishit Nisudan, who was sat in the nearby group.
The court was told, that Mr Young needed 28 stitches for a “serious and deep” cut to his forehead, Mr Edwards was stabbed in the back and Mr Nisudan suffered wounds to his cheek and hand. They have all since been discharged from hospital.
Saadallah was questioned under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, before being charged on Saturday after a police officer tackled the knife-wielding attacker.
Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot told him that the case was being referred to the crown court and that he would appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, likely via video link.
UNN will continue to bring you all the latest news when Saadallah faces trial.
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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