Man admits attacking Quran-burning protester

A man has admitted attacking a protester who burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Consulate in central London.

Moussa Kadri, 59, pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to assaulting Hamit Coskun, although Kadri denied possession of a bladed article in relation to the 13 February attack in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge.

Mr Coskun, 50, from Derby, has previously denied a charge of religiously motivated harassment.

Kathryn Hughes, prosecuting, told the court that Kadri left a nearby building carrying a large bread knife and proceeded to assault Mr Coskun, whom she said had burned the Quran outside the consulate as part of a “protest”.

The charge of possessing a bladed article carries a maximum sentence of four years’ imprisonment. The case was sent to Southwark Crown Court, where Kadri will stand trial for the alleged offence and be sentenced for the assault next month.

He was granted conditional bail, with a condition not to contact Mr Coskun directly. Kadri spoke only to confirm his name and address and to enter his pleas.

Mr Coskun is due to go on trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 28 May.