A man on trial for stabbing a musician at Leytonstone Tube station “for Syria” said he was being followed by “people from MI5 and MI6.”

A jury at the Old Bailey were shown CCTV footage of Muhiddin Mire, 30, of Sansom Road, Leytonstone, seize Lyle Zimmerman, 56, from behind, at the ticket office on December 5, last year.

After the attack, when Mire was finally subdued by police, a shocked eyewitness called out, “You ain’t no Muslim, bruv,” – words that went viral on the internet.

The court heard Mire punched Mr Zimmerman, who was carrying a mandolin, to the ground, before repeatedly kicking him and taking a knife to this throat.

However, the knife handle had been detached from the blade making it harder to cut, and despite receiving three cuts to his neck, they did not damage Mr Zimmerman’s main blood vessels. The victim was helped by a junior doctor at the scene and subsequently underwent five hours of surgery.

Mr Jonathan Rees, prosecuting, told the court of the “extraordinary” behaviour exhibited by one Tube passenger, who captured Mire on mobile phone footage that circulated widely on social media.

After his attack on Mr Zimmerman, Mire left the ticket hall and made his way to the street, where he ran into a Polish man, Daniel Bielinski, and his girlfriend.

Mire swung the knife blade at Mr Bielinski, but fortunately, he quickly moved aside and avoided injury.

Mr Rees said: “What happened next was extraordinary. Instead of running off to protect himself from the defendant, Mr Bielinski took out his mobile phone and began to record the defendants’ actions at some considerable risk to himself.”

The court was told Mire shouted he was attacking people for “my Syrian brothers” and “Do you know if you live in Syria they bomb you? I’m going to attack your civilians.”

Police officers eventually Tasered Mire, and shortly after he was apprehended, one shocked onlooker shouted out, “You ain’t no Muslim, bruv.”

The court heard that former minicab driver Mire had a history of mental illness and his psychosis involved the belief that he was being persecuted for his religion and trailed by security services.

Mr Rees said Mire was detained under the Mental Health Act in 2006, following what was thought to be his first “psychotic episode.”

Mr Rees added that Mire “lost touch with reality” and he exhibited delusions of “persecutory, religious and grandiose nature” including the belief he was being followed by MI5 and Mi6.

In November last year, Mire’s doctor had previously contacted mental health services and arranged an appointment, but Mire did not turn up.

Mire’s brother and uncle also tried to book him onto a one-way flight to Somalia at a travel agents in Edmonton Green.

The pair left without booking anything, but Mire’s brother returned and booked him on a flight on December 6, the day after the attack.

Mire admits wounding Mr Zimmerman with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but denies attempted murder.

He also admits attempting to wound four other people.

The case continues.