ISIS-inspired knifeman jailed for life in UK

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Aug 01 2016 | 8:48 PM IST
A 30-year-old paranoid schizophrenic man was jailed for life today for trying to behead a commuter in an Islamic State inspired knife attack at a London tube station last December.
Somali-origin Muhiddin Mire targeted people at random during the attack at Leytonstone station in east London on December 5 and grabbed 56-year-old musician Lyle Zimmerman in an attempt to behead him.
Sentencing him at the Old Bailey court in London, Judge Nicholas Hilliard said though Mire was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the offence, he was motivated by events in Syria.
"In other words, because Muslims were being bombed in Syria, he was going to attack civilians here. That was designed to intimidate a section of the public, and it was to advance an extreme cause," the judge said, adding that the streets of London would be safer with Mire behind bars.
He sentenced him to life in prison with a minimum of eight-and-a-half years, consigning him to Broadmoor high security mental hospital in Berkshire, south-east England, until he is fit to be transferred to prison.
Mire has a history of mental illness and psychosis, including the paranoid belief that he was being persecuted for his religion and stalked by Britain's MI5 and MI6 security services, the court was told.
The judge praised the heroic actions of some of the commuters on the day of Mire's rampage last year.
Judge Hilliard also praised the police officers who "carried out their duties in extremely frightening circumstances".
Somali-born Mire came to the UK as a young boy but began having paranoid psychotic episodes in 2006 when he was first admitted to hospital, his trial was told.
He moved to Leytonstone in 2011, taking jobs as an Uber taxi driver and a council estate caretaker but was forced to give up work because of anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Aug 01 2016 | 8:48 PM IST

Next Story