ALBAWABA - Outside the Turkish embassy in London, an elderly onlooker brutally thrashed a guy who was trying to burn a copy of the Quran. Video of the event, which happened in Knightsbridge's Rutland Gardens, was extensively circulated on social media.
The suspect was seen standing close to the consulate's barriers, brandishing a burning book, while wearing a hood and carrying a rucksack. In a matter of seconds, an old guy stepped in, kicking him repeatedly and knocking him down. The assailant also seemed to spit on him before grabbing the book that was on fire.
The Daily Mail said that the old guy then wielded a knife, apparently in an effort to stab the suspect while he was still on the ground. The person who tried to burn the Quran was not stabbed, the police subsequently verified, although he did have a finger injury. Another individual was taken into custody by the authorities on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and inflicting serious injury.
The suspect had previously written on the internet that he intended to burn the Quran in London, claiming that he was doing it "for Salwan Momika." In 2023, Momika, a refugee from Iraq, gained notoriety after setting fire to a copy of the Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm. Later, a gunshot wound was discovered at his residence in Södertälje, Sweden.
The attempted burning of the Quran in London coincides with continuing discussions over hate speech and freedom of expression; similar occurrences throughout Europe have sparked demonstrations and strained diplomatic relations. Police are still looking into what happened in London and who was involved.
