Birmingham man accused of mosque attacks pleads not guilty
Mohammed Abbkr, 28, is charged with attempted murder relating to two attacks
A man accused of setting light to two elderly men in the street after they left mosques in Birmingham and London pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder.
Mohammed Abbkr, 28, is charged with attempted murder relating to two attacks, the first in Ealing, west London, on February 27 and the second in Birmingham on March 20.
West Midlands Police have said Abbkr is alleged to have sprayed a substance on the men and set it alight.
Mohammed Rayaz, 70, suffered severe injuries after he was set on fire as he walked home from Dudley Road Mosque in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham at about 7pm on March 20.
Abbkr was arrested in the Dudley Road area the following day on suspicion of the attempted murder of Mr Rayaz.
He was later arrested on suspicion of the earlier attack on 82-year-old Hashi Odowa, who suffered severe burns to his face and arms near an Islamic centre in Ealing.
Assisted by an Arabic interpreter, the defendant confirmed his identity by video link from Belmarsh prison, and pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder.
He is remanded in custody with a trial date set for October 9.