LONDON (UK) – A man accused of fatally stabbing three in the southern English town of Reading last week in what police said was a terrorist attack appeared in court on Monday. He was charged with three counts of murder.
Khairi Saadallah, 25, is accused of attacking groups of people in a park in the town on June 20.
He appeared before London’s Westminster Magistrates Court by videolink from a courtroom in Coventry, central England.
Clad in a grey sweatshirt and a face mask, he spoke only to confirm his name and age and that he lived in Reading, west of London. A security source had previously told Reuters that the suspect was a Libyan national.
The court was told by prosecutor Jan Newbold that families were enjoying a pleasant evening in Forbury Gardens when the incident happened.
Saadallah is accused of targeting a group of seven friends, stabbing three fatally – James Furlong, 36, and David Wails, 49, from Britain and US national Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39.
Another of the group required 28 stitches to a head wound. Two other men who were sitting with friends nearby were also stabbed, one in the back while the other suffered a cut to his cheek.
Saadallah also faces three counts of attempted murder.
His lawyer Shibil Hammudi said his client would not enter a plea yet. The case was adjourned to London’s Old Bailey central criminal court for a hearing on July 1.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field