Stamford Hill: Man in court over unprovoked attacks

Image source, Google

Image caption, A 64-year-old man needed hospital treatment after he was attacked on Colberg Place

A man has appeared in court charged in connection with a number of unprovoked attacks on Jewish people in north London.

Abdullah Qureshi, 28, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, is alleged to have carried out a spate of attacks in the Stamford Hill area on 18 August.

He was accused at Thames Magistrates' Court of attacking five people.

These included a 64-year-old man who was left unconscious after he was allegedly punched.

The man was treated at Homerton Hospital for injuries to his face.

Mr Qureshi is charged with:

  • One count of racially or religiously aggravated wounding or grievous bodily harm
  • Four counts of racially or religiously aggravated common assault
  • One count of racially or religious aggravated criminal damage

He is alleged to have "struck a victim in the side of the head before walking off" at 18:40 BST, before hitting another person "in the face with a bottle" two minutes later, the court heard.

He is also accused of having "assaulted an unidentified person in a supermarket", and a fourth victim, who police have identified as a 14-year-old boy, in the street.

The court heard that at about 20:30, Qureshi allegedly "punched" a fifth person, the 64-year-old.

The judge described the allegations as "very serious" and remanded him in custody.

A trial date was set for Snaresbrook Crown Court on 1 October.