Man Pleads Guilty To Assault On Quran-Burning Protester - But Denies Holding Knife

Attacker Admits Assault on Quran Burner — But Denies Holding the Blade

A man filmed kicking and slashing a protester who set fire to the Quran outside the Turkish Consulate in London has pleaded guilty to assault, but will face a separate trial over the knife used in the attack.

Moussa Kadri, 59, of Kensington and Chelsea, admitted attacking Hamit Coskun, 50, during the shocking incident outside Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, on 13 February. But despite widespread footage appearing to show him holding a large knife during the assault, Kadri denied possession of a bladed article when he appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Video Production News associate cameraman AY_Audits was there at the scene when this unfolded and filmed the whole incident, clearly showing the knife being carried by the man, he gave us this following statement with reference to that day:

Prosecutor Kathryn Hughes told the court that Kadri had “left a nearby building carrying a large bread knife” before launching an attack on Coskun, who was filmed burning a Quran as part of what the court heard was a “protest”.

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The weapon charge — under Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 — carries a maximum sentence of four years’ imprisonment.

Kadri, who was wearing blue jeans and a navy jacket in court, spoke only to confirm his name and address and to enter his pleas. The case was sent to Southwark Crown Court, where he will be sentenced for the assault and stand trial for the knife offence on 12 May.

Kadri was granted conditional bail, with a restriction that he must not contact Coskun directly.

Coskun, from Derby, has been charged with religiously aggravated harassment and is due to go on trial himself at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 28 May.

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