A Sudanese “refugee” has been convicted of threatening a Christian preacher with a knife at Hyde Park’s Speakers’ Corner.
Knifeman Ahmed Mohammed, 34, approached preacher Daniel Ayettey, who was addressing a crowd from atop a ladder at the historic debate spot on a Sunday afternoon in May.
Following what prosecutors described as a previous “minor incident” between the pair over religious matters, Mohammed asked the preacher: “What would you like to happen in my life?”
Mr Ayettey responded: “I would like to have the Lord in your life.”
That triggered an immediate change in Mohammed’s behaviour, prosecutor Nicholas Mesure told Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday.
“That seemed to be the catalyst as it very quickly changed Mr Mohammed’s demeanour and he became very angry,” Mr Mesure said.
Mohammed initially attempted to pull the preacher from his ladder before fleeing the scene.
Mr Ayettey persisted with his sermon despite the initial assault, but Mohammed reappeared carrying a knife and declared: “I am going to stab you.”
Knifeman Ahmed Mohammed, 34, approached preacher Daniel Ayettey, who was addressing a crowd from atop a ladder at the historic debate spot (file photo)
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Mr Mesure told the court: “There were a number of people, including Muslims, who were aware of Mohammed and they tried to persuade Mr Ayettey not to call the police.”
Police arrested Mohammed following the incident, though he declined to participate in questioning.
Mohammed was this week found guilty of the knife-related crime.
Beyond the knife conviction, which could result in up to four years behind bars, Mohammed admitted to stealing food and alcohol from a Marble Arch Sainsbury’s earlier that month.
The court was also told how the refugee had amassed 67 criminal offences across 29 convictions in just seven years.
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Mohammed was this week found guilty of the knife-related crime at Southwark Crown Court
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PAHe also has outstanding application with the Home Office for permanent residency in Britain.
Judge Martin Griffith remarked: “Seven years of offending – it is a lot of time for someone to make their mind up.”
He postponed sentencing to December 12, allowing probation services to evaluate Mohammed’s suitability for an alcohol rehabilitation programme.
Speakers’ Corner, established through an Act of Parliament in 1872, has seen skyrocketing violence against innocent Christian speakers.
Last year, Islamist Edward Little was handed a life sentence for planning to murder Christian preacher Hatun Tash at the location.
Ms Tash herself suffered a knife attack in July 2021 while wearing a t-shirt bearing a cartoon from Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical magazine targeted by Islamic extremists in 2015.
She later received £10,000 compensation from police following two wrongful arrests after reporting threats from Islamic protesters.
Following her attack, Tash vowed: “We don’t live in Pakistan, we don’t live in Saudi Arabia.
“I am Christian and by default I believe that Muhammad is a false prophet. I should be allowed to say that in the UK.”