Homeless man, 30, admits stabbing 70-year-old Muslim prayer leader in the neck with a kitchen knife in front of horrified worshippers after attending Regent’s Park mosque for ‘a number of years’
- Daniel Horton, 30, slashed Raafat Maglad in the neck at London Central Mosque
- The 70-year-old muezzin returned to Regent’s Park mosque within 24 hours
- Judge Deborah Taylor ordered a pre-sentence report, sentencing November 16
Daniel Horton, 30, today admitted stabbing 70-year-old prayer leader Raafat Maglad at London Central Mosque
A knifeman today admitted stabbing a 70-year-old Muslim prayer leader at one of Britain’s biggest mosques.
Daniel Horton, 30, slashed muezzin Raafat Maglad in the neck at London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park, northwest London on February 20.
Horrified worshippers rushed to pin down the attacker while Mr Maglad received first aid and an ambulance was called.
The father-of-three, who leads the call to prayer five times a day, returned to the mosque less than 24 hours after the attack following hospital treatment for a 1.5cm knife wound.
Mr Maglad was a prayer caller at the funeral of Dodi Fayed, who was killed with Diana, Princess of Wales, in the 1997 Paris car crash.
Horton, of no fixed address, had attended the mosque over a number of years and was known to the victim.
Raafat Maglad (pictured), who leads call to prayer, returned to mosque less than 24 hours later
Horton, of no fixed address, had attended the mosque over a number of years and was known to the victim. Pictured: Horton pictured after the stabbing on February 20
The knife Horton used to slash Mr Maglad in the neck at London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park in February
He appeared at Southwark Crown Court today via prison video-link and admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing a kitchen knife.
Sam Blom-Cooper, defending, has send that Horton’s mental health has been suffering since he has been held in custody at HMP Wandsworth.
Judge Deborah Taylor ordered a pre-sentence report and told Horton: ‘I am adjourning your case until 16 November and you are remanded in custody until that time.’
Horton, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody ahead of sentence on 16 November.
A man points to a knife on the floor following the incident at the Regent’s Park Mosque
Police outside London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park following the stabbing on February 20