Man given hospital order for setting worshippers on fire

There had been a lot said at Birmingham Crown Court today, so here is a recap:

• The Birmingham victim, Mohammed Rayaz, was "lucky to be alive" one of his sons said
• Adnaan Riaz also said his family had become "anxious and cautious" since the attack

• A son of the London victim, Hashi Odowa, said his father still wakes up in the night screaming
• Dr Ross Mirvis, a consultant forensic psychologist, said it was "very clear" Abbkr had been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia
• He also told the court Abbkr had been under the delusion an old man he met at a mosque had performed magic on him, in an attempt to control him.
• He said Abbkr had shown some response to treatment, but it could take years
• Abbkr's defence counsel said a prison sentence would have posed "significant risk" because he might not receive enough mental health support there
• Judge Melbourne Inman KC described Abbkr as a "very real danger to the public" but said a prison sentence was not appropriate
• Abbkr was instead given an indefinite sentence to be served at a secure mental hospital
• He will not be released without the consent of the secretary of state
• The family of Mr Rayaz said justice had only partially been served. They wanted a prison sentence

Reacting to the sentence, the family of Mr Rayaz said justice had only been partially served, suggesting a prison term would have been more appropriate.

They also questioned why he was allowed into the UK and also hit out at the Met Police investigation, which left Abbkr at liberty for almost a month after the London attack.

West Midlands Police, the force which investigated the attack in Birmingham, has described Abbkr's actions as "absolutely horrific attacks which almost defy belief in their apparent randomness and severity".

The force said its counter-terrorism unit had been involved in the investigation but had found no evidence the attacks were motivated by extremist ideology.

But it said it had nevertheless "worked closely with mosques around Birmingham to offer reassurance and listen to their concerns".

Quote Message: Thankfully these kinds of attacks are incredibly rare, but in the aftermath, we worked closely with mosques around Birmingham to offer reassurance and listen to their concerns. from Ch Insp Haroon Chughtai

Thankfully these kinds of attacks are incredibly rare, but in the aftermath, we worked closely with mosques around Birmingham to offer reassurance and listen to their concerns.

The Crown Prosecution Service has just commented, following the sentence.

Nick Price, the head of its Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “These were horrific acts of violence against two elderly members of the public as they left mosques."

He also said the attacks had not only caused "severe injuries and psychological trauma" to his victims, but had also caused "considerable shock and concern" in both London and Birmingham, where the attack were carried out.

“I hope today’s sentence provides some reassurance to all those affected that they are safer now this man has been brought to justice," he added.

In delivering his sentence the judge spoke about the two attacks and the physical and psychological impact they had on their two elderly victims.

Both Hashi Odowa and Mohammed Rayaz suffered serious burns to their heads and hands and were continuing to suffer psychologically, Judge Inman said.

The trauma had also affected their families, he said, and in both cases their injuries could have been worse if they hadn't received help .

Here we can see burned clothing from Mr Rayaz.

West Midlands PoliceCopyright: West Midlands Police

In the attack on Mr Rayaz, Abbkr went further and poured more petrol on him when he was already burning, the judge noted.

He said in both cases once Abbkr had carried out his attack he "simply walked away".

In considering whether Abbkr should be sent to serve some or all of his sentence in prison, Judge Melbourne Inman KC said it is "highly likely you will require lifelong treatment for this illness".

But he said it was likely there would be "no compulsion to take such medication in prison" and that signs of a relapse would be spotted sooner by people with the proper medical training.

The judge said there would therefore be a "significant risk" of a relapse if he was sent to prison, and that could pose a danger for other prisoners and for prison staff.

It was clear there was a lot for the judge to consider when passing his sentence this afternoon.

He noted that while the jury had been asked to consider if Abbkr was insane when he carried out his attacks, they were unable to reach that conclusion and instead found him guilty of attempted murder.

The judge explained in his remarks that as both attacks had involved fire and had caused "significant injury" and psychological harm to his victims, he could have faced a long prison sentence.

But he also took into consideration the view of the medical professionals who had told the court about Abbkr's paranoid schizophrenia, hallucinations and psychosis at the time of the attack.

Referring to the two offences, the judge concluded: "Without such illness you would not have committed them."

The attack in Edgbaston on 20 March 2023 left visible scorch marks on the pavement.

Neighbours previously told how they helped to put flames out and carried the victim, Mohammed Rayaz, to his home after the attack, where he was treated by paramedics.

BBCCopyright: BBC

This is how the events unfolded last year:

• Hashi Odowa, 82, was doused in petrol and set alight on the evening of 27 February as he and the suspect left the West London Islamic Centre in Ealing
• Met Police released a CCTV image of the suspect spotted earlier inside the mosque
• Three weeks later Mohammed Rayaz, 71, was targeted soon after he left the Dudley Road mosque in Edgbaston, Birmingham, in an almost identical attack

• Although counter-terrorism officers were brought in, police soon said it was not thought to be terrorism
• Mohammed Abbkr was quickly arrested after he was identified by members of the local community
• He was found guilty by majority verdict in November of attempted murder

The judge said he also had to be aware how the public could be protected if Abbkr was ever released into the community.

He said Dr Mirvis's evidence suggested the illness was likely to be lifelong, requiring treatment, medication and close monitoring.

The judge is continuing to outline his thinking in coming to his sentence, after he was convicted of attempted murder by a jury.

He has just said: "It's clear beyond doubt that you represent a very great danger to members of the public.

"It’s equally clear that how long you continue to represent a danger cannot be determined now."

The judge has said there was a painstaking police investigation to determine if there was any extremist terrorist motivation to the attacks.

But he concluded: "There was no evidence at all that you at any stage have held any extremist views."

He said as an example that he had not sought out extremist material online.

The judge also added Abbkr had no previous convictions or history of violence.

The judge has just said Abbkr had been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and was psychotic at the time of the attacks

"You believed you were being persecuted by various people you had met who you believed were possessed by evil spirits and were trying to control you," he said.

"You believed these people could vanish and materialise at will."

And he said while his victims had been chosen at random, Abbkr had believed they were the ones trying to take control of him.

You can watch the judge's sentencing remarks here.

The judge has just explained that there was never any dispute during the trial that Abbkr was the person who had committed these two attacks.

"The primary issue for the jury to consider was whether you were insane at the time of your actions," he said.

Judge Melbourne Inman KC said the attack on Mr Rayaz left him "engulfed in flames".

Addressing Abbkr on the video link, he added that the CCTV footage of the attack was "horrific".

Quote Message: It's clear you then threw further petrol on him as he burned. from Judge Melbourne Inman KC

It's clear you then threw further petrol on him as he burned.

The victim impact statements this morning showed the events in February and March 2023 have badly affected the families.

Both men still bear the physical reminders of the attacks and the court heard it could take them years to fully recover.

The effects however run much deeper, affecting their mental health.

The son of Hashi Odowa said he still woke up screaming about being set on fire, was anxious in public and only went to the mosque occasionally.

Their wider families have also been affected.

Mohammed Ayaz, Mr Rayaz's oldest son, said his three-year-old daughter still asked if her grandad was going to be hurt whenever she heard a siren.

The hearing has resumed, with Judge Melbourne Inman KC, expected to be ready to pass his sentence.

The cameras show Abbkr listening from a secure hospital.