Boy took ornamental dagger to school following mosque attack

Friday, 03 February 2012 15:19

The Surrey Comet reports on the case of a teenage boy who took an ornamental dagger to school for fear of racist abuse following the attack on Kingston Mosque in November 2010.

From the Surrey Comet:

“A teenage Muslim took his father’s ornamental dagger to school for protection after he feared racist abuse following the Kingston Mosque attack, a court has heard.

“The 14-year-old took the knife to school after he started to worry about “anti-Muslim” abuse after Kingston Mosque was attacked in November 2010, Wimbledon Youth Court heard.

“Solicitor Ronald Baker said the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, feared pupils would blame “all Muslims” for poppy burning by Islamic extremists leading up to Remembrance Day.

“The year 10 pupil was challenged about the weapon by a teacher on November 11 last year, after a concerned parent raised the alarm.

“The boy had no intention of using the weapon but carried it to scare pupils who might “pick on him” for being Muslim, Mr Baker told the court.

“During the hearing on Tuesday, January 31, the teenager, who no longer attends the school where the incident occurred, pleaded guilty to carrying an offensive weapon and was handed a six-month referral order.

“He said: “I admit I have done something really stupid. I have lost my education and my friends at school. If I could rewind time I would but I promise that you will never see me in this court.”

“The weapon, an ornamental dagger brought home by the boy’s father from a holiday in Turkey, has since been destroyed.

“Rizwan Khaliq, a spokesman for the Muslim Association of Kingston, said he was disappointed the young man felt it necessary to bring the knife to school following the attack on the mosque.”

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