© Met PoliceSamiulahaq Akbari, 32, allegedly tried to stab people because they were English
A man was fuelled by a desire to kill English people as he attacked people at random at a branch of Tesco, a court has heard. Samiulahaq Akbari, 32, allegedly stalked the aisles of Tesco Extra in Thornton heath, south London, and targeted people. Footage shows him as he walked behind Nicholas Speight on January 8 then tapping him on the shoulder.
He asked what his nationality was and when he replied that he was from the UK he swung a 10-inch knife at him, the Old Bailey was told yesterday.
Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe said that unsuspecting Mr Speight would not have known that 'events would unfold with such frightening speed.' She said: 'On that evening in January this year this defendant had set out deliberately to threaten, harm and kill members of the public by virtue of their nationality, or what Mr Akbari perceived to be their nationality - they were English.'
Mr Speight fought back and it was only 'by luck' that he escaped without a mark on him.
Within 10 minutes Akbari allegedly pulled a knife on two other men, one in the Kebabish restaurant nearby and then at the Plough on the Pond pub in London Road, Croydon. He approached John Hoy as he sat at a table with three friends having food after a pool tournament. Jurors heard Akbari 'aggressively and repeatedly' asked Mr Hoy where he was from before going behind the counter, arming himself with the huge red-handled knife and lunging at him. It was only when the men fought back that Akbari fled, Ms Stonecliffe said.
Akbari then made his way to the pub where he confronted Barry Watkins, who was on his way out holding his pool cue and case. He was marched back into the pub and Akbari demanded to know their nationality. Ms Stonecliffe said: 'He and his friends replied that they were English, at which point the defendant started lunging at them with the knife.' They wedged a table between them and the knifeman, forcing Akbari to flee again.
He denies attempted murder and wounding with intent.
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