Pub Union Jacks Burned By Group Shouting 'Allahu Akbar'

Zaid Sami & Nour Sami

Three hooded and masked men, who tore down and burned two Union Jack flags from outside a pub while shouting “Allahu Akbar”, were responsible of an “attack on the British people,” a jury heard.

There were also shouts of “F*** the UK” and “Free Palestine”, from the trio the trial heard, who along with a mystery fourth suspect gathered around the flags in a nearby alleyway and set fire to them.

They are: brothers Zaid Sami, 21 and Nour Sami, 20, both of Faggs Road, Feltham and Omar Sukkar, 21, of Worton Road, Isleworth.

All three are on trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, where they have all pleaded not guilty to the racially-aggravated criminal damage of the flags belonging to The Fox public house, Church Street, Twickenham on October 23, 2023.

Prosecutor Mark Mullins said: “This case is about the ripping down and burning of two Union Flags, which the prosecution asserts is an attack on the British people and their way of life and is therefore racially aggravated.

“Just after 6.00pm in the evening four young men ripped down two Union Jacks from The Fox public house and set fire to them.

“While they were burning the flags they were heard shouting: ‘Allahu Akbar’; ‘Free Palestine’ and ’Stop bombing children.’

Omar Sukkar

“CCTV evidence shows Sukkar climbing onto a noticeboard below one of the Union flags and Zaid Sami removing the other Union flag and they both damaged the poles and fixings.

“Moments later in a nearby alleyway there was a strong acrid smell as the burned the flags, say witnesses,” added Mr Mullins.

“The background is that on October 7, 2023 Hamas launched missiles from the Gaza Strip into Israel and an incursion that led to several hundred deaths and kidnappings.

“Then UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave a speech on October 19 that Israel had a right to defend itself and on October 23 he made a similar speech to the House of Commons.”

Landlord Paul Brace told the trial: “I had two Union Jack flags on poles. It is a very British street and we also have flags up during the rugby, the Six Nations via the Church Street Association.

“I felt it brightened the street up to have the national flags, even when there isn’t an event on.

‘It is a symbol of our country, what we stand for, our values and is a recognisable symbol around the world, very distinctive.

Fox Public House

“It was the flag flown at the Battle of Trafalgar and should be flown with a sense of pride.”

He was in his flat above the club when his deputy manager raised the alarm. “She phoned me in a state of distress and shock.

“Some men had been ripping at both flags from their holders, breaking the poles and they ran down the street.

“I followed them down the alleyway and saw four figures huddling over the flags and passing around what looked like a lighter and were struggling to get it going.

“I smelled a plastic burning smell like nylon and heard specifically ‘Allahu Akbar’. There were multiple voices saying it, they were all joining in.

“They were oblivious to me being there. I was tempted to intervene, but thought better of it.”

His 999 call was played to the jury, who also inspected the remains of the burned flags, and Mr Brace could be heard telling the operator: “Wether it’s terror-related or not, I don’t know.”

Landlord Paul Brace

Police were quickly on the scene and detained the three defendants, with a fourth suspect escaping and they repeated their shouts regarding Gaza and Israel while detained.

Local man Peter Lawlor was drinking outside the nearby Eel Pie public house and he told the jury: “Four lads walked past and one was wearing an Arab-style scarf, two had masks and another had a hood up and one of them said: ‘F*** the UK’.”

Mr Mullins continued: “The prosecution say they were all in a group acting together and Nour Sami was encouraging them and looking out even though he was not seen pulling down the flags.

“They were motivated due to hostility of that racial group, namely being British. Saying: ‘F*** the UK,’ and ‘Allahu Akbar’ showed hostility to being British.

“Their comments on arrest provides context to their actions,” the prosecutor told the jurors. “You may share these sentiments, but it led to these defendants going further.

“They turned against the very country they were part of. It was Britain’s support of Israel that prompted their actions.”

Trial continues……………