A BIRMINGHAM man on trial for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred during London demonstrations against the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed has been found guilty.
Umran Javed, 27, of Washwood Heath, Birmingham, was found guilty of stirring racial hatred by a jury at the Old Bailey.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge of soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred.
Javed, was on trial at London’s Old Bailey for comments he made to protesters at the rally in London last year.
The court was told Javed was filmed by police shouting at a crowd “Bomb, bomb Denmark, bomb, bomb USA”.
But he told the court he regretted saying what he did.
“I regret saying these things”, Javed said.
“I understand the implications they have but they were just slogans, sound bites.
“I don’t want to see Denmark being bombed in the USA. I made the statements in an emotionally charged atmosphere”, he added.
But prosecuting counsel David Perry QC, told the court Javed’s words “encouraged killing and incited racial hatred”.
Remanding him in custody, Judge Brian Barker said he would not pass sentence until a number of other trials relating to the protests had concluded.
There were disturbances in the public gallery when the guilty verdict was passed.
