Man Charged
A 40-year-old man appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court charged in connection with a fire at the Ulfah arts centre in Highgate Square last week.
Unemployed Leon Smythe, from Washington Street, Birmingham, was charged with arson – recklessly endangering life.
Smythe appeared yesterday and was remanded in custody to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 18 August.
The centre has been the home to the country’s first female Muslim band which has been singing alongside a Christian gospel music choir and was once invited to sing at a 12,000 packed Wembley crowd with the late Bee Gee and Robin Gibb.
