Masked computer science graduate caught with Samurai sword in north London told police: 'I'm not a terrorist'

Gang: the samurai sword was allegedly recovered in Hornsey Road, Holloway
Islington Police/Google Street View
Rachel Blundy8 August 2015
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A computer science graduate faces jail after he armed himself with a Samurai sword as he patrolled a north London street wearing a Friday 13th-style horror film hockey mask.

Abdullahi Abdullahi, 21, carried the weapon in a supermarket 'bag for life' as he walked along Hornsey Road, Islington with a group of young people brandishing bricks and sticks.

Scared members of the public phoned the police after spotting the thugs in the early hours of Friday, Highbury Magistrates' Court heard today.

As police arrived, Abdullahi dumped the two foot long sword and tore off the hockey mask, which was similar to one worn by Jason Voorhees in the classic horror film.

Adeolu Odusote, prosecuting, told the court: "Police were called by a member of the public saying there were kids in the location carrying bricks and sticks. it was around 12.10am.

"They saw Mr Abdullahi carrying a 'bag for life' shopping bag. When he saw the police he ran off and was chased.

"During the chase they lost sight of him, when they regained sight of him he no longer had the bag."

He continued: "Police found the bag, in the bag was the Samurai sword which is about two feet in length. The hockey mask was found on the ground."

But when questioned by police, Abdullahi insisted he was only carrying the items for self defence because he had been stabbed twice before.

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He told the officers: "I've never been nicked before, I'm trying to defend myself. They stabbed me in my back.

"I'm not a mentally ill person. I'm not a terrorist."

Despite his defence, Abdullahi, of Elthorne Road, Archway, today admitted having an offensive weapon in a public place.

In mitigation, Anthony McKen, defending, blamed his client's behaviour on peer pressure and fear of violence.

He said: "He hasn't used the weapon itself at that point to cause any fear.

"It wasn't displayed to the public in terms of him waving it around or threatening anyone with it."

But District Judge Mary Connolly dismissed this and said: "If he is in fear of violence why is he out at night with a hockey mask and sword? You are at home behind closed doors.

"Peer pressure doesn't put you out on the street."

Warning Abdullahi that he will be jailed, she added: "This is a really serious offence. You are found out at night wearing a hockey mask carrying a very large offensive weapon in dangerous circumstances because others were around.

"You ran off discarding it. You can anticipate a sentence of imprisonment - that is what is going to happen to you. It is a question of length."

She bailed him to appear at Blackfriars Crown Court on September 1 for sentencing.

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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