Leytonstone attack: Judge considers hospitalisation as court hears of knife-man's delusional beliefs

High security: Mire poses a very severe risk to the public
Chloe Chaplain28 July 2016
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The Leytonstone tube knife attacker believed Tony Blair was his “guardian angel” and thought he was being stalked by British security service.

Somali-born Muhiddin Mire could be hospitalised after going on an Islamic State-inspired rampage at an underground station, declaring he would "spill blood" for his "Syrian brothers".

Mire was today described by a prison psychiatrist as a "very severe" risk to the public who needs to be kept in high-security premises.

The 30-year-old, who attacked musician Lyle Zimmerman and threatened four others as an onlooker shouted "You ain't no Muslim, bruv", appeared at the Old Bailey today after being convicted of attempted murder.

The scene at Leytonstone Tube station last December

He had a history of psychosis and, according to his defence, believed "Tony Blair was his guardian angel".

He also thought he was possessed by evil spirits, that he was being persecuted for his religion and stalked by MI5 and MI6.

Mire, a diagnosed schizophrenic, had images of Fusilier Lee Rigby and Islamic State executioner 'Jihadi' John on his phone along with material linked to extremism.

Dr Shaun Bhattacherjee, a consultant psychiatrist treating Mire at Broadmoor Hospital, said he was "clearly mentally ill at the time of the events"adding that it is important for his treatment to be "continued in conditions of high security".

Scene: A police cordon outside Leytonstone Tube station following the attack
Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

Dr Nigel Blackwood, consultant psychiatrist at Wandsworth prison, agreed Mire should be given a hospital order. He said his interest in extremist ideology is "intimately associated" with his mental health problems.

Another psychiatrist, Dr Philip Joseph, said he believed cannabis was the root cause of Mire's psychotic episodes.

He said: "He was told he should avoid cannabis, but he has smoked cannabis at various times since then, including maybe the day [of the attack] itself, although that is not clear.

"After a period of no cannabis and no medication, one could see if there's any relapse into psychosis."

Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, Recorder of London, has postponed sentencing until 2pm on Friday in order to consider Mire's mental health problems.

"There are obviously a whole range of options as far as the offence of attempted murder is concerned," he said.

"That includes the possibility of an indeterminate custodial sentence at one end and the possibility of a hospital order at the other."

Mire targeted strangers at random on December 5 last year as they travelled on the same train from Stratford back to Leytonstone.

He grabbed fellow passenger Mr Zimmerman and tried to behead him.

Mr Zimmerman, who received first aid from a passing junior doctor, said was "quite lucky" to have survived.

"I have been left with a scar on my neck which I am aware of only because it pulls when I use my voice but is otherwise superficial and healing well," he said.

"I am somewhat more cautious about interacting with strangers since the attack - overall I have not been significantly traumatised by the attack psychologically," he added.

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