A man has denied religiously motivated harassment after a Quran was burned outside the Turkish consulate in central London on Thursday.
Hamit Coskun, 50, from Derby, was charged following the incident near the Turkish consulate in Knightsbridge, London, on Thursday.
In a video of the incident, the Qur’an burner can be heard calling Muslims “terrorists” while a man yielding a knife can be seen kicking and spitting on him.
He also lashed out at him several times with a knife but it’s not clear if any connection was made.
A delivery driver on a bicycle can also be seen kicking the Qur’an burner.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, Mr Coskun spoke through an interpreter as he entered not guilty pleas.
He was released on conditional bail and will appear before the same court for trial on 28 May.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
A second man, Moussa Kadri, 59, from Kensington and Chelsea, has been charged with causing actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.
He is due at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
