A man has been jailed for life for running over a Muslim woman twice and hitting a schoolgirl with a car in “retaliation” for the London 7/7 attacks.
Paul Moore, 21, was sentenced to a 20-year minimum term for attempted murder, attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving at Nottingham crown court yesterday.
Zaynab Hussein, 47, sustained serious fractures to her pelvis, spine, arm and leg during the horrific attack in Leicester, where the perpetrator drove a car on to the pavement and hit her from behind, before turning it around and driving over her again.
Shortly after the first attack, Moore drove the car at his second victim, a 12-year-old Muslim girl walking to school.
Both were targeted because they were wearing the hijab, the judge said.
The court also heard that after the incident, the Leicester man told friends the attacks were revenge for the terrorist attacks in Britain.
He also told a relative he planned on targeting Muslims and was seen laughing during the attack.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
In carrying it out, Moore saw himself as doing “the country a favour”, the court heard.
Mr Justice Soole told Moore: “The courage of your victims, and the compassion and courage of all those who came to the aid of Mrs Hussein in different ways – and who notably come from across the diverse range of this local community – stand in stark contrast to your wickedness that morning.
“All pedestrians were at risk from you that morning. However, the fact remains that you ultimately launched your assault on those who were in Islamic clothing.
“Your intention to kill Mrs Hussein was underlined by your wicked decision to return for a second assault with the car.
“It was only luck and her quick thinking that saved your second intended victim from injury.”
Janine Smith of the Crown Prosecution Service, said after the sentence was passed: “Paul Moore’s actions were undoubtedly fuelled by his hatred of Muslims and the intent to kill his first victim was clear.
“Moore had expressed a desire to run someone over and the evidence was clear that his motivation for attacking these victims was hostility towards their ethnicity and perceived religion.
“We are clear that this was a hate crime and invited the judge to uplift and increase the sentence. He therefore placed this in the highest possible sentencing bracket.”
In a victim impact statement, Ms Hussein said she remained incapacitated since the incident.
She added: “I don’t understand why someone would want to hurt me, especially somebody I have never met.”
