An asylum seeker allegedly advanced towards a PSNI officer with a knife before shouting the Islamic proclamation “Allahu Akbar”, a court heard today.
The officer was forced to draw his gun when Libyan national Hamza Banali, 24, confronted him in the Holyland area of south Belfast at the weekend, a judge was told.
Banali, of address at Farnham Street in the city, denies any religious or hate motivation behind an incident linked to reports of cars being damaged in the area.
He appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court charged with possessing a bladed article in a public place and resisting police.
Officers went to Damascus Street late on Saturday night amid claims that a man was damaging parked cars with a knife.
Banali, who is originally from Tripoli, was approached after he matched the description given of the perpetrator.
“He advanced towards the police, drawing a short, bladed knife,” an investigating detective claimed.
A sergeant at the scene then drew his gun, telling him to drop the knife and get onto the ground.