A British Muslim who called for September 11-style attacks across Europe and the "indiscriminate killing" of UK troops in Iraq during a protest outside London's Danish embassy was convicted today of stirring up racial hatred.
But a jury at London's Old Bailey was unable to reach a verdict on a separate charge of soliciting murder. Web designer Mizanur Rahman had also called for France to be bombed in a speech at demonstrations in February against the publication of cartoons in a Danish newspaper that many Muslims considered insulting to Islam and the Prophet Mohammad.
Prosecutor David Perry quoting Mizanur Rahman
Prosecutors said a retrial was likely over the murder charge but they would leave a final decision until tomorrow. Rahman (23) was remanded in custody pending the prosecution decision.
Prosecutor David Perry had told the jury that Rahman's words at the rally had been clear and unambiguous. "What he said was this: 'Oh Allah, we want to see another 9/11 in Iraq, another 9/11 in Denmark, another 9/11 in Spain, in France, all over Europe.
"Bomb, bomb France. Bomb, bomb France. Nuke, nuke France. Nuke, nuke France,'" Mr Perry said, adding that the reference to France may have been prompted by a French newspaper reprinting the Danish cartoons.
The spontaneous demonstration, where some protesters dressed as suicide bombers and others waved placards praising the 2005 London bombings which killed 52 people, attracted widespread condemnation.
Politicians, the media and many prominent Islamic groups such as the mainstream Muslim Council of Britain called for those involved to be prosecuted. Mr Perry told the court Rahman had also called for "indiscriminate killing" of British troops in Iraq.