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Black Lives Matter protest attack: Man shouted 'Allahu Akbar' and brandished screwdriver at Australian TV presenter

A man who grabbed a TV presenter during a live broadcast at the Black Lives Matter protests in Hyde Park and jabbed at her stomach with a screwdriver is facing jail today.

Soofuu Yakr, 26, suddenly took hold of Sophie Walsh as she was reporting on yesterday’s demonstrations for Australia’s Channel Nine News, shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ as she screamed for help.

Ms Walsh’s cameraman rushed to her rescue and chased Yakr with bystanders, eventually leading to his arrest by police when he was caught with cannabis and the screwdriver.

Westminster magistrates court heard the TV reporter feared she was about to be killed in a terror attack during the incident, but escaped without serious injury.

Yakr appeared at court in custody this morning, pleading guilty to assault, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cannabis.

Prosecutor Matt Barrowcliffe said Ms Walsh was in Park Lane at 9.45am and in the midst of a live broadcast on the Black Lives Matters demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd when she was targeted.

“The defendant approached Ms Walsh and grabbed her, he made stabbing motions towards her stomach with a screwdriver in his hand while shouting Allahu Akbar," he said.

“Ms Walsh didn’t see exactly what was in his hand, she was terrified it was a knife and because of what the defendant was saying he might be a terrorist.”

Ms Walsh, 34, was heard on camera saying after the incident: “Sorry, I just had someone come up and try and... yeah.

“A man just came up and grabbed me.”

Cameraman Jason Conduit had armed himself with a pole as he chased after Yakr, and was able to pin the attacker down until police arrived.

Film star John Boyega was among the leaders of the demonstration in Hyde Park yesterday, giving a passionate speech and urging protestors to remain peaceful as they marched on Whitehall.

Magistrate Nicholas Tarry told Yakr: “Your actions were extremely threatening, which put the reporter in fear of her safety and possibly in fear of her life.

“An offensive weapon was brandished, religious comments were made.

“This whole offence is too serious for the magistrates’ sentencing powers to be sufficient so we are sending this to the crown court.”

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Yakr, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing at Southwark crown court next month.