A man has rejected allegations of religiously driven harassment after a Quran was set on fire in front of the Turkish consulate in central London.
Hamit Coskun, 50, hailing from Derby, was charged in connection with the incident that reportedly took place in Knightsbridge on Thursday.
Video footage shared on social media seemingly depicted a man igniting a book outside the consulate’s perimeter.
In the footage, another individual is visible on the ground while someone kicks him and brandishes a knife at him before departing.
During a session at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, Mr. Coskun communicated through an interpreter as he pleaded not guilty.
He was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to return to the same court for his trial on 28 May.
Additionally, a second individual, Moussa Kadri, 59, from Kensington and Chelsea, faces charges of causing actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.
He is expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
