Evidence emerges that teen charged in Russell Square murder ‘read violent jihadist books’
19-year-old charged with the murder of a US woman feared to have read books on violent Islam ideologies
A LONDON teenager who has been charged with knifing a US tourist to death is feared to have been reading violent jihadist books.
Zakaria Bulhan, 19, was last night charged with murdering Darlene Horton, 64, and the attempted murder of five others, and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later today.
The Met Police had discounted terrorism as a factor, and instead blamed mental issues for Wednesday’s attack in Russell Square, central London.
But a books website reveals a Zakaria Bulhan had listed at least one book advocating violent jihadism in their account, .
Between January 2014 and September 2015, Bulhan flagged up three books on Islam as texts intended to be read.
Of the three, one 13th century text described violent jihadism as a Muslim’s duty.
Although the account is not confirmed as belonging to the teenager, there is only one person named Zakaria Bulhan registered as living in the UK.
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Bulhan, of Tooting, South London, is of Somali origin but arrived from Norway in 2002.
Britain’s top anti-terror officer Mark Rowley said detectives had considered terrorism as a motive, and now believe the stabbings appear to be ‘triggered by mental health issues’.