A band of Islamic vigilantes has admitted to roaming the streets of East London, confronting and threatening to kill non-believers in an effort to enforce Sharia law. Three men have pleaded guilty to related charges after self-proclaimed “Muslim Patrols” attacked, intimidated and threatened to stab members of the public in an area of London that hosted the 2012 Olympic Games.
Ricardo McFarlane, 26, a Muslim convert, pleaded guilty to affray—fighting in a public place—on Monday, while a 23-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, entered a guilty plea for two public order offenses. They refused instructions to stand in court as the indictments were read out.
Last month, Jordan Horner, a red-headed, white 19-year-old, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and the use of threatening words and behavior. McFarlane and Horner admitted taking part in an attack on January 6 this year when a group of five men were approached at around 4 am while enjoying a night out in the East End of London.
They had cans of beer snatched from their hands and poured out. A previous hearing was told that Horner said: “Why are you poisoning your body? It is against Islam. This is Muslim Patrol. Kill the non-believers.”
He then allegedly told someone to “go get the shank [knife],” according to prosecutors.
Horner has admitted to throwing punches at the men as they attempted to flee the scene. The 23-year-old man admitted to taking part in two further vigilante confrontations along with Horner.
One incident took place on December 19 last year while Claire Coyle and Robert Gray were threatened on January 13 this year. East London’s “Muslim Patrols” first came to attention when a a series of videos were posted on YouTube including one called The Truth About Saturday Night, in which a group of men threatened and berated members of the public for being gay, dressing inappropriately and drinking alcohol.
Hooded men derided women as “naked animals with no self-respect;” claimed alcohol was evil; and said to one man “you’re walking through a Muslim area dressed like a fag, mate.”