Leytonstone Tube suspect appears in court charged with attempted murder

A 29-year-old man accused of a violent, sustained and unprovoked knife attack at Leytonstone Tube station has appeared in court.

Muhaydin Mire, of Sansom Road, Leytonstone, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with the attempted murder of a 56-year-old man, referred to only as Male A, on Saturday evening.

The victim was attacked from behind in front of several members of the public at around 7pm. Eyewitnesses said his attacker said 'this is for Syria' during the incident, much of which was captured in mobile phone footage.

Mire is accused of punching his victim to the ground and repeatedly kicking him before taking hold of the victim's head and cutting a 12 centimetre (five inch) wound in his neck. The victim was in surgery for five hours after the attack.

Mire also allegedly brandished his knife at other members of the public, aiming it at the throat of at least two of them.

He was Tasered three times by police officers before being arrested.

Mire was remanded in custody until Friday when he will appear at the Old Bailey.