Man who lurched at Queen's coffin 'wanted to check for himself' that she was REALLY DEAD
LONDON, UK: A man was arrested after he grabbed Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin lying in state at Westminster Hall on Friday, September 16, leaving the mourners stunned. Muhammad Khan, 28 approached the Queen's coffin because "he did not believe she was dead." Later, he was tackled to the ground by police at 10 pm in the hall.
The court heard on September 20 that Khan also "planned to trespass at royal residences," including Buckingham Palace. He allegedly planned to write to members of the royal family, and if he didn't hear back, he would try to visit the Queen personally. He allegedly had delusions and thought King Charles was somehow involved in the death of the Queen, according to the court hearing. Khan was detained on the spot and charged on Tuesday, September 20 at Westminster Magistrates' Court with violating Section 4A of the Public Order Act, as reported by Daily Mail.
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This guy was arrested for attempting to grab the Queen’s coffin at Westminster Hall.
— Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) September 17, 2022
An excellent example of robust, quick policing here. Disrupters from Stop Oil and XR should be dealt with in the same way! pic.twitter.com/ggKhKLFSOI
The Daily Mail reported that it is thought that the man forced his way through a line of mourners, which also included a girl who was seven years old. Rushing over to the coffin, he made an attempt to lift the Royal Standard. The man is then believed to have touched the Queen's coffin. According to the publication, before and after pictures revealed that the Royal Standard, the sovereign's official flag, had been moved. The shocking incident comes after King Charles and his siblings, Princess Anne, Princes Andrew, and Edward, mounted their final vigil for the Queen before she was laid to rest on Monday, September 19.
Prosecutor stated, "The defendant had reached Westminster Hall. He was then seen by officers, who were present, to approach the coffin. He stepped off the carpet in the direction of the catafalque, then grabbed hold of the Royal Standard flag draped over the coffin with both of his hands." Khan was swiftly detained, picked up, and interrogated by police, the court heard.
Prosecutor Staton said, "The defendant did express the idea that the Queen is not dead and that he approached the coffin because he wanted to check for himself." Prosecutor added, "He did say, prior to the state funeral, he was planning on going to the funeral. He planned to write to the royal family and if they did not reply he planned to go to Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and Balmoral to try to speak to the Queen."
When asked how many times he would try, Khan reportedly responded, "As long as I'm living." The court also heard Khan say that if he was unsuccessful, "I would have to trespass in order to try and make contact."
The court heard that Khan was suffering from delusions and District Judge Michael Snow told him, "At the time when you were in Westminster you didn't accept that the Queen was dead and that was the reason you were moving towards the coffin to satisfy yourself that she was." Judge added, "He is delusional still and thinks the Queen is not dead, thinks King Charles has something to do with it and may go to Windsor Castle to pay his respects but also because he still thinks she is alive."
He was given bail under the condition that he remains in a mental health facility in east London until his upcoming court appearance on October 18.