British Muslim guilty of soliciting murder during cartoon protest

A BRITISH citizen was yesterday found guilty of calling for the murder of American and Danish people during a demonstration in London.

Umran Javed, 27, was said to have been one of the leaders of the demonstration against the publication of cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed.

Javed, of Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, was recorded on video by the police and arrested later, said David Perry QC, prosecuting at the Old Bailey.

Javed was found guilty of soliciting murder and stirring up racial hatred, and remanded in custody until sentencing in April.

There were shouts of protest from the public gallery as the verdicts were returned on the second day after the jury retired.

Mr Perry said the demonstration was to protest about the cartoons printed in Denmark and reproduced in some European countries.

He said Javed used a loudhailer to address around 40 people outside the Danish embassy in Sloane Street, Knightsbridge. “He appeared to be one of the leaders,” said Mr Perry.

Mr Perry said: “He addressed the crowd in terms which encouraged killing and incited racial hatred.”

He condemned the cartoons as dishonouring Mohammed.