Builder grilled over bacon mosque attack

Builder David Morris, 22, is one of nine men accused of violent disorder, affray and racially-aggravated damage when a hooded mob attacked Kingston Mosque in November 2010.

The incident took place after an English Defence League rally outside the mosque in East Road with a mob chanting English Defence League slogans as elderly worshippers cowered inside the building.

Taking the stand at Kingston Crown Court on Monday Mr Morris refused to answer a number of questions during his cross-examination.

Leading Judge Georgina Kent had to warn him three times about the inferences the jury may take from his no comment responses.

Mr Morris told the court he picked up bacon from Tesco Metro "for a joke". He said: "Obviously it was a march against Islamic extremism and they don’t eat bacon."

When he went back to the nearby King’s Tun pub other people threw the bacon around and he did not see it again, he told the court.

He was also asked about a photo on his mobile phone which showed co-defendant Alfie Wallace and another unidentified man in East Road holding sticks.

Asked why he took it and what the men intended to do with the sticks he said: "I don’t know."

The prosecution claimed all nine men on trial at Kingston Crown Court could be identified on CCTV walking toward the mosque in a large group.

Earlier in the trial mosque community relations officer Rizwan Khaliq, who spoke from behind a screen, said he heard thuds outside and someone shouting "Oi, come out", before looking out of the window to see a mob approaching.

He said: "I then saw an individual who was balaclavered up with a scarf, or something across the face, rush to our window and hit the window with force.

"He had something like a baseball bat or a stick in his hand, which made a very loud sound against the window. I turned to uncle and said ‘Uncle, we are under attack’."

All the accused deny violent disorder, affray and racially-aggravated damage.

The trial continues.