The case against an asylum seeker, accused of walking into an Armagh chip shop armed with two large knives, moments after allegedly setting fire to his house, is expected to progress significantly next month.
Mohamed Abdikani Ali – a Somali national – appeared before Newry Magistrates’ on Wednesday where the court heard that statements from the injured parties in the chip shop have been received.
The prosecution also informed the court that fire reports had also been received from NI Fire and Rescue Service.
What remains outstanding are insurance details from the arson damage caused to the properties which police hope to have in mid-January, after which the case is expected to proceed to the Crown Court.
The 19-year-old is charged with possession of an offensive weapon, criminal damage, arson, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Detective Constable Riordan explained during a precious court sitting that, at approximately 6.30pm on Tuesday, October 29, police received a report of a male with knives in the Galley Chip Shop on Barrack Street in Armagh.
Police attended and saw a man inside the premises holding a large knife in each hand.
Police engaged him and requested that he put the knives down, however, he refused and further armed himself with a fire extinguisher, which he used to cause damage to a large fridge.
There was a number of staff inside at the time who were able to escape through a rear exit.
DC Riordan said Ali continued to act aggressively, shouting and gesticulating to police and refusing to disarm himself.
“He then stood with his arms out asking the police to shoot him,” said the officer.
Police were able to open the door slightly and deploy CS spray in an attempt to gain control of Ali, and were subsequently able to enter the premises and apprehend him.
Whilst at the scene, police were informed that the suspect had assaulted a male customer who had been in the premises waiting for his food.
CCTV appears to show the victim sitting down waiting for his food when Ali comes in with a backpack and takes out two knives.
He starts shouting before attacking the man as he’s sitting down, hitting him over the head with the butt of the knife, causing a cut to his head.
Ali allegedly caused approximately £5,000 worth of damage.
The officer told the court that three large television screens were smashed, a fire extinguisher was damaged, and a display screen on the till was also destroyed. There was also damage to a refrigerator.
While police were dealing with this incident, a call came over the radio about a house fire in Rosemount Park, a short distance away.
It transpired that Ali was living at this house and he admitted to police about lighting the fire which “completely gutted” the property.
“The residents next door are an elderly couple in their 70s; they had to be evacuated, and there’s been smoke damage to their property,” said the officer.
Ali was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital where he underwent a mental health assessment, after which he was transferred to Lurgan custody suite.
Here he admitted to the offences at the chip shop, but he said “he cannot remember what’s happened at the house” because he “was suffering a mental health episode”.
The court heard how Ali had been living at the address, provided to him by the Southern Trust, for two weeks. He was the sole occupant.
District Judge Eamon King, at the time, queried how long Ali had been in Northern Ireland to which his defence solicitor replied: “Two years.”
The solicitor explained: “He came here when he was 17. He’s from Somalia, and he’s an asylum seeker. He has had a very challenging childhood. When he left Somalia, he came via Libya and was held ransom there for a year – and tortured – he says, which is why he says his mental health is very poor. And he says that he had a very bad mental health episode [on Tuesday].”
The solicitor said Ali admitted to everything in the chip shop and has apologised.
He added: “He said that ‘my mental health was terrible’…and it appears that he was trying to commit suicide by a police officer. He was shouting at the police officers to shoot him. His thoughts were of life not worth living and that’s what his motivation appeared to be in doing this.”
In relation to the alleged arson, the solicitor, in applying for bail, continued: “Social Services had been providing that property to him and that’s destroyed, and they’re not willing to provide further housing at this time.
“I’m also very aware, and made Mr Ali aware of this, that hostels don’t accept people accused of arson; I think for insurance and safety reasons. The reality of perfecting bail is minimal, I would say.”
Judge King agreed.
“The facts of the case would give obvious concern for the community,” he said. “The only justification for this activity is a result of serious mental health issues. There is no way court can grant Mr Ali bail.”
The case will be next before Newry Magistrates’ Court on January 15.
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