'An attack on the British people': masked trio burned pub's Union Jacks shouting 'Allahu Akbar' two weeks after October 7, court hears

From the Newshound archive · first published 25 September 2026.

Zaid Sami, 21, Nour Sami, 20, and Omar Sukkar, 21, are standing trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court accused of racially-aggravated criminal damage to Union Flags outside The Fox pub in Twickenham. Prosecutors told jurors the three hooded and masked men gathered in a nearby alleyway before tearing down and torching two Union Jacks on October 23, 2023. The alleged attack came just over two weeks after Hamas killed over 1,000 civilians in Israel on October 7. All three deny the charge.

Prosecutor Mark Mullins told the court the burning was 'an attack on the British people and their way of life'.

CCTV shows Sukkar climbing onto a noticeboard to reach a flag while Zaid Sami removed the other, the court heard.

Witnesses described a 'strong acrid smell' from the alleyway as the flags burned, with the men shouting 'Free Palestine' and 'f**k the UK'.