Two men have been charged following a violent confrontation outside the Turkish embassy in central London, where one man allegedly burned the Quran and was then attacked by another wielding a knife.
The incident took place on Thursday, 13 February, outside the embassy building in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge.
Footage widely shared on social media shows a man setting fire to a book near the embassy’s barrier before another individual appears to kick and slash at him with a knife.
Hamit Coskun, 50, from Derby, has been charged with a religiously aggravated public order offence after allegedly burning the Quran.
He has been remanded in custody and is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 15 February.
Meanwhile, Moussa Kadri, 59, from Kensington and Chelsea, has been charged with causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. He has been bailed and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 17 March.
The burning of the Quran has been a highly controversial act, sparking global protests and violent responses. Similar incidents in countries like Sweden and Denmark have led to diplomatic tensions and security concerns.
In the UK, privately organised Quran burnings have been widely condemned by both political leaders and religious groups, citing concerns over hate speech, public order, and community relations.
The Turkish embassy incident comes amid ongoing tensions regarding religious provocations and the legal boundaries of free speech and hate crimes.
The UK government has taken a strong stance against religiously motivated offences, with police treating incidents involving racial or religious aggravation as serious public order offences.
