Khater to Appear for Hearing at the Old Bailey End of August

A police van suspected of carrying Salih Khater arrives at Westminster Magistrates court in central London on August 20, 2018. Ben STANSALL / AFP
A police van suspected of carrying Salih Khater arrives at Westminster Magistrates court in central London on August 20, 2018. Ben STANSALL / AFP
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Khater to Appear for Hearing at the Old Bailey End of August

A police van suspected of carrying Salih Khater arrives at Westminster Magistrates court in central London on August 20, 2018. Ben STANSALL / AFP
A police van suspected of carrying Salih Khater arrives at Westminster Magistrates court in central London on August 20, 2018. Ben STANSALL / AFP

Sudanese-born British national Salih Khater, who faces charges of attempted murder for crashing his car into the security barriers surrounding Britain's Houses of Parliament, appeared in court Monday to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

The Metropolitan Police force said 29-year-old Khater faces two charges — attempting to kill police officers, and attempting to kill members of the public.

During a six-minute hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London, he confirmed his name, date of birth and address.

Khater, who is originally from Sudan, also confirmed he was British. He made no application for bail and was remanded in custody.

"Due to the methodology, iconic location and the alleged targeting of civilians and police officers, the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) are treating this case as terrorism," police have said.

Police believe a car was deliberately driven into pedestrians and cyclists, injuring three people, before ramming a security barrier outside parliament last Tuesday.

The crash came less than 18 months after an attacker plowed a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four people, then fatally stabbed a police officer before being shot dead in a courtyard outside parliament.

Khater will next appear for another short hearing at the Old Bailey in London, England's central criminal court, on August 31.

According to the BBC, Khater worked in Libya for two years as a farm laborer before going to the UK in 2010 as a refugee and then being granted asylum.



UN Chief Urges States to Focus on Crisis Solutions, Not Border Controls

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi talks to reporters during a visit to the Jdeidat Yabus border crossing in southwestern Syria as displaced people arrive from Lebanon on October 7, 2024. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi talks to reporters during a visit to the Jdeidat Yabus border crossing in southwestern Syria as displaced people arrive from Lebanon on October 7, 2024. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
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UN Chief Urges States to Focus on Crisis Solutions, Not Border Controls

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi talks to reporters during a visit to the Jdeidat Yabus border crossing in southwestern Syria as displaced people arrive from Lebanon on October 7, 2024. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi talks to reporters during a visit to the Jdeidat Yabus border crossing in southwestern Syria as displaced people arrive from Lebanon on October 7, 2024. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)

The head of the UN refugee agency on Monday urged countries to focus on solutions to crises and to drop measures to block refugees and migrants at their borders, saying they are ineffective and sometimes illegal.
Addressing over 100 diplomats and ministers in Geneva at UNHCR's annual meeting, Filippo Grandi said an unprecedented 123 million people are displaced around the world, Reuters reported.
"You might then ask: what can be done? For a start, do not focus only on your borders," he said, urging leaders instead to look at the reasons people are fleeing their homes.