A man who appeared to grab the flag draped over the Queen’s coffin planned to trespass at royal residences including Buckingham Palace because he did not believe she was dead, a court has heard.
Muhammad Khan, 28, allegedly left the queue in Westminster Hall on Friday night while the monarch was lying in state as the live feed briefly cut away.
Khan was arrested and appeared at Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday, charged with two counts under the Public Order Act.
“The defendant had reached Westminster Hall. He was then seen by officers, who were present, to approach the coffin,” Staton said.
“He stepped off the carpet in the direction of the catafalque, then grabbed hold of the royal standard flag draped over the coffin with both of his hands.”
The court heard Khan was quickly detained, arrested and interviewed by police.
“The defendant did express the idea that the Queen is not dead and that he approached the coffin because he wanted to check for himself,” Staton said.
Credit: theguardian.com
