Man behind 'You ain't no Muslim bruv' says he was just acting on instinct

Incident: the bystander saw the drama unfold
Hannah Al-Othman13 December 2015

The man who shouted "You ain't no Muslim bruv" during the stabbing at Leytonstone Tube station - coining a phrase that later went viral - has said he was just acting on instinct.

The bystander, who has been named only as John, was heard in video footage of the incident at Leytonstone underground station last weekend, shouting at a knife-wielding attacker as he stabbed a man.

The phrase ended up trending on Twitter with Prime Minister David Cameron saying it "said it all much better than I could have done".

The 39-year-old security guard, from north London, told the Sunday Times he had to voice his feelings when he saw what was happening in the station.

"I saw the guy," he said. "I was like, well you ain't a Muslim ... That's my views, and I had to let him know that, because he looked to be a terrorist. I don't believe in all that."

It has been reported the attacker shouted "This is for Syria".

John, who is not a Muslim, said he was upset by people who make generalisations linking Muslims to extremism, and said he was happy to hear his 20-year-old son commend him for doing "the right thing".

He said: "People look at Muslims, and look at Isis, and think they're all the same. But obviously they're not."

Muhaydin Mire, 29, is expected to stand trial next year charged with the attempted murder of a 56-year-old man who was attacked from behind in front of several members of the public on the evening of Saturday, December 5.

It is believed the authorities are investigating whether the attack, during which eyewitnesses said they heard him shout "This is for Syria", could be considered an act of terrorism.

Mire, of Sansom Road, Leytonstone, is accused of punching his victim to the ground and repeatedly kicking him before taking hold of his head and cutting a 5 inch wound in his neck.

The victim, who has not been identified, underwent five hours of surgery following the attack.

The defendant also allegedly brandished his knife at other members of the public, aiming it at the throat of at least two of them before being Tasered three times by police.

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