Teenager admits killing American tourist and wounding five others in Russell Square knife attack

Zakaria Bulhan, appearing at the Old Bailey this morning, admitted the manslaughter of Darlene Horton, 64, on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

He also admitted five counts of wounding with intent.

Bulhan, who was clean shaven and dressed in a shirt and blue jumper, was initially charged with murder, and five counts of attempted murder, but the court accepted his plea.

FROM AUG 9: Russell Square attack: Tooting teenager charged with murder to face trial at the Old Bailey

The 19-year-old, of Tooting Road, who suffers from schizophrenia, was also charged with five counts of wounding with intent.

Russell Square had been packed with people heading home after an evening in the West End at about 10.30pm on the evening of August 3.

Emergency services at the scene of the stabbing (pic: PA/Rehana Azam)

CCTV shows Bulhan entering Russell Square from the south at Montaigne Street at  10.22pm.

The defendent was seen "moving in an erratic fashion" on the pavement armed with a large kitchen knife, according to prosecutors, and "without warning or provocation" he stabbed six people in quick succession.

Darlene Horton, a retired English teacher who was visiting London with her husband Richard Wagner, was stabbed in the back.

The knife penetrated her left lung and heart and she died at the scene.

Darlene Horton, 64, was stabbed to death in Russell Square on August 3

The court heard that Bulhan was experiencing an "acute" episode of schizophrenia at the time of the attacks.

In reference to Bulhan's pleas, Det Insp Tony Lyons, of the Metropolitan police homicide and major crime command, said: "Bulhan’s actions caused an enormous amount of fear and distress, with initial concerns this incident may be linked to terrorism.

"This was quickly found out not to be the case and we now know Bulhan was suffering a severe episode of mental illness. 

"He clearly poses an enormous risk to the general public and I hope he can now get the help he needs."

Bulhan was born in Norway and relocated to the UK in 2003 with his mother.

According to psychiatrists, his mother had met and married a Somalian man in 2015, and Bulhan lived with the pair in Tooting.

The Merton College student left school at 16 and retook his GCSEs at college, but dropped out in April 2016 as his mental state deteriorated.

Bulhan's mother and younger brother had gone to Holland to visit family on July 26, but there were concerns about his behaviour and on Monday, August 1, his father went to the house in Tooting to collect him.

His father took him to the mosque in Camberwell and then to his own house in Wood Green where he spent the night.

They had gone to the mosque on August 3 to pray, but his father had to stop him from leaving.

A short while later, Bulhan managed to escape, and was seen on CCTV at 6pm on Mile End Road.

Scotland Yard was initally concerned that the stabbings were related to terrorism but found no evidence to support this theory.

Bernard Hepplewhite, 65, Lillie Sellentin, 23, Martin Hoenish, 59, David Imber, 40, and Yovel Lewkowski, 18, were all injured in the attack.

Mr Hoenish, a retired fireman from Las Vegas, described the attack on Facebook as a "very unreal experience" and he was "still very saddened about the woman who was killed".

Ms Lewkowski said on the social media site that she did not know whether to call it "luck or fate" that she survived.

Forensics officers at the scene (pic: PA)

Richard Wagner, Mrs Horton's widower, said in a statement: "Losing Darlene, my wife and best friend, under these circumstances is as bad as you might imagine it to be, if not worse.

"As bad as I feel for my loss, I feel worse for the loss experienced by my two daughters." 

Their daughter, Shannon Wagner, said London had a "special place" in the hearts of the family, but the city was now "tarnished".

She said Bulhan had "lost the right to be in society".

The court heard Lillie Sellentin said she had been on the east side of the square when she saw a man "smiling and skipping" along the road.

She saw Bulhan "skip" towards an older couple - Bernard Hepplewhite and his friend Kathryn Mombourquette - and he appeared to punch him in the stomach.

She said that Mr Hepplewhite had shouted in pain before Bulhan "skipped" on while showing "no signs of anger".

Bulhan then attacked Ms Sellentin, who thought initially, as did Mr Hepplewhite, that she had been punched.

She said that somebody had shouted "he's got a knife" and it was then that both victims looked down and realised they had been stabbed.

Both victims travelled to hospital together in a taxi.

The court heard that Richard Wagner, husband of Darlene Horton, "became aware of a commotion" when suddenly a man rushed past them and he heard his wife say "ouch".

Prosecutor Mark Heyeood said: "Mr Wagner did not know what had happened but his wife's reaction seemed muted and gave no clue as to the seriousness of what had in fact happened.

"Mr Wagner watched the man as he ran on past them in a haphazard manner, swerving and loping towards members of the public. It was only then that he saw that the man was holding a knife.

"Mr Wagner shouted to warn others that 'this guy is trying to stab people'."

A police cordon was erected in Russell Square (pic: PA)

Bulhan then attacked Martin Hoendish, who was stabbed in the side, followed by David Imber who was stabbed in the chest.

Yovel Lewkowski was stabbed in the arm and was found "screaming hysterically" on the ground by a witness.

Within six minutes of the alarm being raised, officers arrived and detained Bulhan.

Mr Heyeood told the court that in a police interview, Bulhan said the "devil had made him do it".

Bulhan had said he "tried to stop myself because I didn't want to hurt someone, I know that's wrong", while adding "it wasn't the real me".

In the interview he said he thought his life was in danger because people were coming after him and he needed to defend himself.

From May, his mother had reported three seperate incidents to a Wandsworth mental health team and was concerned he was becoming more aggressive. 

She had removed all the knives from the kitchen.

Bulhan, who has no previous convictions, believed the secret service was tracking him.

Mr Justice Spencer will hear medical evidence today and is due to deliver a sentence tomorrow.