Three men on trial for racially-aggravated flag burning outside Twickenham pub

In Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, three defendants—Zaid Sami, 21, Nour Sami, 20, both of Feltham, and Omar Sukkar, 21, of Isleworth—are tried for racially-aggravated criminal damage after allegedly removing and burning two Union Jack flags outside The Fox public house in Twickenham on 23 October 2023. Witnesses and CCTV evidence indicate the men climbed onto a noticeboard, dismantled the flag fixtures and set the fabric alight while shouting "Allahu Akbar", "Free Palestine" and "F*** the UK".

Prosecutor Mark Mullins framed the act as hostility toward British people, linking it to the broader fallout from the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's pro-Israel statements. Pub landlord Paul Brace testified that the flags were a source of local pride and that he heard the slogans while the flames burned. A fourth suspect reportedly escaped, and the three defendants have pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.