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Islington police knife attack accused 'blames cannabis' | |
(32 minutes later) | |
A man accused of attacking four police officers with a knife has told a jury "strong" cannabis was to blame for his behaviour. | A man accused of attacking four police officers with a knife has told a jury "strong" cannabis was to blame for his behaviour. |
Alex Traykov, 20, admitted making a bogus 999 call under the alias "Solomon" to report a fictitious fight in Islington on 6 October. | Alex Traykov, 20, admitted making a bogus 999 call under the alias "Solomon" to report a fictitious fight in Islington on 6 October. |
At the Old Bailey, he also accepted he had injured the officers with a knife when they arrived in Liverpool Road. | At the Old Bailey, he also accepted he had injured the officers with a knife when they arrived in Liverpool Road. |
Mr Traykov, of Redhill, Surrey, denies four charges of attempted murder. | Mr Traykov, of Redhill, Surrey, denies four charges of attempted murder. |
He told jurors he did not intend to kill or harm the officers. | He told jurors he did not intend to kill or harm the officers. |
Bulgarian-born Mr Traykov said he had smoked cannabis before making the 999 call and it had a "very different" effect to what he had experienced before. | Bulgarian-born Mr Traykov said he had smoked cannabis before making the 999 call and it had a "very different" effect to what he had experienced before. |
"It was very strong and I lost concentration. I was moving and doing things without actually thinking about it," he said. | "It was very strong and I lost concentration. I was moving and doing things without actually thinking about it," he said. |
Mr Traykov said he had called 999 for a "prank", adding: "At the time it was amusing to me, but now I can say for certain it was not funny at all." | Mr Traykov said he had called 999 for a "prank", adding: "At the time it was amusing to me, but now I can say for certain it was not funny at all." |
The former Winchester University student told jurors: "I have felt terrible since I came to prison and I have thought about it every day, tried to reason and live with it." | The former Winchester University student told jurors: "I have felt terrible since I came to prison and I have thought about it every day, tried to reason and live with it." |
The court previously heard how Mr Traykov first attacked PC Istarlin Said-Ali, 31, bringing the blade down in her head, cutting her hand as she warded off a second blow. | The court previously heard how Mr Traykov first attacked PC Istarlin Said-Ali, 31, bringing the blade down in her head, cutting her hand as she warded off a second blow. |
He then ran at the other officers, lunging at PC Rafal Zedziora, 34, inflicting a 1.5in (4cm) cut to his face and slashed the back of his neck, jurors were told. | He then ran at the other officers, lunging at PC Rafal Zedziora, 34, inflicting a 1.5in (4cm) cut to his face and slashed the back of his neck, jurors were told. |
Mr Traykov also wounded 40-year-old PC Ben Thomson's arm and continued to rain down blows before being Tasered by PC Launa Watkins, the court heard. | Mr Traykov also wounded 40-year-old PC Ben Thomson's arm and continued to rain down blows before being Tasered by PC Launa Watkins, the court heard. |
He also denies three alternative charges of wounding with intent and one of attempted wounding with intent. | He also denies three alternative charges of wounding with intent and one of attempted wounding with intent. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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