BBC News - MP Stephen Timms stabbed 'in revenge for Iraq war'

1 November 2010 Last updated at 13:51

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MP Stephen Timms stabbed 'in revenge for Iraq war'

MP Stephen Timms was stabbed at his Newham constituency surgery

A woman stabbed Labour MP Stephen Timms twice at a constituency surgery in revenge for his vote for the Iraq war, the Old Bailey has heard.

The Labour MP for East Ham said he thought Roshonara Choudhry wanted to shake hands when she smiled before lunging at him in Newham on 14 May.

Miss Choudhry told police she wanted "to get revenge for the people of Iraq", prosecutors said.

The 21-year-old is accused of attempted murder and having an offensive weapon.

No challenge

The court heard Mr Timms was sent "reeling and staggering" by the attack at the community centre in Beckton.

His assistant Andrew Bazeley prised the kitchen knife from Miss Choudhry, who was restrained by a security guard until police officers arrived.

Another knife was found in her bag.

Prosecutor William Boyce QC, said Miss Choudhry had told detectives she was trying to kill Mr Timms for "punishment" and "to get revenge for the people of Iraq".

"When asked why she had stabbed him a second time she said 'because I wasn't going to stop stabbing until someone made me'," Mr Boyce said.

Jeremy Dein QC, defending Miss Choudhry who was not in court, said she did not recognise the jurisdiction of the court and did not wish her lawyers to challenge evidence put before the jury.

The trial continues.

via bbc.co.uk