Raheem Nawaz Detained Indefinitely on 7 Counts of Attempted Murder

I wrote previously about the case of Raheem Nawaz, who went on two separate stabbing sprees in Keighley back in August, leaving a total of seven people seriously injured. Two of them nearly died.

At the time of Nawaz's arrest, a press blackout was imposed on the case, leading to much speculation about his motives. Was it a racially motivated crime? Was it a terrorist attack?

On Friday, Nawaz, a paranoid schizophrenic, was detained indefinitely under the mental health act for seven counts of attempted murder, and for the first time details about the case were made publicly available.

From the BBC:

Raheem Nawaz, 20, of Wilmer Drive, Bradford, stabbed a man he knew then attacked six strangers in Keighley last August, the city's crown court heard.

Two of his victims nearly died and one of the strangers was the brother-in-law of the first victim who was attacked after visiting him in hospital.

The judge detained Nawaz indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.

The court heard how Nazam was high on drink and drugs when he went on a "rampage" on 20 August.

He was armed with a "horrendous-looking" 6in (15cm) knife which he had bought especially, the court heard.

In the first attack, at 2215 BST, Nawaz stabbed a 24-year-old man he knew, Mohammed Nazam.

Just over two hours later, he went on to attack six strangers with a knife, near the Livery Room pub in North Street.

Three of the victims, Sarah Wade, Carol Owlett and Fiona Haughey, were waiting for a taxi, and the fourth, Fiona Moorhouse, had gone to see what was going on.

A man, James French, was stabbed in the neck and shoulder as he passed the pub while looking for a taxi.

Nawaz's final victim, Majid Hussain, was returning from visiting Mohammed Nazam when he was attacked.

The court was told that Nawaz "remains seriously disturbed" and often hears voices. He also believes that members of the public can hear his thoughts and are laughing at him, a condition which is exacerbated by drink and drugs.

Judge James Stewart, QC, said: "On 20 August of last year you went on the rampage, wildly stabbing seven people quite indiscriminately.

"You had no issue with any of them, you just decided to stab them with a horrendous-looking knife which you had just bought for that purpose. Two of your victims nearly died."

He added: "The only saving grace for this dreadful violent behaviour is that, at the time, you were, and still are, seriously mentally ill."

Nawaz is to receive treatment at Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire.