Chadwell Heath Church DESECRATED and the Establishment & Broadcast Media stay silent!

Man accused of tearing down cross on Baptist church 'committed religiously-aggravated offence', court hears

  • Footage from Sunday showed a man attacking wooden cross in Chadwell Heath
  • Yussef Alwali, 21, appeared in court charged with religiously aggravated offence
  • Barkingside Magistrates Court heard there are 'ongoing concerns' about Alwali 

By Luke May For Mailonline

A man accused of tearing down a Baptist church's cross 'committed a religiously aggravated offence,' a court has heard today. 

Yussef Alwali, 21, was charged after video footage emerged online of a man attacking the wooden cross on top of Chadwell Heath Baptist Church in North-East London on Sunday. 

Alwali appeared in custody at Barkingside Magistrates Court in a white t shirt and hooded coat, charged with one count of causing racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage.

Magistrates heard there have been 'ongoing concerns' about Alwali who had been living in Basildon, Essex, and is now thought to be of no fixed abode.

Yussef Alwali, 21, has appeared in court today, charged with a 'religiously aggravated,' offence, Barkingside Magistrates Court heard there were 'ongoing concerns,' about Alwali

Alwali spoke only to confirm his name, age and address, before magistrates deemed the alleged offence to be too serious to be tried by magistrates partly due to its 'racial undertones' and he will next appear before a crown court.

Phillipa McCarthy, prosecuting, said: 'There have been ongoing concerns about this defendant.

'On this occasion, he has taken the cross off the Baptist Church. There are underlying issues.

'Given the racial undertones and Mr Alwali's background it would be outside your jurisdiction with regards to sentencing given the nature of the offence.'

Alwali is yet to enter his plea and medical examinations are set to take place.

Ms McCarthy added: 'There may be issues that may require further investigation.'

Alwali was remanded in custody to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on November 18.

Chair magistrate Gillian Seabright said: 'Mr Alwali, we are sending this matter to the crown court. You will be remanded in custody.' 

Footage taken on Sunday appeared to show a man using the hood of his coat to pull down the cross outside the church, which has a congregation of around 70 worshipers.

Workmen were seen preparing to put the cross back on the roof on Monday morning.


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