A 24-year-old man, Abdullah Khan, has admitted to committing two acts of terrorism. He set fire to a pub owned by Conor McGregor and attacked two police officers with a knife. Khan faced charges for arson at the Black Forge Inn on Drimnagh Road, Dublin, where he damaged the front of the pub by starting a fire on July 25 last year. Additionally, he allegedly assaulted the officers in Dublin city center four days later.
During the court hearing at the Special Criminal Court, Khan’s defense counsel, Michael Bowman SC, mentioned a complex psychological background to the case, requesting a report on the defendant. Khan, residing in Dublin under a court order, was charged with assault causing harm to one officer, attempting to harm another officer, and other offenses. These included producing a knife during the same incident and two counts of endangerment for engaging in conduct that posed a risk of death or serious harm.
The police reportedly used batons and pepper spray to subdue Khan after he attacked them. The defendant also pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in terrorist activity on July 25 and 29 last year. The case was adjourned by Ms. Justice Karen O’Connor for victim impact statements, setting the next court date for March 23 while keeping the defendant in custody.