A 43-year-old man from Essex has been charged with two counts of possession of offensive weapons and affray over an attack on an Islamic centre. Geoffrey Ryan, from Brick Kiln Way, Braintree, is due to appear before Colchester Magistrates’ Court later.
He was arrested in possession of a knife outside the building in Silks Way, Braintree on Wednesday evening. A smoke device was thrown into the premises but no one was injured. He was remanded in police custody to appear before magistrates on Friday.
Update: See “Braintree: Mosque leader speaks out after attack”, EADT24, 24 May 2013
Update 2: See “Mosque attack accused enters no plea”, Daily Gazette, 24 May 2013