IS-inspired Tube attacker may get hospital order instead of going to prison

A schizophrenic knifeman who attacked people at a London tube station could be given a hospital order instead of going to prison when he is sentenced on Monday.

Somali-born Muhiddin Mire, 30, targeted strangers at random in the ticket hall at Leytonstone Underground station in an attack inspired by the so-called Islamic State that took place on December 5 last year.

He grabbed Lyle Zimmerman and tried to behead the 56-year-old musician in the station in east London.

A passerby shouted at him: "You ain't no Muslim, bruv", after he said that he was going to "spill blood" for his "Syrian brothers".

Muhiddin Mire attacked a fellow passenger at random Credit: PA

Mire is expected to be sentenced at 12pm on Monday at the Old Bailey in London.

He has a history of mental illness and psychosis, and believed that he was being stalked by MI5 and MI6.

Speaking at a previous hearing Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, Recorder of London, said: "There are obviously a whole range of options as far as the offence of attempted murder is concerned.

"That includes the possibility of an indeterminate custodial sentence at one end and the possibility of a hospital order at the other."