Man in court over Koran burning - The Press Association

(UKPA) – 3 hours ago

A British National Party election candidate will appear in court accused of burning a copy of the Koran.

Sion Owens, a BNP candidate in the forthcoming Welsh Assembly elections, was charged under the Public Order Act.

The Observer newspaper reported that it had handed police a video which appeared to show Mr Owens dousing a copy of the Koran with paraffin before setting it alight.

South Wales Police confirmed a 41-year-old man had been charged with an offence under the Public Order Act and remained in custody.

He is due to appear at Swansea Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The BNP website confirmed that Mr Owens had been arrested on Friday night.

A spokesman from the group said Mr Owens would still run as a candidate in the assembly election on May 5.

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