Palace intruder found hiding next to horse

A tourist who climbed into the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace was found ‘hiding’ next to a horse, a court heard today (mon).

Awad Mustafa, 25, was on a 10-day trip to the UK when he was arrested after breaking into the King’s official residence in the early hours of September 16.

Mustafa appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court wearing a prison issue grey tracksuit, speaking to confirm his name and admit trespassing on a protected site.

Prosecution Rhianne Neil said: ‘On 16 September, just before 1.30am, a member of the public called the police stating they had seen a man climbing the wall on Grosvenor Road bordering The Royal Mews.

‘The suspect was then seen inside the grounds and filming with a mobile phone.

‘Officers attended the scene at around 2:30am and found the defendant hiding in the corner of the paddock with a horse.’

Mustafa was taken into custody and gave a prepared statement stating he had climbed the wall to take photos and wanted to get a better angle.

While scaling the wall he claimed he fell and injured himself and couldn’t get back over it.

Mustafa had arrived in the UK for a 10-day trip on 7 September and had been planning to fly to Spain the following day.

Upon arrest he was found with two passports – from Ecuador and Spain – an iPhone, cash, and a battery pack to charge his phone.

Judge Nina Tempia remanded Mustafa in custody ahead of sentence on 6 November.

She said: ‘We need to find out what more was going on here please… I’m putting the matter over for a pre-sentence report, all options open.

‘I’m doing that because this case may warrant a community order, it may warrant custody.

‘You’ll be back here on 6 November in the afternoon, you’ll be remanded in custody for the same reasons and grounds.’

The Royal Mews is responsible for travel arrangements for the royal family by road and houses the 260-year-old Gold State Coach, used at the coronations of Elizabeth II and King Charles.
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