LONDON: Photo shows the the sketch of Muhaydin Mire appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, London yesterday . — AP

LONDON: The stabbing of a man in the London metro in what police described as a terrorist attack provoked a defiant riposte from a bystander that has struck a chord in Britain: "You ain't no Muslim, bruv". The 29-year-old assailant shouted "This is for Syria" as he attacked a 56-year-old man and threatened others before being detained by police who used a stun gun, witnesses said. Video footage posted on Twitter showed police officers closing in on the knife-wielding man and eventually pinning him down after the attack, in which two people were wounded at the Leytonstone underground station.

An onlooker standing near a pool of blood shouted the colloquial phrase that has swiftly become a popular Twitter hashtag #YouAintNoMuslimBruv and is intended to deny that such an attack could have anything to do with Islam. Some Twitter users quoted Islamic scripture to contradict militant Islamists who try to use Islam to justify attacks on unarmed civilians and to recruit followers in the West and Middle East. "#YouAintNoMuslimBruv, just another psychopath attempting to use religion as an excuse to justify your barbaric actions!!" said one Twitter user, Natasha.

British warplanes joined air strikes against Islamic State in Syria for the first time on Thursday, a few hours after parliament gave its approval. Prime Minister David Cameron has said the air strikes will not increase the likelihood of an attack on Britain, which he says militants already view as a top target, with seven plots foiled over the past year. Britain is on its second-highest security alert level of "severe", meaning a militant attack is considered highly likely, though not imminent. This is mainly because of the threat posed by Islamic State.

Suspect in court

Meanwhile, the 29-year-old man appeared in an English court - charged with attempted murder following a knife attack in a London Underground train station. Muhaydin Mire, who lives in Leytonstone in east London, is accused of attempting to kill a 56-year-old man at Leytonstone station on Saturday. The victim suffered "serious" stab wounds but is in a stable condition in an east London hospital, police said. A second man sustained a minor injury but did not require medical assistance. Police fired Taser electric stun guns at a suspect during the incident.

Increased police patrols

Police have increased uniformed and plain-clothes patrols at transport hubs following the incident at the suburban station on the Central Line. "The safety of the travelling public remains our top priority," said Assistant Chief Constable Mark Newton of the British Transport Police force. "In addition to our usual specialist response teams, last week we launched Project Servator, deploying even more highly-visible police patrols designed to identify and deter terrorism. "Following Saturday's incident, we are now deploying still more officers in this role. "They involve both uniformed and plain-clothed officers, supported by other resources, such as armed officers, police dogs, a network of CCTV cameras, and the thousands of rail staff we work alongside. "We ask the public to remain calm and carry on using public transport as normal."

General levels of security are influenced by the national terror threat level. It was raised in August 2014 to severe, the second highest of five levels, meaning an attack is considered highly likely. The Central Line runs on an east-west axis through the British capital. First opened in 1900, it is the longest of London's Tube lines, serving 49 stations-only 20 of which are below ground-along 46 miles of track. Coloured red on the famous London Tube map, it is one of only two lines that go beyond the administrative boundary of London.- Agencies