A Moroccan national has appeared at the Old Bailey accused of stabbing a 70-year-old man to death in Hartlepool, in a knife attack alleged to have been motivated by terrorism.

Ahmed Alid is charged with the attempted murder of his housemate Javed Nouri and the murder of Terence Carney.

He was flanked by four security officers as he appeared via videolink from Frankland prison in Durham.

The 44-year-old, who was following the hearing with the help of an Arabic interpreter on a separate videolink, did not respond when repeatedly asked to confirm his name.

Through the interpreter, he said: “I’m very ill, I cannot talk, I cannot speak.”

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Counter-terrorism officers took over the investigation after Alid was arrested by Cleveland Police on Sunday.

Police were called to reports of a fight at a house in Wharton Terrace shortly after 5.17am, where Mr Nouri was found with stab wounds to his chest, legs and mouth.

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Mr Carney was allegedly stabbed in the chest and neck in Tees Street, about half a mile away, shortly after he used a cash machine.

Police officers arrested Alid on the corner of Victoria Road and York Road.

Alid was remanded in custody and will next appear for a preliminary hearing on 27 October.

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