Tourist got stuck 'while scaling wall to get into Buckingham Palace Royal Mews'

25 September 2023 , 16:36

1126     0

The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

A tourist hurt himself while scaling a wall to get into the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace and was then unable to climb back out, a court has been told.

Awad Mustafa was on a 10-day trip to the UK when he allegedly broke into the grounds of the King's official residence in central London in the early hours of Saturday, September 16. He was found with two passports - from Ecuador and Spain - an iPhone, cash and a battery pack to charge his phone.

The 25-year-old is also charged with attempted theft after police officers discovered a vehicle inside the Mews had been broken into and a 'search' carried out. The court head he arrived in the UK on Thursday,September 7 and had been planning on flying to Spain the day after the incident.

Prosecutor Rhianne Neil told Westminster Magistrates' Court: "At 1:30am on September 16th, a member of the public called the police and the informant stated the suspect was already in the grounds. Officers attended at 2:30am and found Mustafa hiding in a corner, with an iPhone, two passports, cash and a battery pack. Moments later, a car was found on site broken into, the glove compartment was opened but no items were found missing.

"The defendant climbed the wall, found it was impossible to climb back out, and had suffered injuries when scaling the wall. He denies breaking into the car. He has no fixed address in the UK, he only arrived shortly before this incident and his intention was to go to Spain. He was found in possession of two passports, Spanish and Ecuadorian."

Prince Harry ‘unconsciously holds Meghan back’, body language expert claims

Mustafa was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing at the same court on Monday, October 16. He is charged with trespass on a protected site and attempted theft from a motor vehicle.

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.

Kelly-Ann Mills