A MAN who held up his middle finger to police after being confronted over claims he was behind a petrol bomb attack on a mosque has admitted the racial attack.
Thomas Conington, 28, who sports a swastika tattoo on his chest, attacked the Central Mosque in Potterrow, Edinburgh, in September last year.
Conington was caught on CCTV at the site, but when later detained, he held up his middle finger towards officers and denied responsibility.
He admitted charges of wilful fireraising, behaving in a threatening manner and an offence under the Explosives Act, all motivated by religious prejudice, at the High Court in Glasgow.
He was remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.
Prosecutor Jim Keegan described Conington as “racist and bigoted”.
The QC said the thug also had a Nazi “SS” style tattoo on his neck and had been responsible for a fire at the mosque in July, 2015.
Conington initially turned up at the mosque again last August 6 before being ordered out by a man. He grabbed a flag advertising a festival and started waving it, while hurling abuse at the man.
Conington was back outside the mosque on September 18 despite being on bail.
It was there he was seen armed with a “molotov cocktail” which he lit before launching the bottle over the gates.
Mr Keegan: “The item smashed and witnesses saw flames travel along the side wall of the mosque and set fire to a bush.”
The fire caused little damage to the mosque.
Lord Burns deferred sentencing for reports.
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