A Canberra man has been refused bail after allegedly hitting another man over the head with a wine bottle in a racially motivated attack.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mohammed Abdul Ismail, 42, of no fixed address, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with assault causing actual bodily harm.
The police documents tendered to the court said Ismail shouted abuse at a man as he left the Supa 24 convenience store on City Walk about 11.45am on Friday, describing the passerby as "Arab scum".
Prosecutors alleged Ismail followed the man to the nearby bus station and continued to yell racial slurs at the man.
After the man pushed Ismail away, the defendant allegedly hit him on the head with a wine bottle which cut him above the eyebrow.
The victim headed for the bus stop and called police, but a second fight broke out between him and Ismail.
A bystander broke up the fight and flagged down the police, the court heard.
Ismail was arrested, after which he allegedly told police if the man came back "he would fight him again and anyone like him".
Prosecutors opposed bail and argued Ismail had a criminal history including liquor offences and one count of common assault.
When Magistrate Lorraine Walker asked what he was doing in the city on a Friday morning, Ismail replied that he had planned to stay with someone closer to his work site in Dickson.
He said he worked from 7am to 3.30pm, even though police alleged the attack happened at 11.45am.
Ms Walker said the random and alcohol-related nature of the alleged assault was of "significant concern".
"This was a completely random attack on a stranger in the middle of day," she said.
Ismail was remanded in custody until his next appearance in court on February 6.
He has yet to enter a plea.
