Screwdriver-wielding man Soofuu Yakr pleads guilty over Sophie Walsh attack in London

Screwdriver-wielding man who attacked the Nine journalist during a live cross in London pleads guilty and faces jail.

A 26-year-old man who attacked Australian television reporter Sophie Walsh while brandishing a screwdriver has pleaded guilty and faces a jail term, a London court has heard.

Soofuu Yakr, of no fixed address, yelled “Allahu Akbar” and grabbed Ms Walsh while she was live on air during a cross from Hyde Park in Central London.

Ms Walsh was voicing some footage about protests in Paris when she was heard screaming in shock. When the camera returned to her, Ms Walsh was clearly distressed. Later she told the Australian she believed Yakr was armed with a knife or wearing a suicide vest.

After being chased by Ms Walsh’s cameraman Jason Conduit, Yakr was detained and soon after arrested by police.

Sophie Walsh recovers from the incident.

The man is arrested following the attack.

Westminster Magistrates Court heard that Ms Walsh, who was unharmed, had feared she was about to be killed in a terror attack.

Yakr appeared at court in custody pleading guilty to assault, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cannabis.

“The defendant approached Ms Walsh and grabbed her, he made stabbing motions towards her stomach with a screwdriver in his hand while shouting Allahu Akbar,” Prosecutor Matt Barrowcliffe said.

“Ms Walsh didn’t see exactly what was in his hand, she was terrified it was a knife and because of what the defendant was saying he might be a terrorist.”

Ms Walsh, 34, said on-air immediately after the incident: “Sorry, I just … I just had someone come up and try and … yeah. A man just came up and grabbed me. He’s not armed. A man just came up and grabbed me though.’’

Magistrate Nicholas Tarry told Yakr: “Your actions were extremely threatening, which put the reporter in fear of her safety and possibly in fear of her life. An offensive weapon was brandished, religious comments were made.

“This whole offence is too serious for the magistrate’s sentencing powers to be sufficient so we are sending this to the Crown Court.”

Yakr was remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing at Southwark crown court in four weeks.