London stabbing suspect remanded

A 19-year-old Somali-Norwegian man has been remanded into custody in connection with a stabbing rampage that left one American tourist dead and five other people injured in London's Russell Square this week.

Zakaria Bulhan did not enter a plea during his Saturday morning appearance at the Westminster Magistrates' Court. Sitting with his face in his hand as the names of the victims were read out, he subsequently acknowledged he understood the charges by giving a thumbs-up gesture.

He spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth. He did not have a lawyer.

In addition to one murder count for the death of 64-year-old American Darlene Horton, Bulhan also faces five attempted murder charges related to the other people he allegedly stabbed on Wednesday night.

He was ordered to appear at England's Central Criminal Court, more commonly known as The Old Bailey, on Tuesday.

About to fly home

Horton, who died on the scene, was visiting London with her husband, Richard Wagner, a psychology professor at Florida State University. He was teaching summer classes in the British capital. The program had ended and the couple were due to fly home the day after the attack.

Four of the other stabbing victims have been released from the hospital, but a fifth remains in serious condition. The attack also injured another American, two Australians, an Israeli and a British citizen.

They were identified as Martin Hoenisch, Lillie Selletin, David Imber, Bernard Hepplewhite and Yovel Lewronski.

Bulhan, who lived in the South London district of Tooting, moved from Norway to Britain when he was a child.

A series of recent terror attacks on mainland Europe has left Londoners on edge, but police say they have no indication the attack was terror-related.

bik/tj (AP, AFP)