The Somali-Norwegian teenager charged with carrying out a knife attack in Russell Square, killing one and injuring five, has been remanded in custody.
19-year-old Zakaria Bulhan appeared before Westminster magistrates’ court accused of murdering retired teacher Darlene Horton, 64, on Wednesday evening.
He is also charged with the attempted murder of Martin Hoenisch, Lillie Selletin, David Imber, Bernard Hepplewhite and Yovel Lewronski, who were all injured in the same attack.
Bulhan held his face in his hand as the names of the victims were read to him in court.
Horton, the wife of a university professor from Florida, was just hours away from flying home when she was killed.
The mother-of-two was visiting London with husband Richard Wagner, who was teaching summer classes. The couple had planned to return to their home in Tallahassee on Thursday, Florida State University said.
Hoenisch, also injured during the attack, was a retired fireman from Las Vegas who was visiting London with his wife, Laurie Kelly.
He said on Facebook: “Thanks to everyone for reaching out, we’re still very saddened about the woman who was killed.”
“Very unreal experience but we are still having an unbelievable time over here. Thanks and love to you all.”
Lewronski, 18, who is called Yovel Lewkowski on her Facebook profile, was visiting London from Tel Aviv. She was stabbed in the upper arm.
She said she did not know whether to call it “luck or fate” that she escaped death, adding that she had watched as Ms Horton “perished in front of my eyes”.
One of the victims was a British man who suffered a stab wound to his stomach. He remains in hospital in a “serious but stable” condition.
The teenager, dressed in a light grey tracksuit and carrying a handful of paperwork mumbled his name, address and date of birth with his hand over his mouth.
When asked if he understood the charges, he nodded and gave the judge a thumbs-up gesture.
He was unrepresented in court and sat hunched throughout the short hearing with his hand over his mouth. Bulhan, who moved to the UK in 2002 and lives in Tooting, south London, was ordered to appear at the Old Bailey on August 9.