Abdel-Kader Russell-Boumzar, Teen Who Racially Abused Brisbane Train Security Guard, Says Sorry [VIDEO]
Abdel-Kader Russell-Boumzar, the teenager who launched a racist rant at a security guard on a Brisbane train, has apologised for the incident. He has received multiple charges, and has been banned from using Queensland Rail property without parental supervision.
A video of 17-year-old Russell-Boumzar verbally abusing a train employee has recently hit online. The video was shot by his 18-year-old friend Bailey Clout on October 2, but Russell-Boumzar allegedly posted it himself on October 10. The video sees the drunk teen calling 56-year-old train guard Josphat Mkhwananzi a number of racial slurs, including “black c---“ and “f------ n------.”
His outburst apparently started when Mkhwananzi approached Russell-Boumzar to remove his feet from the train. This has got the unruly teen angry. He started cussing at the security guard, who remained calm throughout Russell-Boumzar’s abuse.
“Learn some f------ English, you c---!” the drunk passenger hurled at him while his friend was giggling behind the camera. “Do you have citizenship, you f------ n------?”
Some passengers began defending Mkhwananzi, but Russell-Boumzar just turned his anger on them so the security guard had to put himself between them.
Russell-Boumzar’s racist outburst has gone viral online, with viewers condemning his actions while applauding Mkhwananzi’s calm manner.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Premier of Queensland Campbell Newman have also criticised the incident.
Read: Racist Rant on Brisbane Train Condemned; Tony Abbott, Campbell Newman Slaw Passenger’s Attack Against Security Guard
The Queensland police have previously announced they were questioning a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old involved in the video.
On Monday, the teens have been named in the media. Russell-Boumzar appeared at the Brisbane Magistrates Court to face charges of assault, assault occasioning bodily harm, making threats, creating a disturbance and using a carriage service to menace. The assault occasioning bodily harm charge was later upgraded to serious assault. He did not enter a plea.
It was alleged that Russell-Boumzar also spat in Mkhwananzi’s face, but his lawyer denied this happened.
Clout was fined $400 after pleading guilty to creating a public disturbance. According to the Courier Mail, he asked the waiting news crews outside the court for money before saying he planned to apologise for his actions.
Russell-Boumzar faces possible jail sentence. He has also been banned from going near any Queensland Rail infrastructure, including the trains and railway stations, without parental supervision under strict bail conditions set by Magistrate Bronwyn Springer. He is forbidden from seeing his co-accused and from contacting Mkhwananzi.
“I would like to give an apology to the bloke on the train and to everyone that was offended by my video,” he said outside the courthouse.
Mkhwananzi didn’t expect his attacker to apologise to him, though. When asked by the Courier Mail if he wanted an apology from him, the genial train employee just said, “I’m OK.”
“Whatever they will say, I will accept that. Whatever they will do, I will accept that – but I’m not in a position to influence somebody.”
Both Russell-Boumzar and Clout will appear in court on November 3.