Islington Man Charged in First UK Rwanda Genocide Case

A 65-year-old man from Islington has been charged with offences allegedly connected to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Dr Vincent Brown, who is also known as Bajinya, was arrested and charged on 21 September. He is the first individual in the United Kingdom to be formally accused of crimes linked to this historical event.

Investigation and Charges

The investigation into Dr Brown's alleged actions commenced in September 2019, prompted by a formal request from the Government of Rwanda. The inquiry focused on allegations concerning events in the Rugenge district of Kigali during April 1994. The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised charges including one count of conduct ancillary to genocide and six counts of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity.

These charges suggest that Dr Brown encouraged others to kill members of the Tutsi ethnic or racial group with the intent to destroy that group, either in whole or in part. The allegations specifically relate to events that occurred in Kigali in April 1994.

Custody and Court Appearance

Dr Brown is currently being held in custody. He is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 22 September. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, commented on the significance of the charges.

Commander Flanagan added that securing the first-ever UK charges related to a genocide involved considerable effort and dedication from officers in the War Crimes Team. She stated that the team remains committed to holding individuals suspected of involvement in genocide and other atrocity crimes accountable through legal processes. It was also noted that other investigations are ongoing in the UK concerning similar offences related to the Rwandan genocide.