A GROUP of men has appeared at a Worcester court charged with affray and violent disorder after a city family leaving a mosque was allegedly set upon with weapons.

Eight men appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, all charged with violent disorder, following a fight in Midland Road, Worcester. Some of the men also face an additional charge of affray.

Charged with violent disorder are Sadaqat Ali, 34, of Canterbury Road, Ronkswood, Worcester; Khubaib Altaf, 26, of Knotts Avenue, Worcester; Ameen Ali Khalid, 23, of Canterbury Road, Ronkswood; Shafiq Rasool, 43, of Primrose Crescent, Worcester; Shabaz Shafaq, 23, of Mortlake Avenue, Worcester; Usman Shafaq, 22, of Mortlake Avenue, Worcester; Faisal Zaib, 26, of Timberdine Avenue, Worcester; Sakander Zaib, 35, of Timberdine Avenue, Worcester.

Five of the defendants also face a charge of affray - Altaf, Rasool, Shabaz Shafaq, Usman Shafaq and Faisal Zaib.

The charges relate to an alleged affray between May 31 and June 2 last year. The violent disorder refers to an incident on June 2 last year.

Dawn Foxall, prosecuting, said a 999 call was received at 12.30am on June 2 last year to reports of ‘large scale disorder’ involving ‘sticks and bats’ in Midland Road.

The alleged attack happened on the Iqbal family as they walked along Midland Road from the mosque in Tallow Hill.

The hearings involving the eight defendants were staggered throughout the morning and afternoon to allow social distancing to take place in the court during the pandemic.

Magistrates said the case was not suitable for summary trial and the case was adjourned for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Worcester Crown Crown Court on August 27.