An Islamic State-inspired extremist, who carried out a knife attack on a stranger at Leytonstone Tube station, has been found guilty of attempted murder.

A jury convicted Muhiddin Mire, 30, after more than four hours of deliberation at the Old Bailey this morning (Wednesday, June 8).

Mire attacked musician Lyle Zimmerman, 56, at the tube station on December 5 last year, carving a “deep and ragged wound” in his neck and exposing his windpipe.

The former minicab driver, who was suffering from paranoid psychosis at the time, then tried to attack four other commuters before being tasered by police officers.

The attack was captured on CCTV and on mobile phone footage filmed by members of the public.

Somali-born Mire had images of Fusilier Rigby and British Islamic State executioner Jihadi John on his Samsung phone, along with material linked to the terrorist group.

After the jury delivered its verdict, Judge Richard Marks QC, praised those who remained at the station to warn others while Mire carried out his attack.

He said: “There are members of the public who showed remarkable courage and good heartedness who became involved in this case.

“It would have been very easy to make a journey onwards, but they did not.”

On Monday, prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC had told jurors Mire's mental health problems were not a defence to his intention to kill Mr Zimmerman.

Mr Rees also argued Mire had shown interest in ISIS and Islamic extremism before his “relapse” and his decision to give up his job as a taxi driver.

The prosecutor said: “He is sympathetic to those who are choosing to pursue jihad against the non-Muslims.

“It can be no coincidence that he carried out the attack three days after parliament had voted to extend the bombing campaign against ISIS to territory in Syria.

 “The evidence clearly establishes that the motive underpinning this attack was that bombing campaign in Syria. That was at the very forefront at his mind.”

Mire, of Sansom Road, Leytonstone, had previously admitted wounding with intent on Mr Zimmerman and four counts of attempted wounding other tube users.

Mr Rees also described Mire's use of the knife on Mr Zimmerman's throat as: “the act of an executioner”.

He added: “It is no coincidence that his actions mirrored those of ISIS fighters who can be seen dispatching their prisoners by cutting their throats as they lay face down on the ground.”

Mire, who is being held at Broadmoor Hospital, will be sentenced next month.