A man attempted to run over a Muslim woman and a 12-year-old schoolgirl as revenge for an Islamic State bomb at Parsons Green tube station, a court heard.

Paul Moore is alleged to have attempted to kill Zaynab Hussein with his Volkswagen Up! on September 20 last year and the court heard he admits he was the driver.

The jury were told how Ms Hussein, a Somali national, was struck once and subsequently driven over again moments later on Acer Close in Leicester just after 8am as the defendant allegedly laughed.

The trial is being held Nottingham Crown Court (Rui Vieira/PA)

The 21-year-old is then alleged to have tried to cause the 12-year-old serious harm by driving the same vehicle at her on Butterwick Drive moments later.

A jury of seven men and five women at Nottingham Crown Court were told Moore allegedly tried to kill Ms Hussein “purely because of the colour of her skin” and her “perceived Islamic faith”.

The prosecution said four other people were in the car with Moore during the incident and they begged him to let them out afterwards.

Opening the case against Moore on Tuesday, prosecutor Jonathan Straw said: “(Moore) carefully and deliberately, in an act of calculated evil, aligned his wheels so the front and back wheels were over her (Ms Hussein).

“He did not know her. He tried to kill her purely because of the colour of her skin and because of her perceived Islamic faith as she was wearing a hijab.

“It is no coincidence, we say, that there had been a bomb at Parsons Green Tube station in London, said to have been carried out by sympathisers of Islamic State.”

Mr Straw continued to say it was only thanks to members of the public and medical professionals that Ms Hussein’s life was saved.

He continued: “She had received severe fractures to her pelvis, her spine, and one of the bones in her leg was broken.

“Having deliberately, we say, tried to kill Zaynab Hussein, the defendant then drove at a second victim – a 12-year-old schoolgirl.

“He did not hit her, he brushed her, but it is only by the grace of God and nothing more that she was saved.”

Mr Straw said Moore intended to offer no defence, adding: “It may well be he has no defence. He admits he was the driver.”

In a recorded interview played to the court, Reece Bishop, a passenger in the car at the time of the alleged attack on Ms Hussein, told police: “He was just driving like a maniac.

“I thought we were going to be dead. He said ‘I feel like running someone over. Anyone.’

“It all happened so fast. He turned the steering wheel and he just hits her out of the blue.”

On the recorded interview with police, Mr Bishop said Moore was laughing as he drove at Ms Hussein.

Moore, of Letchworth Road, Western Park, Leicester, denies attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving.

The trial continues.