Florida preacher burns Koran in bizarre 'trial and execution' in front of a crowd of ... 30 people



Pastor Terry Jones burned a copy of the Koran during a bizarre ritual at the church at the weekend

The Islam-hating Florida preacher who threatened to burn the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11 torched a copy of the holy book this weekend despite vowing not to.



Pastor Terry Jones held a bizarre mock trial, execution and burning of the Koran in front of a crowd of only 30 people.



The pastor supervised the book barbecue at his tiny Gainesville church on Sunday after declaring the Muslim holy text 'guilty' of crimes.

Last year Jones threatened to hold an International Burn A Koran Day on the anniversary of the terror attacks, sparking wild protests around the world.

Many feared it would endanger U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and President Obama believed it might provoke a spate of suicide bombings.



It was only after the intervention of both the President and Defense Secretary Robert Gates that Jones withdrew the plans, claiming he did so because he had made his point, and vowing not to go through with it.

But after the eight-minute trial at his church, Jones watched as fellow pastor Wayne Sapps lit the gasoline-soaked text and let it burn for ten minutes.

Reaction in Pakistan to the news that Pastor Terry Jones was planning on burning a copy of the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11

Jones claimed that he went back on his word because he has been trying to give the 'Muslim world an opportunity to defend their book' but received no response from them.



Although only 30 people watched, he claimed the event was a success and called it a 'once-in-a-lifetime experience'.

Some onlookers posed for photographs beside the burning Koran. One, Jadwiga Schatz, said: 'These people, for me, are like monsters. I hate these people.'

