London terror attack: convicted terrorist Usman Khan was wearing an electronic tag
Police on Cannon Street in London near the scene the attack.
Police on Cannon Street in London near the scene the attack.
A convicted terrorist released from jail after agreeing to his movements being monitored stabbed two people to death during a rampage before being shot by police.
The attacker, wearing a hoax suicide belt and named by police as Usman Khan, 28, had been a guest at a Cambridge University conference on prisoner rehabilitation being held in the City of London. He threatened to blow up the historic Fishmongers’ Hall, which was hosting the conference, before stabbing several people. A man and a woman were believed to have been killed and three other people were taken to hospital by ambulance.
“This individual was known to authorities, having been convicted in 2012 for terrorism offences. He was released from prison in December 2018 on licence,” Neil Basu, head of UK counter-terrorism policing, said in a statement.
Usman Khan, then 20, was jailed on February 9, 2012 with others after admitting to being involved with a group of fundamentalists who plotted a spate of mail bomb attacks during the run-up to Christmas in 2010.
Usman Khan, then 20, was jailed on February 9, 2012 with others after admitting to being involved with a group of fundamentalists who plotted a spate of mail bomb attacks during the run-up to Christmas in 2010.
In 2012 Khan, from Stoke in central England, was jailed along with eight others in a terrorist group inspired by Al-Qaeda that had plotted to bomb targets including the London Stock Exchange.
He was sentenced to a minimum of eight years in prison and was also found guilty of making longer-term plans including taking part in “terrorist training” in Pakistan.
Basu said Khan had attended an event on Friday afternoon at Fishmonger’s Hall, a historic building on the north side of the bridge in the centre of the capital.
“We believe that the attack began inside before he left the building and proceeded onto London Bridge, where he was detained and subsequently confronted and shot by armed officers,” he said.
During Friday’s attack, witnesses tackled the knifeman to the pavement on London Bridge and removed two knives that he had taped to his hands. He was then shot by police, who feared he was about to detonate an explosive belt. Police were said to have told witnesses that the man also had a gun in a bag.
The man is surrounded by police after being wrestled to the ground by passers-by.
The man is surrounded by police after being wrestled to the ground by passers-by.
Whitehall sources said last night that Khan was released from prison about a year ago after agreeing to wear an electronic tag, used to enforce curfews or restrict an offender’s movements.
The Ministry of Justice became aware of his identity shortly after the attack and ordered a review.
READ MORE: Fresh terror strikes London’s heart
The stabbings happened near the site of the 2017 terrorist attack by Islamic State supporters on London Bridge, in which eight people were killed.
Boris Johnson hailed the “extraordinary bravery” of the public who intervened and pledged that “anybody involved in this crime and these attacks will be hunted down and will be brought to justice”. Responding to news that the attacker was a convicted terrorist, the prime minister said: “I have long argued that it is a mistake to allow serious and violent criminals to come out of prison early and it is very important that we get out of that habit.”
Last night he held a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee to discuss the government’s response. Mr Basu, Scotland Yard’s assistant commissioner, said the attack was a terrorist incident. Dame Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, said officers were investigating whether others were involved and warned that cordons would remain in the area “for some time”. She added: “I want to thank the members of the public who have helped, either by showing extraordinary courage by stepping in to tackle this attacker or by following the instructions they have subsequently been given by officers.”
Simon Stevens, the head of NHS England, said last night that one of the stab victims was in a critical but stable condition, a second person was stable and a third had less serious injuries.
The attack happened three weeks after the terrorism threat level was lowered from “severe” to “substantial”.
The conference at Fishmongers’ Hall had been organised by the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge. A university spokeswoman said it was “gravely concerned” at reports that staff and students were caught up in the incident.
Political leaders urged voters not to let the attack influence the general election. The prime minister has cancelled his campaigning events today (Saturday). Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, said: “We cannot let our democratic process be derailed by acts of terror.”
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