UK to announce new rules for terrorists after stabbing
LONDON: Britain is working on measures to toughen laws to ensure that convicted terrorists are not eligible for early release after Sunday’s stabbing attack by the recently freed terrorist Sudesh Amman of Sri Lankan origin.
Amman, 20, was the second terrorist who carried out the attack in south London after being released in recent months.
Usman Khan similarly stabbed two people before being shot dead on London Bridge on November 29. Both wore fake explosive devices. Haleema Khan, mother of Amman, said on Monday that she visited him in a hostel last week, and called him a “nice, polite boy” who wanted to study biomedical science but became radicalised after watching Islamic material online.
Islamic State called Amman “an IS fighter and he carried out the attack in response to a call to target nationals” of countries belonging to the global coalition fighting it.
Amman was released last week from jail after being convicted in 2018 of terror offences.
He was said to be fascinated with the idea of becoming a martyr. He stabbed two people in Streatham, south London, before being shot dead by police who were following his movements.
The government said fundamental changes would be made to the system that allowed early release of such prisoners. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “It’s time to tackle action to ensure that people... in the current system do not qualify automatically for early release, people convicted of terrorist act offences”.