Human chain tribute at Westminster Bridge
Masood was investigated as potential extremist by MI5 as early as 2010
A group of women link hands on Westminster Bridge in central London on Sunday in an act of solidarity organised by Women’s March London to pay tribute to the victims of the Westminster attack. A report has claimed that the man behind the attack which killed four people was identified as an extremist in 2010.
Khalid Masood, the man behind the terrorist attack on the UK Parliament, was investigated as a potential extremist by Britain’s intelligence services as early as 2010.
Masood, who rammed a high-speed car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before storming a gate outside Parliament armed with two knives killing four people and injuring 50 others, first came to the attention of MI5 six years ago after returning to the UK from Saudi Arabia where he had been teaching English, the Guardian reported.
However, the 52-year-old Muslim convert, born Adrian Russell Ajao in Kent region of England, dropped off the radar of intelligence officials some time before the terror attack in London last Wednesday. The details connect with British prime minister Theresa May’s statement last week.
“What I can confirm is that the man was British born and that — some years ago — he was once investigated in relation to concerns about violent extremism. He was a peripheral figure. The case is historic he was not part of the current intelligence picture. There was no prior intelligence of his intent — or of the plot,” she had said.
The details have emerged as Scotland Yard confirmed a 30-year-old man is the latest arrest made during a string of raids in Birmingham. “A new arrest has been made as part of the investigation being carried out by the Met’s counter-terrorism command into the Westminster attack,” a police statement said.
The man, who was detained on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts, brings the total number of arrests to 12.
The Met also confirmed a
58-year-old man detained under terrorism legislation had his custody extended. Nine others have been released without charge, while a woman from Manchester was released on police bail. — PTI