POLICE HAD HIM... AND LET HIM GO
Mosque suspect found in van ‘reeking of drink’
POLICE found Finsbury Park terror suspect Darren Osborne “reeking of alcohol” in a van just 24 hours before the mosque attack – but let him go.
Officers discovered Osborne at 12.27am on Sunday after a worried passer-by reported seeing him drunk at the wheel.
Edward Gardiner, 29, who phoned police, said: “He smelled strongly of alcohol and was moaning like you do when you wake up hungover.”
Police took no action because they did not believe an offence had been committed. Earlier the suspect had been kicked out of his local over drunken rants.
Osborne’s sister Nicola, 50, said he recently tried to kill himself by jumping into a river and begged to be sectioned.
It is unclear whether officers breathalysed dad-of-four Osborne, 47, but the suspect later allegedly drove 160 miles to London and launched a deadly attack, mowing down worshippers at the mosque. One man died outside it.
Mr Gardiner added: “I called police because I saw a random van with someone drunk in it and the door open.
“I thought someone should check on him. I could smell alcohol on him. He was grunting and groaning. I poked him but he didn’t respond so I called 101. I gave them the reg. It was a Pontyclun Hire van.
“They said they’d sort it out but didn’t give me a crime reference number.”
Officers opted not to arrest Osborne
on suspicion of being drunk in charge of a vehicle, which applies to motorists over limit inside a car, but not driving.
Neighbours said he carried on drinking next morning and was seen buying lager at a local supermarket before setting off for London.
Osborne is believed to have been sleeping in a tent near his former home after splitting up with partner Sarah in the last few months.
Last night Nicola said: “He tried to kill himself six, eight weeks ago. He threw himself into the river in Cardiff.” Fighting tears, she described her brother as a deeply troubled individual. “He asked to be taken into care, to be sectioned but they wouldn’t do it.
“He was on anti-depressants. He came to see me after he tried to kill himself. He showed me the bump on his head. I don’t know how he got out of the river, or really what happened.”
She added: “He asked me if he could stay. But he has made my life a misery over the years.
“Everyone knows Darren. I’ve lost jobs, boyfriends after people found out I am Darren Osborne’s sister. And this happened on my birthday, on my 50th birthday.”
Osborne is said to have hired the van from Pontyclun Van Hire 15 miles from his home in Pentwyn, Cardiff, on Saturday morning. The attack unfolded as Makram Ali, 51, who had been taken ill was receiving first aid from the public near the mosque, where people had been saying Ramadan night prayers. The van was driven at those who were helping him.
Mr Ali was pronounced dead at the scene and paramedics took nine people to three London hospitals.
Witnesses claimed to have heard the driver, who was detained by members of the public, shout: “I am going to kill Muslims.”
Others said Osborne had to ask for directions to the mosque after getting lost in London.
He was arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism, including murder and attempted murder.
Detectives have been granted a warrant to hold Osborne until 12.54am on June 24. And police promised to increase patrols across London and at places of worship.
South Wales Police said last night: “At 12.27am on Sunday 18th June South Wales Police responded to a call made to the nonemergency 101 number following a report of an insecure van parked on a street in the Llanedeyrn area of Cardiff.
“Officers attended, a male was asleep inside the vehicle, which showed no signs of having been driven recently. The officers’ assessment was that no offences were disclosed.”
Last night Osborne’s horrified mum Christine, 72, said: “My concern is for my grandchildren, though I think they’ve been taken to a safe place somewhere. My son is no terrorist – he’s just a man with problems.
“He’s never spoken to me about terror attacks or talked about ‘bloody Muslims’. As a mum my heart goes out to everyone in Finsbury Park.”