Asylum seeker says attacker warned guests of his plans
The knifeman who went on the stabbing spree at the Park Inn warned fellow guests of his plans the day before he launched his horrific blade attack, it has emerged.
The Sudanese asylum seeker – named by police as Badreddin Abadlla Adam, 28 – said he “hated people” just 24 hours prior to injuring six people, including hero police officer PC David Whyte.
Adam, who also used the name Omar, was described as a “troubled loner” who had been self-isolating over fears he had Covid-19.
He was shot dead by a police marksman after going on his terrifying knife rampage.
Fellow asylum seeker Siraj, who did not want to disclose his surname, said he was horrified when Adam, thought to be in his 20s, told him he wanted to “stab people”.
Siraj, 22, from Yemen, added: “I saw him the day before the attack and he said he’d had enough. He told me he hated people and they hated him. He said, ‘I want to stab people and use the knife.’
“I couldn’t believe it. He was normally quiet and, at first, I thought he was joking. I thought he was just doing it to disturb me so I told him to take it easy.
“He said he was going to attack people and, when he kept saying it, I told people at reception. It was really bad.”
Siraj said his friend refused to calm down and grew more unstable and irrational.
Adam’s behaviour began to cause concern after he was put into a room with no view while self-isolating. It is understood he flipped after ending a telephone call with his lawyer.
Siraj added: “I hadn’t seen him act this way before. I told him not to take things personally but he wasn’t listening.
“He always stayed in his room. He had spent 20 days in isolation as he had gastric problems. There was no sun in his room and it seemed to affect him a lot.”
Siraj said he was woken by a fire alarm on the day of the attack. He said: “When I went out, I saw police everywhere with dogs and guns. We were told we had to go. When we went through the hotel, there was blood everywhere.
“I heard later he had run to one of the upper floors, was banging on doors and threatened a woman that came to the door. She slammed the door on him.”
A support worker who works with asylum seekers and refugees said: “No one can justify what he did. It was a terrible thing but Adam was a troubled, sick man. He was stuck in hotel confinement in a room with a wall for a view for weeks and I think that’s been the final straw.
“He had physical problems but also perhaps psychological ones”
Mohammed Asif, of the Afghang Human Rights Foundation,Foun had been told of Badreddin’s Badr mental health problems prob by a Sudanese community com leader.
He said: “I think he was at quite an early stage with his asyl asylum application. One of his ffriends told me this guy ope openly said he was fed up, cou could not take the trouble and suffering any more and mig might cause harm.”
T The Mears Group, which has the Home Office contract to house asylum seekers in Glasgow, refused to co comment yesterday.
The Home Office also re refused to comment.