Terrorist Khan was ‘high risk’ after jail threats

LONDON Bridge killer Usman Khan was upgraded to a “high-risk” category A inmate after making threats to senior prison staff, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

Officials increased the convicted terrorist’s threat level from “standard risk” after he breached security and put staff in danger.

Only the most serious offenders have such a classification, requiring a constant watch and an armed police escort when moved.

Prison sources claim the threats were just one of a number of early incidents, including violence, in the eight years Khan served for a terrorist plot to blow up the London Stock Exchange.

He remained “high risk” until released on licence last December.

The disclosure challenges suggestions that Khan was a model prisoner who had reformed, resulting in him being allowed to go unescorted to the conference near London Bridge where he stabbed two people to death.

It also raises further questions about the system that allowed him automatic release halfway through his term without any assessment of his threat to the public by the Parole Board.

A government source said: “There was some concern at the start over his behaviour. Threats were made and he was moved to highrisk category A. He was on that to the end.

“For the vast majority of his sentence, particularly towards the end, there was not a problem – no violence, no threats.”

Prison sources said it was significant that Khan remained “high risk” through his jail term.

“High risk is for the most serious criminals, and being raised to that level only happens if there are security implications,” said a source.

“He was apparently receptive to every rehabilitation course. He did everything that was asked of him. It looks to me that he played the system, giving the impression he was reformed and rehabilitated – but, like a sleeper cell, waited for the opportunity to grab a headline for the jihadists.”

The Ministry of Justice said police, probation and the security services would have received a full report on Khan’s time in prison including the upgrading to “high risk”.

Boris Johnson has pledged to end the automatic release of serious offenders halfway through sentences and impose longer jail terms. Terrorists responsible for more serious offences also face minimum 14-year sentences under his crackdown.

An inquest heard yesterday that London Bridge terror attack victims Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, both died after a stab wound to the chest and “shock and haemorrhaging”.

Ms Jones was pronounced dead half an hour after the attack by Khan.

Mr Merritt was pronounced dead more than an hour after the attack.

The victims, both graduates of Cambridge University, were working with Learning Together, a prison education and rehabilitation programme which brings together academics and former prisoners. Three others were injured in the attack.