We fled terror there then terror found us here
– An asylum seeker yesterday
HERO OFFICER The scene is something I’ll never forget
An asylum seeker shot dead after stabbing six victims in a hotel had warned he was on the verge of violence, it was claimed yesterday. Badreddin Abadlla Adam was said to have been isolating in his Glasgow hotel room for more than two weeks after developing Covid symptoms and had been told on Friday morning he could not return to his home in Sudan. Within hours, the 28-year-old stabbed six men, including a police officer. All of his victims remained in hospital last night. Yesterday, the living conditions of asylum seekers moved to hotels during lockdown were questioned as charities said the sudden relocation had damaged the mental health of many. Some of those living at the Park Inn spoke of their terror after the violence flared on Friday. One said: “We came here to protect our lives. I fled from terror then terror came here.”
A Sudanese asylum seeker who stabbed six people including a police officer snapped after being told he could not return home after spending weeks in isolation with Covid symptoms, it was claimed yesterday. Badreddin Abadlla Adam had been put in isolation at the premises in Glasgow city centre for more than two weeks after he showed symptoms.
It is claimed staff at the Park Inn, which was housing asylum seekers during lockdown, were warned several times that the 28-year-old, who had been in the UK for six months, was unstable and making threats of violence. A second warning was allegedly issued to staff hours before he knifed Constable David Whyte, two hotel staff and three asylum seekers just before 1pm on Friday. The 42-year-old officer was said to be in a stable condition in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital last night.
In a statement, he thanked his colleagues, NHS staff and the public for messages of support, saying: “The incident myself and colleagues faced in West George Street was extremely challenging. “The scene we were confronted with is something I will never forget. As the first responders on scene, myself and my colleague did what all police officers are trained for to save lives. I would like to thank my colleagues who put themselves in harm’s way to contain this incident and assist with the vital treatment given to myself and others at the scene.
“Despite suffering serious injuries, I know that the swift actions of colleagues saved lives and prevented a far more serious incident.”
The other men in hospital are aged 17, 18, 20, 38 and 53.
The two youngest victims are both from Sierra Leone. Abadlla Adam was shot dead by armed police. Some witnesses said he was running to his room before four shots were fired. An immigration lawyer in the city said the attacker had told the Home Office he wanted to return to Sudan. However, borders had been closed due to the pandemic. The lawyer said: “He told the Home Office he wanted to
go home but they couldn’t remove him because of the virus. There are no flights between the UK and Sudan.”
A charity worker who was helping asylum seekers at the Park Inn said he had been put in isolation because he had suspected coronavirus. He said: “He had symptoms and was put into isolation in a room with a view of a brick wall for 20 days. He told other residents he was going crazy, he couldn’t take it any more and he wanted to go home. “He said he needed help, that he was going to attack someone. The residents called reception to warn them the night before it happened.” Mohammad Asif, chair of the Afghan Human Rights Foundation, who also works with asylum seekers, said fellow Sudanese residents had raised concerns about the attacker’s mental state and these concerns were reported to hotel staff. He said: “Sudanese residents had expressed their fears for the asylum seeker’s mental state. He had been complaining about living conditions in the hotel and was having particular difficulty with noise.
“I was informed that on the day of the attack, the Sudanese man had conducted a telephone consultation with a Glasgow-based immigration solicitor.” During the 11am call, which involved the solicitor, an interpreter and the attacker, there was discussion about his mental health. It was agreed that concerns about the asylum seeker’s state of mind would be passed to hotel staff and the Home Office but soon after Abadlla Adam snapped.
One resident at the Park Inn, who gave his name as Siaru, said: “He was saying people were against him, people hate him…suddenly he said he wanted to attack that room next to me, the one on the top of me, and the hotel workers.” Glasgow Central MP Alison Thewliss said the
incident highlighted wider concerns about how asylum seekers were cared for and whether their physical safety and mental health was properly protected. She said: “We need to understand what assessments were carried out before vulnerable asylum seekers were put in this hotel.” The immigration lawyer who represents two of the stabbed asylum seekers has raised concerns that teenagers are sharing accommodation with troubled adults. Andrew Bradley said: “There are 17-yearolds housed in close quarters with older adults who have suffered trauma and have fled violence. This should be reviewed.” Police Scotland said: “Three people who were injured were asylum seekers staying at the hotel, and the other two were hotel staff. All of them remain in hospital. One is critical but stable, and two are stable at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Two
others are in stable conditions at the Queen Elizabeth. Police Scotland will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. The police discharge of firearms resulting in a fatality will also continue to be fully investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.”
Conditions inside hotels being used to house asylum seekers have also been questioned but the Home Office has said all the food and accommodation provided is of good quality.
A Home Office spokesman said they could not comment on the incident due to the ongoing investigation but added: “We have prioritised providing asylum seekers with free and safe accommodation that enables public health guidance to be followed. They have access to health care and all of their essential living needs and costs are
met.”