TWO ATTACKERS ‘WERE IN DUBLIN’
Jihadis named by Scotland Yard ‘spent time here’ Arsenal-shirt killer seen here by local cleric Pastry chef Redouane lived in Rathmines
TWO of the terrorists responsible for Saturday’s savage attack on London Bridge both spent time in Dublin, the Irish Daily Mail has been told.
After security sources revealed that Rachid Redouane had been here in recent years, the Mail was told that the other named attacker, Khuram Butt – who wore an Arsenal jersey to carry out the London atrocity – had also been in Dublin.
Highly respected Muslim scholar Sheikh Dr Umar Al-Qadri said he had seen the other named attacker, Butt, in Dublin.
A third attacker – shot dead along with Butt and Redouane by police after their bloody rampage – has not yet been named.
After studying a picture of Butt released by the London Metropolitan Police yesterday, Sheikh AlQadri, the chairman of the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council, said: ‘I have seen him in Dublin, definitely, I am sure, yes. I have seen that face before.’ But he was unable to recall where or when exactly he had seem him.
Security sources also confirmed that Redouane had spent time here in recent years, and is believed to have married his London-born wife Charisse O’Leary here in 2011 before they returned to Britain with their baby daughter. It is understood the couple were back again as recently as last year before again returning to the UK. They had separated before Saturday ’s appalling atrocity.
However Ms O’Leary was arrested at gunpoint on Sunday.
Security sources last night said they were not aware of Khuram Butt spending time in Ireland. A source said they had no information he was here, but it ‘is possible’ he may have visited at some point. It’s understood both attackers lived in Barking, East End.
An Irish identity card, believed to be a Garda National Immigration Bureau card, was found on Redouane’s body after he was shot dead by London police.
All non-nationals who are not citizens of the EU, the European Economic Area or Switzerland must register with the gardaí and have a valid registration certificate, i.e. a GNIB card, that they must be able to show at any time.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday said Redouane was not being monitored on any Garda watch list. Speaking in Chicago, he said: ‘There are a small number of people in Ireland who are being monitored and observed in respect of radicalisation and matters relevant to that. These facts are being checked, but my understanding is this individual was not a member of that small group.’
Dealing with the question of non-EU citizens marrying here, he said: ‘The European Union treaties allow for very extensive issuing of visas for people who are non-nationals and non-European nationals who have a relationship with a European Union citizen. Ireland is one of those countries.’
Redouane, who worked as a pastry chef and a carer, claimed to be both Moroccan and Libyan and also used the name Rachid ElKhdar. Sheikh Al-Qadri said he did not recognise Redouane.
Sheikh Al-Qadri condemned the attacks that saw seven people killed and 48 injured, and called for urgent action to clamp down on extremists online. He said: ‘On any profiles on the internet, where hate is being propagated, these individuals behind these pages are extremely dangerous for our society, they should be not only be monitored but in my view they should be imprisoned and in my view it should be made compulsory for them to attend de-radicalisation training, it’s important that that’s available.’
Last night, gardaí said an attack in Ireland could not be ruled out but was not expected. They said they would continue to liaise closely with UK and international security agencies to share relevant intelligence. Since Saturday ’s bloody atrocity, daily Garda meetings have taken place, chaired by Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan.
He said online hate must be stopped