LONDON KNIFEMAN WAS TERROR CONVICT
Suspect who killed 2, hurt 3 on London Bridge convicted for terrorism in 2012
AMAN suspected of stabbing two people to death in a terror attack on London Bridge was an ex-prisoner convicted of terrorism offences and released last year, police said yesterday.
The knifeman, wearing a suspected hoax explosive device, was shot dead by police after Friday’s daylight assault that also saw bystanders intervene to try and disarm him.
Three more people were wounded in the stabbing spree that came less than two weeks before Britain votes in a general election, and revived memories of a three-man attack two years ago on London Bridge that killed eight.
Police named the suspect as Usman Khan, 28, and said they were not actively seeking others in relation to the incident.
“This individual was known to the authorities, having been convicted in 2012 for terrorism offences. He was released from prison in December 2018 on licence,” said Neil Basu, United Kingdom counterterrorism policing head.
In 2012, Khan, from Stoke in central England, was jailed with eight others in a terrorist group inspired by al-Qaeda that had plotted to bomb targets, including the London Stock Exchange.
He was sentenced to a minimum of eight years’ jail and was found guilty of making longerterm plans, including taking part in “terrorist training” in Pakistan.
Basu said Khan had attended an event on Friday afternoon at Fishmonger’s Hall, a historic building on the north side of the bridge in the centre of the capital here.
“We believe the attack began inside before he left the building and proceeded onto London Bridge.”
Footage filmed by witnesses and shared on social media showed people tackling the suspect on the ground before police arrived.
One man, wearing a suit and tie, was seen carrying a large knife away from the group.