Terrorist was ‘most dangerous individual’
TERROR attacker Sudesh Amman was regarded as “one of the most dangerous” people police ever investigated in the weeks before he was released from prison, an inquest heard.
A report by the Terrorism Offender Management Unit (TOMU), part of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, was based on intelligence about Amman’s unrelenting commitment to extremism. It was written as he served a 40-month jail term for terror offences.
Amman, 20, was released automatically from Belmarsh prison in south-east London on January 23 last year.
Ten days later he stabbed two people during a rampage on Streatham High Road in south London.
He was shot dead by armed police after a brief chase.
The TOMU report, produced at Amman’s inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice, stated: “It is the collective view of the senior investigating officer, investigation team and all partner agencies that [Amman] represents one of the most dangerous individuals we have investigated.”
The inquest heard that the officer leading the investigation into Amman’s release, known only as HA6 to protect his identity, had feared the prisoner’s mindset had not changed.
He wanted his custody to be extended. HA6 said: “Between ourselves and MI5 it caused us great concern.”
HA6 also described Amman’s behaviour following his release, including taking a bus to Croydon and praying outside a McDonald’s, as “odd” and possibly “anti-surveillance”.
The inquest continues.