A man who was shot dead by terror police in London today was released from prison 12 months ago for terror offences and is believed to have been released on tag.
It is believed the attacker was a convicted terrorist who was allowed to walk free from prison wearing an electronic tag.
Sources are suggesting that the man shot dead by police on #LondonBridge was a recently released terrorist prisoner who was released on an electronic tag and was being monitored by the security services. #LondonShooting #LondonBridgeAttack
— Police Hour (@PoliceHour) November 29, 2019
Sources close to Whitehall have said that he was released from prison after serving time for a “Terrorism-related offence” and his release was agreed on the condition he wore an electronic tag.
It is believed he was a guest at a Cambridge University conference on prisoner rehabilitation at Fishmongers’ Hall – where the attack began – and later threatened to blow up the venue.
He had been attending the event having been released from prison around a year ago after serving time for a “terrorism-related offence”, and had agreed to wear an electronic tag.
Within the event he began shouting that he was going to blow up the building and started attacking those near him.
Members of the public have hailed the face of the man that was assisted by members of the public to overpower the terror suspect pin him down and remove the knife a hero.
The face of a hero who bravely disarmed a terrorist suspect… We thank you for your bravery along with the other members of public who helped you. #LondonBridge #LondonShooting pic.twitter.com/Josw7PVxvU
— Police Hour (@PoliceHour) November 29, 2019
Police confirmed the knifeman had stabbed several people before he was chased out of the historic Fishmonhers Hall just before 2pm.
Shocking footage has been released on social media showing the moment members of the public overpowered the terror suspect with armed police moving in.
Today the street of London have witnessed some incredible bravery these members of the public bravely pinned down the suspected terrorist armed with a knife while armed officers approached the scene. #LondonShooting #LondonBridge pic.twitter.com/CT7jSmeCGY
— Police Hour (@PoliceHour) November 29, 2019
Neil Basu, Scotland Yard’s assistant commissioner for specialist operations, said that the attack had been declared a terrorist incident.
“A male suspect was shot by specialist armed officers from City of London Police and I can confirm that this suspect died at the scene,” he said.
“At this time, we believe a device that was strapped to the body of the suspect is a hoax explosive device.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he has “long argued” that it is a “mistake to allow serious and violent criminals to come out of prison early and it is very important that we get out of that habit and that we enforce the appropriate sentences for dangerous criminals, especially for terrorists, that I think the public will want to see”.
At the time the Prime Minister released that statement he had been accused of using a terror attack to further his political gain however that with reference the new information that has come to light that the terror suspect was on early release having been convicted of a terror-related offence changes the view of that particular statement.
Questions will now move to why was the convicted terror prisoner released early and deemed safe enough to attend a university event on offender rehabilitation, surely security services should have been made aware he was attending this event?.