The
London Bridge knifeman who killed two in an attack on Friday has been named by
police as convicted terrorist Usman Khan.
Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu said 28-year-old Khan, who was shot dead by police, had been living in the Staffordshire area and confirmed officers were searching an address in the county.
Police are “not actively seeking anyone else” over the attack, which left a man and a woman dead and three others – two women and a man – in hospital. In a statement, Basu said: “We are now in a position to confirm the identity of the suspect as 28-year-old Usman Khan, who had been residing in the Staffordshire area. As a result, officers are, tonight, carrying out searches at an address in Staffordshire.
“This individual was known to authorities, having been convicted in 2012 for terrorism offences. He was released from
prison in December 2018 on licence and clearly a key line of enquiry now is to establish how he came to carry out this attack.”
Khan, who is believed to have been living in Stoke-on-Trent, was wearing a fake suicide vest when he was killed on London Bridge on Friday afternoon in full view of horrified onlookers."We are now in a position to confirm the identity of the suspect as 28-year-old Usman Khan, who had been residing in the Staffordshire area. As a result, officers are, tonight, carrying out searches at an address in Staffordshire”— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 30, 2019It was revealed late on Friday night that Khan had been ordered to serve at least eight years in prison in February 2012 for his part in an al Qaida-inspired terror group that plotted to
bomb the London Stock Exchange and build a terrorist training camp on land in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir owned by his family.
He, alongside two co-conspirators, originally received an indeterminate sentence for public protection but this was quashed at the Court of Appeal in April 2013 and he was given a determinate 16-year jail term.
Prime minster
Boris Johnson said on Friday night, in an interview given inside Downing Street before chairing an emergency Cobra meeting, that he had “long argued” for tougher sentences for “serious and violent criminals”.
He said it was 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”.
Speaking before chairing a meeting of the Government’s emergency committee Cobra on Friday night, the PM said he had “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”.Tonight our sympathies are with the families of those who lost their lives. Thank you to the emergency services and members of the public who bravely acted to protect others. pic.twitter.com/zGmlWwbpWt— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 29, 2019At the time of the attack, Khan was attending a conference on prisoner rehabilitation organised by University of Cambridge-associated Learning Together at Fishmongers’ Hall and “threatened to blow up” the building.
Professor Stephen Toope, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, said he was “devastated” that an event organised by its Institute of Criminology was targeted in the attack.
He said: “I am devastated to learn that yesterday’s hateful attack on London Bridge may have been targeted at staff, students and alumni attending an event organised by the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Criminology.
“We are in touch with the Metropolitan Police, and awaiting further details of the victims.
“We mourn the dead and we hope for a speedy recovery for the injured. Our thoughts are with all their families and friends.”
Basu confirmed that the attack was believed to have started inside the hall, before Khan “left the building and proceeded onto London Bridge where he was detained and subsequently confronted and shot by armed officers.
“Extensive cordons are likely to remain in place for some time and I would ask the public to continue to avoid the area,” he added. “Public safety is our top priority and we are enhancing police patrols in the City and across London.” Thomas Gray, 24, was among a group of men who dragged Khan to the ground near Fishmongers’ Hall.The tour firm manager said he stamped on the terrorist’s wrist to try to make him release one of two large knives he was carrying.
Gray told the PA news agency: “I was brought up on rugby and the rule is ‘one in, all in’. I did what any Londoner would do and tried to put a stop to it.”
“The members of the public who intervened have been widely praised, with Mayor of London
Sadiq Khan hailing their “breathtaking heroism” and Mr Johnson their “extraordinary bravery”.
The bridge was the scene of a
terror attack in 2017 – also during a general
election campaign – when eight victims were killed along with the three terrorists, who were also wearing fake suicide vests and armed with knives.Related... London Bridge Attack: Two Members Of The Public Killed London Bridge Attack: Here's What We Know So Far London Bridge Attack: Police Confirm Two Victims Dead