Why was he not deported? Reading terror suspect is 25-year-old ‘Libyan refugee’ who had ‘previously been to prison in UK’
- Terror suspect accused of stabbing three people ‘had previously been jailed’
- The 25-year-old is thought to be Libyan refugee named Khairi Saadallah
- Reports indicate he had been previously jailed for a minor non-terror offence
The terror suspect accused of stabbing three people to death in Reading is believed to be a Libyan refugee who had previously been to prison in Britain.
The 25-year-old, who has been named as Khairi Saadallah, was previously jailed for a minor non-terror offence, reports indicate.
Counter-terrorism police will take over the investigation after the frenzied knife attack in Forbury Gardens, Berkshire yesterday, which has now been declared a ‘terrorist incident’.
Foreign nationals who are convicted of criminal offences can be deported under the UK Borders Act 2007 if certain conditions are met.
The offender must be convicted in the United Kingdom of an offence and, critically, sentenced to a prison term of 12 months or more.
The 25-year-old, who has been named as Khairi Saadallah, was previously jailed for a minor non-terror offence, reports indicate
Footage shows a man being detained by officers in the middle of a street following a frenzied stabbing attack in Forbury Gardens, in the centre of Reading
Police at the Abbey gateway of Forbury Gardens in Reading town centre following a multiple stabbing attack in the gardens which took place at around 7pm on Saturday
Counter-terrorism police raided a block of flats in Reading after a frenzied stabbing attack left three people feared dead and another three seriously injured
The offence must also be specified by order of the Secretary of State under section 72(4)(a) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.
Three people died following the stabbing attack in Reading’s town centre at around 7pm on Saturday night.
Thames Valley Police (TVP) said three people had died and another three were seriously injured in the incident.
TVP confirmed that a man, aged 25 from Reading, was arrested at the scene and taken into police custody. They have since launched a murder investigation.
A security source said the arrested man was a Libyan national named Khairi Saadallah – but this has not been confirmed by authorities.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was ‘deeply concerned’ by the incident in Reading
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also responded to the ‘appalling’ attack and thanked the emergency services
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has described the stabbing in Reading as ‘very concerning’
The head of counter terrorism policing, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, said there is nothing to suggest anyone else was involved. Police are not currently seeking anyone else as part of the investigation, Mr Basu said.
Officers confirmed that the attack was not in any way associated with the Black Lives Matter protest which took place earlier that day.
Lawrence Wort, 20, who said he was around 10 metres from the attack, said the attacker ‘shouted unintelligible words’ before attacking multiple groups of people, adding: ‘when he realised everyone was starting to run, he ran out the park.’
South Central Ambulance Service said five ambulance crews as well as two air ambulance services were among the resources sent to treat the casualties.
Last night counter-terrorism officers were were called in to help detectives following the attack, which police said at first was not thought to be terrorism-related
Pictured: Counter-terror offices raiding a flat around a mile from the park on June 21
One of the patients admitted to Royal Berkshire Hospital has been discharged while another remains in a stable condition under observation, a spokeswoman has said.
Home Secretary Priti Patel condemned the ‘senseless attack’ while Boris Johnson tweeted: ‘My thoughts are with all of those affected by the appalling incident in Reading and my thanks to the emergency services on the scene.’
The Prime Minister has held a meeting with security officials, police and senior ministers over the incident.
Police are considering mental health to be a major factor, according to security sources.