UK - London Bridge Attack, shots fired, Nov 2019

[MajorHoople]

'I saw his beard, then a kitchen knife, then a river of blood': Electrician tells inquest how he noticed ceremonial pike missing from wall then set eyes on Usman Khan after his Fishmongers' Hall rampage

"An electrician has described the moment he set eyes on the knife-wielding and blood drenched London Bridge attacker Usman Khan.

The inquests into the deaths of Cambridge University graduates Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, who were killed by convicted terrorist Khan at a prisoner rehabilitation event at Fishmongers' Hall near London Bridge on November 29 2019, resumed today.

Khan, 28, was armed with two knives and wore a fake suicide vest as he stabbed Ms Jones and Mr Merritt to death and injured three others at a prisoner rehabilitation event near London Bridge on November 29, 2019.

Simon Bird, a maintenance electrician working at Fishmongers' Hall on the day of the atrocity, said he heard Khan shouting for the front doors to be opened to escape onto London Bridge.

Mr Bird, who was due to finish work moments before the attack, said he heard an alarm go off so went to investigate.

He said: 'The first thing I noticed is one of the ceremonial plaques wasn't on the wall, and I heard a voice from someone I now know to be Usman Khan: 'Open the effing door, open the effing door.'

'The first thing I noticed was his beard, then my eyes were drawn down and I saw a large kitchen knife in his hand.

'Then my eyes were drawn down further and I saw what I described as a river of blood."

 

[MajorHoople]

London Bridge Fishmongers' Hall attack hero describes 'blasting' terrorist with fire extinguisher | Daily Mail Online

"Two hero members of the public told how they fearlessly tackled London Bridge terror attacker Usman Khan with a fire extinguisher and a narwhal tusk - before ordering armed police to 'shoot the b******', an inquest heard.

Convicted terrorist Khan, 28, was armed with two knives and wore a fake suicide vest as he stabbed Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, to death and injured three others at a prisoner rehabilitation event near London Bridge on November 29, 2019.

Two men who formed part of a trio who bravely rushed outside to confront crazed Khan as he sought to continue his rampage today relived their ordeal at an inquest at Guildhall in the City of London.

Darryn Frost, a communications manager within the Prison and Probation Service, told how he frantically searched for a weapon to confront Khan with - before settling on a 'really long narwhal tusk'.

He struck Khan with the tusk which 'shocked' the attacker, causing him to flinch and allowing fellow hero John Crilly to set off a fire extinguisher.

Then, a third man, Steve Gallant - who was unarmed - 'pulled him backwards' causing him to fall and allowing Mr Frost to grab his hands.

While Mr Crilly shouted to armed police to 'shoot the b******', Mr Frost urged them not to, saying: 'I've got his hands, he can't kill anyone else, I won't let him kill anyone else."

 

[MajorHoople]

Fishmongers' Hall terror attacker Usman Khan claimed he was advised by notorious Charles Bronson | Daily Mail Online

"A convicted terrorist told a prisoner education programme two weeks before he murdered two of their academics Charles Bronson advised him to 'just do it.'

Lisa Ghiggini, a communications lead with education programme Learning Together, said Usman Khan spoke to her 'a lot' about Bronson following his release from prison for terror offences in December 2018.

Khan, 28, went on to kill delegates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, at a Learning Together celebration event on November 29 2019 at Fishmongers' Hall.

Khan, armed with knives and wearing a fake suicide belt, was later shot by police on nearby London Bridge after being tackled to the floor by conference attendees.

Giving evidence at the inquests at Guildhall in the City of London earlier today, Ms Ghiggini recalled how she had several telephone calls with Khan following his release after eight years in prison, and had mentioned Bronson.

Henry Pitchers QC, for Ms Jones' family, said: 'You mention Charles Bronson - we're not talking about the movie star, it's the notorious prisoner.'

 

[dotr]

Fishmongers' Hall terror attacker Usman Khan claimed he was advised by notorious Charles Bronson | Daily Mail Online

"A convicted terrorist told a prisoner education programme two weeks before he murdered two of their academics Charles Bronson advised him to 'just do it.'

Lisa Ghiggini, a communications lead with education programme Learning Together, said Usman Khan spoke to her 'a lot' about Bronson following his release from prison for terror offences in December 2018.

Khan, 28, went on to kill delegates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, at a Learning Together celebration event on November 29 2019 at Fishmongers' Hall.

Khan, armed with knives and wearing a fake suicide belt, was later shot by police on nearby London Bridge after being tackled to the floor by conference attendees.

Giving evidence at the inquests at Guildhall in the City of London earlier today, Ms Ghiggini recalled how she had several telephone calls with Khan following his release after eight years in prison, and had mentioned Bronson.

Henry Pitchers QC, for Ms Jones' family, said: 'You mention Charles Bronson - we're not talking about the movie star, it's the notorious prisoner.'

Confused for a minute, not that Charles Bronson, this one..

 

[MajorHoople]

@dotr - It seems I read somewhere that the British convict adopted the actor's name when he took up bare-knuckles boxing as a sport. It's a strange world.

 

[MajorHoople]

Usman Khan said he wanted to be a youth worker to stop young men becoming radicalised | Daily Mail Online


"Fishmongers' Hall terrorist Usman Khan told Jobcentre staff he wanted to be a youth worker and 'help the Metropolitan Police', an inquest jury heard.

The 28-year-old explained to work coach Liz Young how he wanted to prevent young people becoming radicalised in the same way he did.

Khan was meeting with Stafford Jobcentre employee Ms Young on a regular basis following his release from prison in December 2018 after serving eight years for plotting a terrorist training camp in Pakistan.

Despite 11 months of unsuccessful job-seeking after his release into the community, Khan seemed to be 'upbeat' right up until when he travelled to London and fatally stabbed Cambridge graduates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, Ms Young said.

Giving evidence into the inquests into their deaths at City of London's Guildhall on Monday, Ms Young described how Khan stressed his aspirations to help others during their first meeting in January 2019."

"Giving evidence on Friday, prison psychologist Ieva Cechaviciute told how she was 'very worried' about Khan before he was released.

She said a colleague had previously regarded Khan as 'superficial and full of hot air'.

But following a series of interviews over six-and-a-half hours, Ms Cechaviciute was left 'very worried' ahead of his impending release into the community.

The witness had spoken to Khan in January 2018 at HMP Whitemoor for an Extremism Risk Guidelines (ERG) report.

On his manner during the interviews, she said: 'It appeared that it was underlying anger and bitterness in his approach towards me but I think he was trying to be very polite in the interview."

 

[MajorHoople]

MI5 says it could not have stopped Usman Khan, despite knowing he wanted to 'die and go to paradise' | Daily Mail Online

"The senior MI5 official also claimed the security service could not have prevented the Fishmongers' Hall attack - despite knowing Khan wanted to 'die and go to paradise'.

Khan, from Stafford, who launched his attack on Jones and Merritt by strapping knives to his hands and wearing a fake suicide belt, was later shot dead by police after being chased on to London Bridge.

At an Guildhall inquest into the deaths today, it was revealed that Khan had penned a piece of fiction that had been passed onto MI5 in early 2019.

The counter-intelligence agency dismissed the work as a piece of 'creative work' - while it was also revealed the security service had considered stopping their investigation into him at the time he committed his attack.

Witness A told the inquests: 'At the time we received it in early 2019, they (the MI5 investigation team) saw it as very much part of the literature he had been producing."

 

[MajorHoople]

Victims of the Fishmongers' Hall attack were killed unlawfully by a convicted terrorist | Daily Mail Online

Families of London Bridge terror victims slam charity for treating convicted terrorist as a 'poster boy' and ignoring safety concerns - while condemning MI5, police and probation service after jury blamed failures for deaths

"Mr Merritt's father said he blamed the authorities for not preparing for Khan's release or assessment of his danger. He called the arrangements for managing Khan following his release from prison were "not fit for purpose".

"But Philip Jones, Saskia's uncle, accused Learning Together - who organised the event - of treating the jihadi like their 'poster boy' which clouded their judgement.

He claimed they had not wanted to look into his risks and said he did not want his niece's memory undermined by any association with their cause, adding she did not share their views on rehabilitation.

In the powerful statement Mr Jones said: 'We were particularly concerned after hearing the evidence given by the Learning Together Directors, which allowed an insight to their attitude and the seemingly scant regard they had for the fundamental safety of their staff, volunteers and attendees at the event at Fishmongers Hall.

'It could be said that their single-minded view of the rehabilitation of offenders – using Usman Khan, in our view, as a 'poster boy' for their programme - significantly clouded their judgement. It seems there was no intent on their part to listen or take notice of what they were dealing with in working with such a high risk individual. Learning Together declined an opportunity to learn more about Usman Khan and his risk factors. This may have contributed to a failure to take account of the steps necessary to protect the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved. This view appears to have remained unchanged despite the events at Fishmongers Hall in November 2019.'"

 

[MajorHoople]

Convicted killer who fought off London bridge terrorist 'could be released from prison in weeks' | Daily Mail Online

"A convicted killer who used a narwhal tusk to help bring down the London Bridge terrorist could be set for an early release from prison.

Steven Gallant, 43, chased and helped pin down jihadist knifeman Usman Khan, 28, during the 2019 terror incident.

Gallant, who was jailed for 17 years in 2005 for the murder of Barrie Jackson in Hull, was attending a rehabilitation event when fellow participant Khan launched his attack.

The terrorist killed graduates Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones at the event in Fishmonger's Hall before running out on to London Bridge.

Gallant, weilding a narwhal tusk he had grabbed from the hall, was part of a group who chased down knife-wielding Khan before bringing him to the ground.

Khan, who was wearing a fake-suicide vest, was then shot by police. Gallant was later pardoned by the Queen for his heroic actions in attempting to apprehend Khan."

"However, the possibility of an early release from prison has previously been questioned by those close to Gallant's murder victim.

Vicky Foster, the widow of the man who was kicked to death by Gallant, last year questioned the decision to release him early, saying: 'They made him (Gallant) a hero and forgot about his victims.'

Ms Foster, from Hull, told Radio 4 that Gallant deserves respect if he has turned his life around, but she added: 'Five minutes on London Bridge would not be proof.'

Father-of-two, Mr Jackson, was 30 when Gallant kicked him to death during a street brawl in 2003."

 

[MajorHoople]

Convicted killer who tackled London Bridge terrorist with narwhal tusk is given parole | Daily Mail Online

"A convicted killer who used a narwhal tusk to help bring down Fishmongers' Hall terrorist Usman Khan during his London Bridge rampage has been directed for early release from prison.

Steven Gallant, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years in 2005 for the murder of a firefighter in Hull, was one of three men who restrained Khan until armed police arrived at the scene and shot the 28-year-old jihadist dead in November 2019.

Khan, who had two large knives and a fake suicide belt, fatally stabbed Cambridge graduates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, and injured three other people during his frenzied attack at a prisoner rehabilitation event before running out onto London Bridge.

Giving evidence at the inquest in April this year into the victims' deaths, Mr Gallant said he 'whacked' Khan with a narwhal tusk but was empty-handed by the time of the battle on the bridge.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Steven Gallant following an oral hearing."

 

[Ironside]

I wish this guy all the best with the rest of his life. He was incredibly brave.

 

[Rikissa]

Convicted killer who fought off London bridge terrorist 'could be released from prison in weeks' | Daily Mail Online

<snip>

"However, the possibility of an early release from prison has previously been questioned by those close to Gallant's murder victim.

Vicky Foster, the widow of the man who was kicked to death by Gallant, last year questioned the decision to release him early, saying: 'They made him (Gallant) a hero and forgot about his victims.'

Ms Foster, from Hull, told Radio 4 that Gallant deserves respect if he has turned his life around, but she added: 'Five minutes on London Bridge would not be proof.'

Father-of-two, Mr Jackson, was 30 when Gallant kicked him to death during a street brawl in 2003."

Vicky Foster, the former partner of the man killed by Steven Gallant, has written a book about how her and her childrens' lives were affected after the media interest in SG after the London Bridge attack. She had been trying to build up her life after the murder of her partner, and suddenly the trauma was brought back into their lives by the media.

My ex was brutally murdered. Then his killer was hailed a national hero

When the father of Vicky Foster’s children was killed, in 2005, she was trying to rebuild her life after his abuse. But years later, the London Bridge attack brought his death back into sharp focus

www.theguardian.com