London Bridge: Who was the attacker?

Police have named the London Bridge attacker as Usman Khan, who was previously part of a group that plotted to bomb the city’s stock exchange.

Khan, 28, was out on licence from prison when he killed two people and injured three others in the stabbing attack on Friday, before being shot dead by armed police.

Since being released in December 2018 – his conditions requiring him to wear an electronic tag – Khan had been living in Stafford.

He also took part in the government’s ‘Desistance and Disengagement Programme’, the purpose of which is the rehabilitation of those who have been involved in terrorism.

In 2012, he was sentenced to indeterminate detention for “public protection” with a minimum jail term of eight years after pleading guilty to preparing terrorist acts.

The sentence would have allowed him to be kept in prison beyond the minimum term, should the authorities have deemed it necessary.

In a reference to Khan and two other defendants, the trial judge said: “In my judgment, these offenders would remain, even after a lengthy term of imprisonment, of such a significant risk that the public could not be adequately protected by their being managed on licence in the community, subject to conditions, by reference to a preordained release date.”

He added that the “safety of the public in respect of these offenders can only adequately be protected if their release on licence is decided upon, at the earliest, at the conclusion of the minimum term which I fix today.”

But in 2013 the Court of Appeal quashed the sentence, replacing it with a 16-year-fixed term of which Khan should serve half in prison. He was then released automatically at that point.

Born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, Khan was originally jailed along with eight others, who were arrested in 2010.

The nine, inspired by al-Qaeda, had been under surveillance by MI5.

The men – who were from Stoke, Cardiff and London – were engaged in several plans, one of which involved a plot to place a pipe bomb in the London Stock Exchange.

Those from Stoke were overheard discussing potential attacks in their city, including leaving explosive devices in pubs and clubs.

Khan described members of the public as “kuffar” and “dogs”.

At one point Khan was monitored in conversation about “how to construct a pipe bomb” from a recipe in an al-Qaeda magazine.

The men had also been funding a proposed madrassa – a college for Islamic instruction – abroad, which was to be used for firearms training and would have been attended by Khan.

The court of appeal judgement said: “The groups were clearly considering a range of possibilities, including fundraising for the establishment of a military-training madrassa in Pakistan – where they would undertake training themselves and recruit others to do likewise – sending letter bombs through the post, attacking public houses used by British racist groups, attacking a high-profile target with an explosive device and a Mumbai-style attack.”

It added that they had “serious long-term plans” to send Khan and other recruits for “training and terrorist experience”.

“Should they return to the UK, they would do so trained and experienced in terrorism,” the judgement continued.

Another man from Stoke who was jailed alongside Khan – Mohibur Rahman – was later fconvicted of another terrorist plot following his release from prison.

Khan had spent years proselytising in Stoke on so-called “dawah stalls” linked to the proscribed terrorist organisation al-Muhajiroun, which was once led by the hate preacher Anjem Chowdhury.

After Khan was jailed, the Daily Star quoted Chowdhury saying that the Stoke plotters “were students of mine” and “I knew them for quite a while.”

In 2008 Khan’s address was one of five properties in Stoke raided by counter terrorism police. None of those investigated were ultimately charged.

Speaking at the time, Khan publicly complained about being under suspicion, saying: “I’ve been born and bred in England, in Stoke-on-Trent in Cobridge.

He said “all the community knows me” and that “I ain’t no terrorist.”

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