London (PA Media/dpa) – A convicted terrorist’s «poster boy image» blinded authorities to the threat before he launched an attack on Fishmongers’ Hall, killing two young people, an inquest jury has concluded.
A catalogue of failures and omissions contributed to the deaths of Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, at the hands of Usman Khan, the jury found on Friday.
Afterwards, Merritt’s father Dave Merritt said the arrangements for managing Khan following his release from prison were «not fit for purpose.»
He also described MI5 and West Midlands Counter-Terrorism Police as «complacent and passive in the face of Khan’s extreme and continuing threat.»
Jones’ uncle Philip Jones said the event organizers Learning Together, a prisoner education programme, appeared to have «scant regard» for safety, while state agencies also shared responsibility.
On Learning Together, he said: «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 judgment.»
Jones and Merritt were fatally stabbed by Khan at an alumni event put on by Learning Together on November 29, 2019.
Khan, 28, who wore a fake bomb vest, was tackled by delegates armed with a narwhal tusk and a fire extinguisher, and was driven out on to London Bridge where he was shot dead by police.
An inquest at the Guildhall in London heard that Khan had been released from prison 11 months earlier under strict licence conditions and was under investigation by counter-terrorism police and MI5.
But the «manipulative and duplicitous» terrorist hid his murderous intent from those tasked with keeping the public safe, the hearing was told.
He had even been described in court as a «poster boy» for Learning Together after jurors saw a «thank you» video message he had recorded.
The jury found the victims had been «unlawfully killed» and confirmed basic facts surrounding their deaths.
It concluded that failings in Khan’s management in the community and information-sharing and guidance by agencies responsible for monitoring or investigating Khan contributed to the deaths.
Jurors also found that omissions or deficiencies in the organization of the event at Fishmongers’ Hall and its security contributed to the deaths.
In a narrative conclusion, the jury highlighted «unacceptable management and lack of accountability,» «serious deficiencies in the management of Khan» by the multi-agency organisation responsible for public safety and «insufficient experience and training.»
The jury added there was a «blind spot to Khan’s unique risk due to a ‘poster boy’ image.»
The hearing was told Khan had spent eight years in jail for plotting to set up a terror training camp in Pakistan.
Behind bars, he had become more dangerous amid incidents of violence and extremist bullying, jurors were told.
On his release in December 2018, he was assessed as being a «very high risk of serious harm» to the public.
MI5, which had already launched a covert investigation with West Midlands Police supported by Staffordshire Special Branch, had intelligence that Khan was planning to «return to his old ways» and aspired to carry out an attack.
Yet the attack aspiration information was not passed on by police to others involved in Khan’s management in the community and the «old ways» intelligence was labelled «low grade.»
Probation officers responsible for Khan lacked experience of dealing with terrorist offenders, jurors heard.
A proposal to allow Khan to travel unescorted to London for a Learning Together event was mooted at a multi-agency public protection arrangements (Mappa) meeting in August 2019.
Jurors heard there was no record of it being positively approved by the panel, although no-one raised any objections or discussed the risks.
The panel failed to recognize the «trophy» status of Fishmongers’ Hall, near London Bridge, as a potential high-value terrorist target at the time, it was claimed.
Security services later became aware of the plan but did not warn against it, despite remaining «sceptical» about Khan.
The ongoing investigation had not identified suspicious activity and MI5 was considering closing it, the hearing was told.
But jurors heard there were some potential warning signs – flashes of anger from Khan, his failure to find a job, and his increasing isolation as he spent time in his flat playing Xbox.
Officers from the Government’s Prevent anti-radicalisation scheme spent just 18 minutes with him after he moved out of approved premises in September 2019.
In the final days, Khan bought a set of knives and assembled a fake suicide vest at his rented flat in Stafford.
He travelled on the train to London alone, putting on the dummy device under a bulky jacket en route.
A chilling image showed Khan, still wearing his coat, sitting next to Jones at a table at Fishmongers’ Hall.
He then went into the men’s toilets and strapped two knives into his hands in a cubicle.
It was pure chance the first person he encountered was Mr Merritt, whom he stabbed repeatedly.
Khan went on to stab Jones once in the neck and injure three other people shouting «Allahu Akbar» before he was shot dead.
Nick Armstrong, for Merritt’s family, said it was «completely crazy» that Khan was allowed to attend Fishmongers’ Hall on his own, given what was known about him.
It was argued the Fishmongers’ Hall management, who were unaware a convicted terrorist was attending the event, should have been advised to put more security measures in place and Khan could have been met by an officer en route to the venue.
Since the attack, the Ministry of Justice has brought in a raft of new measures to tighten up management of terrorist offenders in the community.
Dr Ruth Armstrong and Dr Amy Ludlow, co-founders and directors of Learning Together, said they were «heartbroken by the loss of our beloved colleague Jack and student Saskia» and pledged they were «determined to reflect on the lessons of these inquests as we move forwards».
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: «It is important that the Government and operational partners learn lessons to prevent further incidents like this, and we will also consider the inquest findings. I will always do everything in my power to keep the British people safe.»