As UK reels from London Bridge attack, questions over attacker’s release on parole

British government will conduct a ‘full review’ after it emerged London Bridge attacker was jailed for terrorism

PM Boris Johnson visited the scene, saying sentencing rules need to be toughened up

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) and British Home Secretary, Priti Patel (C) visit the crime scene near London Bridge in London. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:46pm, 30 Nov 2019Updated: 11:08pm, 30 Nov 2019

The British government on Saturday vowed a “full review” after a convicted terrorist released early from prison was suspected of stabbing two people to death on London Bridge.

Police shot Usman Khan dead after his suspected assault that seriously injured three other people was broken up by bystanders – one armed with a five-foot narwhal tusk and another a fire extinguisher.

Video footage of the confrontation showed Khan, 28, being challenged by a man wielding the tusk – believed to have been taken from a nearby historic hall – and sprayed with the extinguisher.

He had been conditionally released from jail last December after serving less than half of a 16-year sentence for terrorism, and was wearing a suspected fake explosive device.

Moments later armed police officers arrived on the scene and shot him dead.

Investigators have said they are not actively seeking others in relation to the incident, which recalled a three-man terrorist assault two years ago on London Bridge that killed eight.

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