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Usman Khan (terrorist)

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Usman Khan
عثمان خان
A 2012 photograph of Khan
Born(1991-03-10)10 March 1991
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom[1]
Died29 November 2019(2019-11-29) (aged 28)
London, United Kingdom
Cause of deathGunshot wound
NationalityBritish[2]
Other namesAbu Saif
Years active2010–2019
Known for2019 London Bridge stabbing
AllegianceAl-Muhajiroun
Details
Killed2
Injured3
WeaponsKitchen knife

Usman Khan (Urdu: عثمان خان; 10 March 1991 – 29 November 2019), also known as Abu Saif,[3] was a Pakistani-British Islamic terrorist and murderer who on 29 November 2019 murdered 2 people and wounded 3 others during an attack near London Bridge before being fatally shot by City of London Police after being subdued by civilians.[4]

Early life

[edit]

Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom, to parents of Pakistani descent, Khan's education included attendance at Haywood High School.[5][6][7][8][3] A portion of his teenage years was spent in Pakistan,[9] where, prior to his December 2010 arrest, he visited the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, as noted in a 2013 report by the British Parliament's Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation.[10][11] Khan's involvement with al-Muhajiroun,[12] militant network based in Saudi Arabia, led to his role as a community organiser, notably arranging a Sharia conference in 2009.[3]

2008 anti-terror raids

[edit]

In 2008, following a raid on his Stoke-on-Trent residence by counter-terrorist police,[13] Khan faced scrutiny but denied terrorist affiliations in interviews with the BBC and a local newspaper under a pseudonym.[14][15] Despite a 20-month inquiry, no charges were filed against him.[3][12]

2010 arrest and 2012 terrorism conviction

[edit]
See also: Operation Guava

Upon returning from Pakistan,[16] Usman Khan was arrested in 2010 as part of a group of nine individuals[17] targeted by MI5’s Operation Guava. In 2012, all members of this group pleaded guilty to charges of terrorism inspired by Al-Qaeda. Their plans included bombing significant locations in the UK such as the London Stock Exchange, the Houses of Parliament, the US embassy, two rabbis at two synagogues, the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, the home of then London Mayor Boris Johnson,[18][19] as well as proposing to establish a terrorist training camp in land owned by Khan’s family in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The group also engaged in planning meetings and made preparations for travel related to terrorist activities, with intentions to carry out further attacks in the UK upon returning from the proposed camp in Kashmir.[20][21][22]

Khan proposed to raise funds in the UK rather than overseas, arguing that supporters in the UK earned in a day what donors in Kashmir earned in a month. He added: "On Jobseeker's Allowance we can earn that, never mind working for that."[23] His home bugged by MI5, he was recorded calling non-Muslims "dogs."[12] Following his arrest, Khan admitted travelling to the plotter's 2010 tactical meetings in Cardiff in November and in Newport in December.[24] Khan's plans to build a terror-training camp in Kashmir never materialised and "there was no evidence that there was any real funding to build it".[25] The group had formed in October.[20] The terror network's organisational chart was found in Khan's home.[19] In addition to confessing to terrorism planning, Khan admitted terrorism fundraising and possession of the Al Qaeda magazine Inspire.[26]

Following his arrest, evidence of Khan’s advanced knowledge in field craft was noted, highlighting his significant role within the group.[27] In 2012, he was sentenced to imprisonment for public protection and an indeterminate period in prison with a minimum term of eight years,[28][29][30] reflecting the judge’s assessment of Khan and his associates from Stoke-on-Trent as exceptionally committed jihadists operating at a level of seriousness and effectiveness above that of their co-defendants.[12]

Rehabilitation and release from prison

[edit]

Khan was originally sentenced to indefinite imprisonment for public safety. This sentence, however, was overturned in 2013 when Khan, alongside Nazam Hussain and Mohammed Shahjahan, appealed. The Court of Appeal, led by Lord Justice Leveson, re-evaluated the perceived threat level of these individuals compared to their co-defendants, resulting in a reduced sentence of 16 years with eligibility for automatic release after eight.[20][31] Upon completion of this term, Khan was released from Belmarsh Prison in December 2018 under standard licence conditions, which included probation supervision.[32] Stafford Borough Council, with support from multiple agencies, arranged suitable housing following his release.[33]

During his imprisonment, Khan engaged in the Healthy Identity Intervention Programme, aimed at rehabilitating terrorism offenders. This participation continued post-release with the Desistance and Disengagement Programme, focusing on tackling terrorism's root causes.[34][12] Khan's involvement in these programmes led to his recognition as a rehabilitation "success story" by a Cambridge University programme, culminating in a case study feature.[35][3] Khan would later tragically kill two individuals associated with the Cambridge University programme.[36] Following these events, discussions emerged regarding the potential overestimation of recidivism fears, with a paper published by the CTC Sentinel in April 2020 described Khan and another recent terrorism recidivist as an atypical example, noting a recidivism rate of less than 5% among terrorists.[12][37]

2019 attack

[edit]
Main article: 2019 London Bridge stabbing

The terms of Khan's temporary release licence did not allow for travel to London; special permission would have been needed for him to participate in Cambridge University's Learning Together "Five Year Celebration" on the day he carried out the stabbing.[38][39] Khan sat quietly during the celebration event, attending storytelling and writing workshops; even giving feedback on one.[40] He then stabbed two Learning Together organisers in the chest,[41] killing them, and injured three other people. He was wearing an electronic tag and a fake suicide jacket when he was shot following the stabbing.[42]

Burial and aftermath

[edit]

Following his death, Khan's body was taken to a mosque in Birmingham, for a ritual janazah Muslim funerary ceremony.[43] The body was then flown to Islamabad.[44] Khan's burial took place in Kajlani in Kashmir.[45]

"Usman Khan Call 4 Justice" graffiti in support of Khan appeared on multiple walls in his Stoke hometown in the week following his death.[46][47]

[edit]

Khan had previously been connected to Al-Muhajiroun, the group led by Anjem Choudary.[29][48][30] He was said to be inspired by Al-Qaeda.[49] Khan's solicitor Vajahat Sharif claimed that Khan had become disillusioned with Al-Muhajiroun and that during his prison sentence he had repeatedly requested the help of a deradicaliser, to no avail. Sharif said that in 2018 Khan appeared to be rehabilitated, and that he may have been "re-groomed" by extremists after his release.[50]

Political and social debate

[edit]

In 2012, after being convicted of offences related to a plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange, Khan was sentenced to be kept in prison for an indeterminate time. This meant that he could not be released whilst he was still considered to be a danger to the public. Following an appeal in 2013, his indeterminate sentence was quashed, and in its place he was given a 16-year prison sentence, which meant he would be entitled to automatic release on licence after having served eight years.[51] Questions were also raised about the level of monitoring he was subject to by the authorities responsible after his release.[51][52] The parole board confirmed that it had no involvement in deciding when Khan was released from prison, saying Khan "appears to have been released automatically on licence" even though he had a "serious long-term plan" and a commitment to terrorism.[51][20]

Chris Phillips, former head of the UK National Counter Terrorism Security Office, commented the justice system was "playing Russian roulette" with the lives of the public. Phillips commented that the original trial judge "wanted this man in prison for a very very long time", and described Khan's release as "quite incredible". Paul Gibson, former head of counter-terrorism at the UK Ministry of Defence, supported the criticism, commenting on the release: "A lot of people will find that extraordinary."[51]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ De Simone, Daniel (30 November 2019). "What we know about the London Bridge attacker". BBC News. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Usman Khan: The suspected terrorist behind the London Bridge attacks". Gulf News. 30 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e McInnes, Kathie (6 December 2019). "How London Bridge murderer Usman Khan's radicalisation began in Stoke-on-Trent". stokesentinel.
  4. ^ "LATEST: London Bridge terror attack". United Kingdom: Metropolitan Police.
  5. ^ Kirby, Dean (2 December 2019). "Usman Khan: why the London Bridge attack terrorist was released from prison". iNews. Retrieved 3 December 2019. The son of parents from the disputed region of Kashmir in Pakistan
  6. ^ Ali Shah, Murtaza (30 November 2019). "Usman Khan had no relation with Pakistan". Geo TV. Retrieved 3 December 2019. Usman Khan was born in Stoke-on-Trent to working-class immigrant parents from Azad Kashmir.
  7. ^ Burnett, Tom (30 November 2019). "London Bridge attack suspect from Stoke-on-Trent – police confirm". The Sentinel.
  8. ^ Townsend, Mark; Iqbal, Nosheen (30 November 2019). "'We don't understand how Usman Khan ended up like this'". The Guardian.
  9. ^ "London Bridge Attacker Named as Usman Khan: Police". Newsweek Pakistan. 30 November 2019. Khan spent some time in Pakistan in his late teens
  10. ^ "The Terrorism Acts in 2012: report of the Independent Reviewer" (PDF). Government of the United Kingdom. 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Usman Khan profile: terrorist who wanted to bomb London Stock Exchange". The Guardian. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Tom Harper; Jon Ungoed-Thomas; Caroline Wheeler (1 December 2019). "London Bridge attack: poster boy for rehabilitation. And killer". The Times. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  13. ^ "London Bridge: Who was the attacker?". BBC News. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  14. ^ "'I ain't no terrorist' Usman Khan says in resurfaced BBC interview from 2008 | Watch News Videos Online". Global News.
  15. ^ "Who was Usman Khan?". The Daily Telegraph. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Stoke-on-Trent terrorist Usman Khan described Osama Bin Laden as 'beautiful'". The Sentinel. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019. He had recently returned from Pakistan and we draw the inference that he had been there and he was going back there within a few weeks
  17. ^ Simon Israel (27 December 2010). "Christmas 'terror plot' targeted London landmarks". Channel 4. Archived from the original on 4 October 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  18. ^ Caroline Gammell (27 December 2010). "Christmas bomb plot: nine men remanded over plan to 'blow up Big Ben and Westminster Abbey'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  19. ^ a b Duncan Gardham (1 February 2012). "Terrorists admit plot to bomb London Stock Exchange and US Embassy". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  20. ^ a b c d "Why was London Bridge attacker Usman Khan released?". Evening Express. Press Association. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  21. ^ "Terrorism gang jailed for plotting to blow up London Stock Exchange". The Telegraph. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  22. ^ "Terror group members who planned to bomb London Stock Exchange jailed". The Guardian. Press Association. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2019. It was envisaged by them all that ultimately they and the other recruits may return to the UK as trained and experienced terrorists available to perform terrorist attacks in this country.
  23. ^ "Pakistan training camp discussed in secret recording". BBC News. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  24. ^ "London Stock Exchange bomb plot admitted by four men". BBC News. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  25. ^ Shah, Murtaza Ali (30 November 2019). "FACTCHECK: Usman Khan had no relation with Pakistan". Geo.tv. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  26. ^ Paul Hannon; Stephen Fidler (30 November 2019). "Attack by Convicted Terrorist Prompts U.K. to Review Sentencing". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  27. ^ Townsend, Mark; Iqbal, Nosheen (30 November 2019). "'We don't understand how Usman Khan ended up like this'". The Guardian.
  28. ^ "Nine jailed over bomb plot and terror camp plan". BBC News. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  29. ^ a b Wahlquist, Calla; Rawlinson, Kevin; Weaver, Matthew; Dodd, Vikram; Dodd, Vikram (30 November 2019). "London Bridge attacker named as Usman Khan, 28 – live updates". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  30. ^ a b Gemma Fox (30 November 2019). "London Bridge attacker is named by police". The Independent. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  31. ^ Bird, Steve (30 November 2019). "Leveson ruling opened the door to killer's early release". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  32. ^ Chief Coroner of England & Wales (3 November 2021). "Fishmongers Hall Inquests Prevention of Future Deaths report" (PDF).
  33. ^ Guttridge, Richard. "'Multiple agencies' allowed London Bridge killer Usman Khan to live in Stafford". Express & Star.
  34. ^ "London Bridge: Usman Khan completed untested rehabilitation scheme". BBC News. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  35. ^ Hayley Dixon; Victoria Ward; Greg Wilford (1 December 2019). "London bridge attacker was poster boy for rehab scheme he targeted". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  36. ^ "Family of 'caring' London Bridge attack victim Saskia Jones tell of 'devastation'". Daily Mirror. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019. Mr Merritt said that his son had helped Khan, adding: "I can't imagine how someone who had been befriended and helped by someone like Jack could then, in a fairly calculated way, kill them.
  37. ^ Thomas Renard (April 2020). "Overblown: Exploring the Gap Between the Fear of Terrorist Recidivism and the Evidence". CTC Sentinel. 13 (4). Retrieved 28 April 2020. This was approved despite evidence that Khan and Amman are more likely to be eye-catching outliers than a harbinger of things to come. Indeed, according to recently released figures, only six terrorist offenders have been reconvicted of a further terrorist offense in England and Wales, out of 196 offenders released between January 2013 and December 2019 (3%).
  38. ^ Martin Evans; Steve Bird; Greg Wilford (30 November 2019). "Who was Usman Khan? The attacker who hoodwinked authorities to fulfil his terrorism dream of targeting London". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  39. ^ "Tributes paid to 'brilliant' London Bridge attack victim Saskia Jones". The Guardian. 11 December 2019.
  40. ^ Sian Griffiths; Joe Cook (8 December 2019). "London Bridge attack: 'The killer sat feet away from me. Now I fear for the scheme that helped me go straight'". The Times. Retrieved 9 December 2019. Khan sat quietly through the morning session and took part in storytelling and writing workshops. "He was unremarkable. I know that in one of the workshops he responded to one of the questions on the feedback,"
  41. ^ Jamie Grierson (10 December 2019). "Islamist extremism remains dominant UK terror threat, say experts". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 December 2019. An inquest heard they had been stabbed in the chest
  42. ^ Alison Chung. "London Bridge terror: Attacker named as convicted terrorist Usman Khan". Sky News. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  43. ^ David Aaro (6 December 2019). "London Bridge attacker's body flown to Pakistan for burial: report". Fox News Channel. Retrieved 7 December 2019. A pre-burial ritual called Janaza took place at a mosque in Birmingham
  44. ^ James Rodger; Matt Simpson (6 December 2019). "Body of London Bridge terrorist Usman Khan flown to Pakistan for burial". The Sentinel. Retrieved 8 December 2019. Officials at Islamabad International Airport confirmed to Sky News Usman Khan's body arrived at the Pakistani capital today.
  45. ^ Charles Hymas; Ben Farmer (6 December 2019). "London Bridge terrorist Usman Khan is buried in family village in Pakistan after UK backlash". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 December 2019. his funeral, in the 3,000-strong village of Kajlani at 4 pm local time had been attended by a "large number" of people.
  46. ^ ""Shocking" graffiti supporting London Bridge terrorist Usman Khan has emerged in Stoke-on-Trent". ITV News.
  47. ^ Parker, Hayley; Davies, Ruby (11 December 2019). "Vile graffiti supporting terrorist Usman Khan daubed on estate where he grew up". stokesentinel.
  48. ^ Mann, Tanveer (30 November 2019). "London Bridge attacker who left two dead named as 28-year-old Usman Khan". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  49. ^ "Usman Khan profile: terrorist who wanted to bomb London Stock Exchange". The Guardian. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  50. ^ Dodd, Vikram (30 November 2019). "London Bridge attacker had asked for help to deradicalise – lawyer". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  51. ^ a b c d "Boris Johnson under pressure to explain why a convicted terrorist was released early to commit London bridge attack". The Independent. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  52. ^ "Usman Khan: Boris Johnson under pressure to explain why convicted terrorist was released early to commit London bridge attack". Telegraph UK. 30 November 2019.
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