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London Bridge attacker 'got job carrying out tube security checks' Family had reported London Bridge attacker to police, inquest hears
(about 2 hours later)
The London Bridge attacker Khuram Butt got a job on London Underground carrying out security checks despite appearing in a TV documentary about Islamist extremism, the inquest into the atrocity has heard. The family of one of the London Bridge attackers became so concerned about his extremism they reported him to police 18 months before the atrocity, an inquest has heard.
Khuram Butt and two other terrorists killed eight people on 3 July 2017, first driving a hired van into two pedestrians before stabbing another six people to death.
The inquest into the deaths heard from acting DCI Wayne Jolley of Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command that Butt was an acolyte of the extremist preacher Anjem Choudary, and was “energised” and like a “lion out of his cage” in his company.
Jolley said the police investigation had shown that until about 2013 Butt’s views and religious adherence were unremarkable, and he had been described as a “shy” and “earnest” student. But he at first became more orthodox, then extreme, before expressing support for Islamic State, the inquest sitting at the Old Bailey in central London heard.
Jolley told the inquest that in September 2015, Butt’s brother-in-law Usman Darr had to be physically separated from him after becoming enraged when Butt defended Isis’s burning to death of a captured Jordanian pilot, filmed and released as a propaganda video.
Jolley said Darr, a brother of Butt’s wife, Zara, called the authorities. “He was extremely concerned about these views and he contacted the anti-terrorist hotline to report his brother-in-law.”
The inquest heard Butt’s wife rejected his request to take a second wife and his family and friends became increasingly concerned from 2013 onwards as he immersed himself in extremist material and watched beheading videos. In early 2015 he had wanted to go to Syria but was stopped by his family, who destroyed his passport.
Butt also got a job on London Underground carrying out security checks despite appearing in a TV documentary about Islamist extremism, the inquest heard.
Butt, the ringleader of the attack, passed vetting for the London Underground job in May 2015 and was deployed to sensitive stations such as Westminster, with his role including security duties, said Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the inquest.Butt, the ringleader of the attack, passed vetting for the London Underground job in May 2015 and was deployed to sensitive stations such as Westminster, with his role including security duties, said Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the inquest.
He passed, Hough said, despite having appeared in The Jihadis Next Door, a documentary about extremism. Butt seemed to become more extreme after 2013 and told a work colleague the terrorist murder of Lee Rigby in May 2013 was “an eye for an eye”, the inquest heard.He passed, Hough said, despite having appeared in The Jihadis Next Door, a documentary about extremism. Butt seemed to become more extreme after 2013 and told a work colleague the terrorist murder of Lee Rigby in May 2013 was “an eye for an eye”, the inquest heard.
Butt left the London Underground job after going off sick, claiming work-issue shoes caused him pain.Butt left the London Underground job after going off sick, claiming work-issue shoes caused him pain.
The inquiry also heard that a victim of the London Bridge attack was hit with such force by a van driven by one of the terrorists that plastic from the vehicle “melted” on impact, the inquest into the deaths has heard. A key issue for the inquest will be examining whether police and the security service MI5 could and should have done more to spot the danger Butt posed. He was under active investigation by MI5 at the time of the attack, which caused devastation to innocent revellers.
The inquest also heard that a victim of the London Bridge attack was hit with such force by a van driven by one of the terrorists that plastic from the vehicle “melted” on impact, the inquest into the deaths has heard.
Louissa Marsh, a forensic scientist, said Xavier Thomas, 45, was probably hit by the van and tossed into the River Thames as he walked across the bridge.Louissa Marsh, a forensic scientist, said Xavier Thomas, 45, was probably hit by the van and tossed into the River Thames as he walked across the bridge.
An effect called “fibre plastic fusion” showed the white Renault van hired by the three terrorists for the attack struck the French national’s blue denim jeans, she said.An effect called “fibre plastic fusion” showed the white Renault van hired by the three terrorists for the attack struck the French national’s blue denim jeans, she said.
Plastic from the vehicle melted on impact then “resolidified”, leaving small plastic deposits on the fibres of the jeans. Examination of the deposits showed they probably came from the headlights. Some had wondered if Thomas had jumped out of the way of the van as it careered from the road, on to the pavement, or had been hit by the van.Plastic from the vehicle melted on impact then “resolidified”, leaving small plastic deposits on the fibres of the jeans. Examination of the deposits showed they probably came from the headlights. Some had wondered if Thomas had jumped out of the way of the van as it careered from the road, on to the pavement, or had been hit by the van.
Thomas was walking across London Bridge talking to his son on the phone when the attack started.Thomas was walking across London Bridge talking to his son on the phone when the attack started.
Marsh told the inquest of her findings: “In my opinion they provide strong support for the proposition that the Renault van was in direct collision with Mr Thomas during the terrorist incident at London Bridge.”Marsh told the inquest of her findings: “In my opinion they provide strong support for the proposition that the Renault van was in direct collision with Mr Thomas during the terrorist incident at London Bridge.”
The attackers were Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22.The attackers were Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22.
Marsh said Zaghba was closest to the van’s airbag when it deployed, most likely by impact. She examined deposits from the airbag left on the three attackers, who were shot dead by police.
Marsh said: “In my opinion my findings provide very strong support for the proposition that Youssef Zaghba was closest to the airbag at the point of deployment in comparison to the other two men.”
The toxicologist David Cowan said anabolic steroids taken by the three attackers were unlikely to have made them more aggressive. He said they were likely to have been taken no longer than a day before the attack.The toxicologist David Cowan said anabolic steroids taken by the three attackers were unlikely to have made them more aggressive. He said they were likely to have been taken no longer than a day before the attack.
Those who died in the 3 June 2017 attack, along with the perpetrators, were Sara Zelenak, 21, Alexandre Pigeard, 26, Christine Archibald, 30, James McMullan, 32, Kirsty Boden, 28, Sebastien Belanger, 36, Ignacio Echeverria, 39 as well as Thomas. Those who died in the attack, along with the perpetrators, were Sara Zelenak, 21, Alexandre Pigeard, 26, Christine Archibald, 30, James McMullan, 32, Kirsty Boden, 28, Sebastien Belanger, 36, Ignacio Echeverria, 39 as well as Thomas.
All eight died in the first three minutes of the atrocity; the van killed two and six other people died after being stabbed.
The inquest continues.The inquest continues.
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