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Fishmongers' Hall: Prison chaplain 'conned' by 'remorseful' terrorist | Fishmongers' Hall: Prison chaplain 'conned' by 'remorseful' terrorist |
(32 minutes later) | |
Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt were killed by Usman Khan during a conference on rehabilitating offenders | Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt were killed by Usman Khan during a conference on rehabilitating offenders |
A prison chaplain has admitted he may have been "conned" by a convicted terrorist who seemingly showed remorse for his actions. | |
Usman Khan was freed in December 2018 after serving a jail term over a plot to blow up the London Stock Exchange. | Usman Khan was freed in December 2018 after serving a jail term over a plot to blow up the London Stock Exchange. |
Less than a year later, he killed Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, at Fishmongers' Hall near London Bridge. | Less than a year later, he killed Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, at Fishmongers' Hall near London Bridge. |
The Rev Paul Foster has been giving evidence at the inquests into their deaths at London's Guildhall. | The Rev Paul Foster has been giving evidence at the inquests into their deaths at London's Guildhall. |
Usman Khan had been jailed in 2012 over a plot to blow up the London Stock Exchange | Usman Khan had been jailed in 2012 over a plot to blow up the London Stock Exchange |
Mr Foster, who worked with prisoners of all faiths, said Khan had engaged positively with programmes looking at his offending and the impact of his crimes. | Mr Foster, who worked with prisoners of all faiths, said Khan had engaged positively with programmes looking at his offending and the impact of his crimes. |
He added: "[Khan] had conversations with me about wanting to change and make a fresh start - to pay more attention to the ripple effect of his actions." | He added: "[Khan] had conversations with me about wanting to change and make a fresh start - to pay more attention to the ripple effect of his actions." |
Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the inquiry, asked: "Would it have surprised you that, around the time Usman Khan was... engaged in victim awareness, there was intelligence he was trying to radicalise other prisoners?" | Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the inquiry, asked: "Would it have surprised you that, around the time Usman Khan was... engaged in victim awareness, there was intelligence he was trying to radicalise other prisoners?" |
Mr Foster said it would. | Mr Foster said it would. |
Why was Usman Khan released from prison? | Why was Usman Khan released from prison? |
Terror attacker shouted 'I'm going to blow you all up' | Terror attacker shouted 'I'm going to blow you all up' |
Hall porter 'stabbed terror attacker with spear' | Hall porter 'stabbed terror attacker with spear' |
Mr Hough also said that, at the time of his release, there was intelligence that Khan might commit an attack. | Mr Hough also said that, at the time of his release, there was intelligence that Khan might commit an attack. |
Mr Foster replied: "That would be a surprise. | Mr Foster replied: "That would be a surprise. |
"If that intelligence is correct, he was obviously presenting himself in a way that was likely to deceive the likes of myself and others." | "If that intelligence is correct, he was obviously presenting himself in a way that was likely to deceive the likes of myself and others." |
He added: "I'm open to say I am wrong, and it is possible I have been conned." | He added: "I'm open to say I am wrong, and it is possible I have been conned." |
Mr Foster also said Khan had spoken "openly and emotionally" during a discussion session with a victim of crime. | Mr Foster also said Khan had spoken "openly and emotionally" during a discussion session with a victim of crime. |
He added: "We were being presented with a lot of positive things about his behaviour - even some of the prisoners were telling me... in one instance a chap lost his son to a murder and Usman was the person at his door offering his condolences and asking if he could help." | He added: "We were being presented with a lot of positive things about his behaviour - even some of the prisoners were telling me... in one instance a chap lost his son to a murder and Usman was the person at his door offering his condolences and asking if he could help." |
The chaplain described one session with Khan in which he professed "some shame" about the impact his crime had on the Muslim community. | The chaplain described one session with Khan in which he professed "some shame" about the impact his crime had on the Muslim community. |
"He appeared to show remorse for what he had done," Mr Foster said. | "He appeared to show remorse for what he had done," Mr Foster said. |
The inquest hearing continues. | The inquest hearing continues. |