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Reading attacks inquest: Deaths avoidable, coroner concludes | |
(32 minutes later) | |
(L-R) David Wails, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and James Furlong died at the scene of the attack in Forbury Gardens | (L-R) David Wails, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and James Furlong died at the scene of the attack in Forbury Gardens |
The deaths of three men murdered by a man convicted under anti-terror laws in a Reading park were avoidable, an inquest has concluded. | The deaths of three men murdered by a man convicted under anti-terror laws in a Reading park were avoidable, an inquest has concluded. |
Khairi Saadallah killed James Furlong, David Wails, and Joe Ritchie-Bennett, in Forbury Gardens in June 2020. | Khairi Saadallah killed James Furlong, David Wails, and Joe Ritchie-Bennett, in Forbury Gardens in June 2020. |
He was given a whole-life term in 2021 after admitting murder and the attempted murder of three other men. | He was given a whole-life term in 2021 after admitting murder and the attempted murder of three other men. |
Judge Coroner Sir Adrian Fulford found major problems with intelligence sharing between authorities. | Judge Coroner Sir Adrian Fulford found major problems with intelligence sharing between authorities. |
Addressing the court, he described Saadallah's "volatility" and said he had a "terrorist mindset". | Addressing the court, he described Saadallah's "volatility" and said he had a "terrorist mindset". |
Counter Terrorism Policing, the Probation Service and Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust were among the organisations criticised for failing in the case. | Counter Terrorism Policing, the Probation Service and Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust were among the organisations criticised for failing in the case. |
Speaking outside the Old Bailey, James Furlong's father Gary said: "Our boys didn't stand a chance." | Speaking outside the Old Bailey, James Furlong's father Gary said: "Our boys didn't stand a chance." |
"It is clear that there was failure after failure by all state agencies who dealt with Saadallah," he said. | "It is clear that there was failure after failure by all state agencies who dealt with Saadallah," he said. |
Gary Furlong read a statement after the inquest proceedings concluded | Gary Furlong read a statement after the inquest proceedings concluded |
Saadallah arrived in the UK in 2012 as a teenage refugee, having fought in the Libyan revolution, and suffered from PTSD, among other conditions. | Saadallah arrived in the UK in 2012 as a teenage refugee, having fought in the Libyan revolution, and suffered from PTSD, among other conditions. |
He had extensive contact with mental health services, but Sir Adrian said Saadallah was "caught in a catch-22" with no continuity of care. | He had extensive contact with mental health services, but Sir Adrian said Saadallah was "caught in a catch-22" with no continuity of care. |
He concluded it was "at least possible" Saadallah would never have attacked the men if his mental health had been correctly managed by authorities. | He concluded it was "at least possible" Saadallah would never have attacked the men if his mental health had been correctly managed by authorities. |
Sir Adrian also said if intelligence about the high risk he posed had been shared properly he might have been detained by police. | Sir Adrian also said if intelligence about the high risk he posed had been shared properly he might have been detained by police. |
He also found "significantly troubling failings" by counter-terrorist police officers, who lacked understanding and did not share information with other forces and the probation service. | He also found "significantly troubling failings" by counter-terrorist police officers, who lacked understanding and did not share information with other forces and the probation service. |
Khairi Saadallah "executed" the men as an "act of religious jihad", the Old Bailey previously heard | Khairi Saadallah "executed" the men as an "act of religious jihad", the Old Bailey previously heard |
Counter-terror programmes, such as Prevent, did not provide any "effective intervention" to address Saadallah's threats. | Counter-terror programmes, such as Prevent, did not provide any "effective intervention" to address Saadallah's threats. |
Reports about the risk he posed were "markedly deficient", the judge coroner said, and one intelligence assessment was "simply inadequate". | Reports about the risk he posed were "markedly deficient", the judge coroner said, and one intelligence assessment was "simply inadequate". |
Sir Adrian said Saadallah had "demonstrated capacity for violence" on many occasions, and his behaviour had "markedly deteriorated" in the 18 months before the attack. | Sir Adrian said Saadallah had "demonstrated capacity for violence" on many occasions, and his behaviour had "markedly deteriorated" in the 18 months before the attack. |
He should have been recognised as a high-risk patient, he added. | He should have been recognised as a high-risk patient, he added. |
Saadallah was released from prison on 5 June 2020 and went to live in a flat in Basingstoke Road in Reading before he started preparing the attack. | Saadallah was released from prison on 5 June 2020 and went to live in a flat in Basingstoke Road in Reading before he started preparing the attack. |
He visited Forbury Gardens, researched it online and bought a knife in a Morrisons supermarket. | He visited Forbury Gardens, researched it online and bought a knife in a Morrisons supermarket. |
CCTV cameras captured Khairi Saadallah before and after the stabbing | CCTV cameras captured Khairi Saadallah before and after the stabbing |
CCTV cameras captured Khairi Saadallah before and after the stabbing | CCTV cameras captured Khairi Saadallah before and after the stabbing |
The night before the murders, local officers visited Saadallah after his brother rang police to raise concerns about his mental state. | The night before the murders, local officers visited Saadallah after his brother rang police to raise concerns about his mental state. |
Body-worn video from the two-minute encounter shows Saadallah reassuring the officers, who asked how he was feeling and if he had enough food. | Body-worn video from the two-minute encounter shows Saadallah reassuring the officers, who asked how he was feeling and if he had enough food. |
A carrier bag containing a knife was visible on the floor behind him. | A carrier bag containing a knife was visible on the floor behind him. |
On 20 June, his attack was "ruthless and lethal", prosecutors at his murder trial said. He attacked his victims so quickly that those who died had no idea what was happening. | On 20 June, his attack was "ruthless and lethal", prosecutors at his murder trial said. He attacked his victims so quickly that those who died had no idea what was happening. |
He shouted "Allahu Akbar [God is greatest]" as he attacked, and again as he ran away into Reading town centre, where he was chased and arrested by unarmed police. | He shouted "Allahu Akbar [God is greatest]" as he attacked, and again as he ran away into Reading town centre, where he was chased and arrested by unarmed police. |
A memorial was unveiled at Forbury Gardens' bandstand in 2023 | A memorial was unveiled at Forbury Gardens' bandstand in 2023 |
When he was sentenced in January 2021, Judge Mr Justice Sweeney said Saadallah carried out a "ruthless and brutal" attack. | When he was sentenced in January 2021, Judge Mr Justice Sweeney said Saadallah carried out a "ruthless and brutal" attack. |
He said the three men "had no chance to react, let alone defend themselves". | He said the three men "had no chance to react, let alone defend themselves". |
The judge added he was sure the attack "involved a substantial degree of premeditation or planning" and was carried out "for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, or ideological cause". | The judge added he was sure the attack "involved a substantial degree of premeditation or planning" and was carried out "for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, or ideological cause". |
Speaking outside court, Dr David Wails' brother Andrew said: "The failings of the state exposed by this inquest sicken and disgust me, those who failed in their duties are responsible for David, James and Joe's deaths. | Speaking outside court, Dr David Wails' brother Andrew said: "The failings of the state exposed by this inquest sicken and disgust me, those who failed in their duties are responsible for David, James and Joe's deaths. |
"I will never forgive and never forget the pain and suffering inflicted on David and my family, which we have to endure for the rest of our lives." | "I will never forgive and never forget the pain and suffering inflicted on David and my family, which we have to endure for the rest of our lives." |
Andrew Wails said he would "never forgive" the failings | Andrew Wails said he would "never forgive" the failings |
A spokesperson for Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said there had been "significant learnings" in the trust since the Forbury Gardens attack. | A spokesperson for Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said there had been "significant learnings" in the trust since the Forbury Gardens attack. |
They said changes were "focussed on much better communication and engagement with our partners and the way in which multi-agency working is delivered." | They said changes were "focussed on much better communication and engagement with our partners and the way in which multi-agency working is delivered." |
"We will now review the coroner's findings and work alongside all agencies involved, to ensure any further learning and improvements can be agreed and embedded as quickly as possible," they added. | "We will now review the coroner's findings and work alongside all agencies involved, to ensure any further learning and improvements can be agreed and embedded as quickly as possible," they added. |
Speaking on behalf of Counter Terrorism Policing South East and Thames Valley Police, Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe said they acknowledged the inquest's conclusion. | Speaking on behalf of Counter Terrorism Policing South East and Thames Valley Police, Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe said they acknowledged the inquest's conclusion. |
He said: "We in policing have not waited until this point to make changes where needed. | He said: "We in policing have not waited until this point to make changes where needed. |
"Much has already been done to address these issues, but let me be clear, I know that there is still work to do." | "Much has already been done to address these issues, but let me be clear, I know that there is still work to do." |
He said police had an "unrelenting" commitment to learn, change and improve "where required". | He said police had an "unrelenting" commitment to learn, change and improve "where required". |
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Related Topics | Related Topics |
Berkshire | Berkshire |
Reading stabbings | Reading stabbings |
Reading | Reading |