Boris Johnson asks why Streatham jihadi was not kept behind bars and vows to come down hard on terror offenders
BORIS Johnson tonight demanded to know why the Streatham jihadi was released from jail as he vows to crack down on sick terror offenders.
Crazed extremist Sudesh Amman, 20, strapped a fake bomb vest to his chest before stabbing two people in South London after being released from prison two days earlier.
Who was Sudesh Amman?
Amman, from Harrow, North London, was sentenced to more than three years in jail for committing terror offenses but let-out on automatic release after serving half his sentence - despite concerns he still held extremist views.
The ISIS-supporting jihadi, who was only a teenager when arrested, was jailed for possessing and distributing terrorist documents.
Amman also shared an Al-Qaeda magazine in his family WhatsApp group and told his siblings "the Islamic State is here to stay", the Old Bailey heard.
He possessed bomb-making manuals and fantasised about carrying out acid attacks, his trial was told.
A Whitehall source said Amman was released early from prison because there was nothing the authorities could do under existing laws to keep him behind bars.
He was put under the most stringent licensing terms and hence why police were on the scene so quickly after today's attack.
Now Prime Minister Johnson wants to know why the twisted knifeman, from Harrow, served only half his three year jail term for terror offences.
On Monday, the Tory leader will announce new plans on how to deal with brainwashed jihadis.
A source said: “The public will look at this case and say ‘why wasn’t this individual kept behind bars?’ and the PM shares that view.
“The PM’s put forward some plans already. This shines a spotlight on something else, which is people who were sentenced at the lower end of the spectrum who are entitled to automatic release at the halfway point.”
The police and Home Office were worried Amman’s “language would suggest that he continued to hold extremist views”, it was claimed.
This comes as Mr Johnson thanked the emergency services after the extremist was shot and killed by anti-terror cops.
The PM said his thoughts were with those wounded and affected by the incident in South London.
He tweeted: "Thank you to all emergency services responding to the incident in Streatham, which the police have now declared as terrorism-related.
"My thoughts are with the injured victims and their loved ones following today’s horrific attack in Streatham.
What we know so far:
- A man was shot dead by armed police on Streatham High Street on Sunday afternoon after stabbing two people
- Frantic witnesses said they heard gunshots and saw the man lying on the pavement near shops
- The knifeman was later named as Sudesh Amman, 20, from Harrow, North London
- It has emerged that he was released from jail just DAYS before carrying out the blade attack
- He had served only half his three year sentence for handing out extremist material
“I want to pay tribute to the speed and bravery of the police who responded and confronted the attacker – preventing further injuries and violence – and all of the emergency services who came to the aid of others.
“An investigation is taking place at pace to establish the full facts of what happened, and the Government will provide all necessary support to the police and security services as this work goes on.
“Following the awful events at Fishmonger’s Hall in December, we have moved quickly to introduce a package of measures to strengthen every element of our response to terrorism – including longer prison sentences and more money for the police.
“Tomorrow, we will announce further plans for fundamental changes to the system for dealing with those convicted of terrorism offences.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel added: "I am being kept updated by on this afternoon’s incident in Streatham, which has been declared terrorist-related. "My first thoughts are with the victims, our brave police and emergency services and their families."
London Mayor Sadiq Khan this afternoon said: "Terrorists seek to divide us and to destroy our way of life - here in London we will never let them succeed."
Video footage from the scene showed undercover cops in plain clothes swooping on Amman, 20, as he lies gunned down on the pavement in Streatham High Road.
Seconds later, in scenes straight out of an action movie, another cop in plain clothes leaps off a motorbike as the expert team surround the jihadi, in footage captured by a passenger on a bus.
The officers dressed like members of the public wearing man bags, jeans and even holding shopping bags, then secure the scene and stand guard over Amman.
They then order shoppers and witnesses to move away as he lies bleeding on the pavement.
A witness claimed they saw a man wearing silver canisters strapped to his chest, wielding a machete being chased by undercover officer moments before armed cops swooped.
But Scotland Yard said Amman was wearing a fake suicide vest.
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The Met Police later said that three people were injured in the deadly attack but one has since been discharged from hospital.
Today Frantic witnesses heard gunshots and saw the man Amman collapse on the pavement.
Kiranjeet Singh, 38, told the Sun Online said the jihadi stole a 10inch knife from his brother's bargain shop before leaving a trail of injured people in his wake.
He stabbed a terrified woman in the back before she ran away screaming in pain, another witness said, before slashing a young man in the chest with a "huge knife".
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