Reading stabbing – Cops confirm bloodbath WAS terror attack as Libyan man, 25, is arrested before nighttime raid
COPS have confirmed the Reading bloodbath which left three men dead and three others injured was a terror attack.
The suspect is understood to be 25-year-old Khairi Saadallah - a Libyan refugee who has been in and out of jail since coming to Britain several years ago.
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Sources have said he was known to officers and previously spent at least 12 months in prison for various assaults - he was jailed in December last year after assalting a Sainsbury's security guard.
It is thought he was being supervised by the National Probation Service, which monitors high risk offenders.
Usually asylum seekers convicted in the UK would be deported, but the suspect remained here due to conflict in Libya.
Police in Reading initially said the rampage was not being treated as terror, but confirmed this morning Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) have taken over the investigation.
Security sources have said mental health is also being considered as a major factor in the attack.
It comes after footage believed to show the suspected knifeman being pinned to the floor in the road by cops and arrested emerged.
What we know so far:
- Counter-terror cops take over probe, as police confirm it was a terror attack
- Three men confirmed to have been stabbed to death, with three others taken to hospital
- Witness told how he saw blood spurting from the victims
- A hero cop spotted the knifeman and 'rugby tackled' him to the ground
- The Libyan suspect was arrested on suspicion of murder and is in custody - he has previously been in jail for "violent" offences
- Around 20 armed counter-terror cops raided a block of flats thought to be linked to the suspect
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his thoughts were with the victims - he chaired a meeting this morning
The head of counter terrorism policing, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said police are not currently seeking anyone else as part of the investigation.
Multiple people were stabbed around 7pm on Saturday after the knifeman approached a group of middle aged men "sitting drinking beer".
Distressing video showed people covered in blood and not moving as they lay on the ground.
It is thought the group may have picked up takeaway beers from a nearby pub just moments before the attack in Forbury Gardens.
The suspect, from Reading, was reportedly "rugby-tackled" to the ground by a hero cop and arrested on suspicion of murder.
Hours later counter-terror cops raided a block of flats less than a mile away, thought to be linked to the knifeman.
A lot of people sat around drinking with friends when one lone person walked through, suddenly shouted some unintelligible words and went around a large group of around 10, trying to stab them.
Witness
Next door neighbour Mohamed Seliman, 29, told the Sun Online: “I only met him about two weeks ago, he was from Libya.
"He didn’t seem himself on Friday, he was just sitting on the stairs with his head against the handrail.”
Another resident of the block ,Sophie Parker, 25, said it was “terrifying” when cops "screamed in" last night.
She said: “He kept himself to himself so none of us knew him, except that he was in and out of prison.
“About 50 police officers turned up on Saturday, armed with guns. "
Cops this morning confirmed three people had died, while three others were rushed to hospital. Two of them have since been discharged.
Around 20 armed police and counter-terrorism officers were seen outside a property overnight in the town’s Basingstoke Road.
COUNTER-TERROR SEARCH
Masked officers in tactical gear carrying semi-automatic rifles and a disc cutter searched through flats in a residential block.
More than a dozen neighbours were evacuated as the tooled-up cops went into the £230,000 flat, with some reporting hearing "bangs" and a fire alarm going off at about 1am.
After the attack hero officers were seen giving CPR to the victims and one was heard shouting: "He's still breathing." Another, believed to be a medic, was asking for a defibrillator.
Authorities have urged people not to share the shocking footage on social media but to come to them with information.
Blue and white tents have been erected next to the walls of the park, with officers patrolling a cordon.
Floral tributes have been left near to the park this morning, one person wrote a note: "Reading weeps. I could not sleep, I had to come and say goodbye."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said today: "I am appalled and sickened that people should lose their lives in this way and our thoughts are very much with the families and friends of the victims today.
He said: "I thought they were playing duck duck goose and thought someone had been sick, we realised it was blood spraying out."
Cops are still standing guard at the flat in Basingstoke Road, where shocked neighbours told of their horror.
One, who did not wish to be named, said: "I've only spoken to him for 30 minutes, I didn't know the guy but it makes me scared. I have a son. I had no idea he (the suspect) could do something like this."
The arrest of the knifeman was witnessed by 31-year-old delivery rider Amir Hadyrra, who saw the police sergeant and four other officers rugby tackle him to the ground.
He said: "One of the officers just rugby tackled him to the ground. He had run almost a mile from the scene. When he was on the ground he wasn't resisting at all.
"It was strange but quite scary. There were four or five police officers on top of him but he didn't shout out or anything.
The last terror attack on British soil was in February in Streatham, South London - Sudesh Amman, 20, was killed by police after stabbing two people on the high street.
The UK's terror threat level was downgraded from "severe" to "substantial" on November 4 - its lowest level since 2014.
Thames Valley Police Federation chairman Craig O'Leary:
"First and foremost our thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones in the horrific incident last night and we wish our very best to those still injured.
"There can be no doubt that the swift response of our Thames Valley Police colleagues saved further harm from being caused and potentially more lives from being lost.
"There are barely words to describe their bravery - officers who ran towards danger with the sole thought of protecting the public we serve.
"Other colleagues valiantly rushed to the scene to try and save and preserve life.
"While the investigation into this incident continues, what we can say is the public can rightly be proud of their emergency services today.
"We are offering our colleagues involved in this incident our full support."
Thames Valley Police said: "Police attended at around 7pm along with other emergency services.
"Officers arrested a man at the scene who is now in police custody.
"A number of people sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.
"A police cordon is in place in Forbury Gardens as officers investigate. We are asking the public to avoid the area at this time."
The PM held a meeting at 9am today with security offficals , police and security ministers.
Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted: "Deeply concerned to hear reports of an incident in Reading.
"My thoughts are with everyone involved, including police and emergency responders at the scene."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock this morning told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: "The police are clearly investigating, they have not currently stated this is a terrorism investigation but rather a murder investigation and my heart goes out to the family and friends of the victims and clearly it's a shocking event."
My thoughts are with all of those affected by the appalling incident in Reading and my thanks to the emergency services on the scene.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Earlier in the day, a Black Lives Matter protest was held in the park with the Forbury Gardens bandstand used to deliver speeches.
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BLM organisers and police confirmed the incident was not connected to the protest.
Thames Valley Police said: "There is no indication that this incident is linked to the Black Lives Matter protest that took place in Reading today."