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WHY WAS HE FREE?

Reading terror suspect Khairi Saadallah released from mental hospital days before attack after severe psychotic episode

ANGER grew on Tuesday over why terror suspect Khairi Saadallah was not detained before his alleged kill spree.

He was held after three people were knifed to death in a park.

Reading attacker suspect Khairi Saadallah was discharged from Reading’s Prospect Park mental hospital last week
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Reading attacker suspect Khairi Saadallah was discharged from Reading’s Prospect Park mental hospital last weekCredit: PA:Press Association
The suspected terrorist went 'off radar' the day before Saturday evening’s stabbings in a Reading park
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The suspected terrorist went 'off radar' the day before Saturday evening’s stabbings in a Reading park

The alleged spice addict, 25, collapsed from a severe psychotic episode following a drugs binge — just days after being released from jail.

The Sun can reveal he was discharged from Reading’s Prospect Park mental hospital last week.

It is feared that a failure to section him under the Mental Health Act freed him to launch into another bender. It caused him to go “off radar” the day before Saturday evening’s stabbings in a Reading park.

The Libyan asylum seeker was taken back to his flat in the south of the Berkshire town despite apparently breaching the terms of his release.

The next day, he is alleged to have fatally knifed pals James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails and wounded nine others in Forbury Gardens. 

The Libyan asylum seeker had a severe psychotic episode days before his release from jail
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The Libyan asylum seeker had a severe psychotic episode days before his release from jailCredit: Collect
(L-R) Joe Ritchie-Bennett, James Furlong and David Wails have been named as the three victims of the Reading terror attack
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(L-R) Joe Ritchie-Bennett, James Furlong and David Wails have been named as the three victims of the Reading terror attackCredit: PA:Press Association
The scene of the knife attack in Reading's Forbury Gardens
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The scene of the knife attack in Reading's Forbury Gardens Credit: PA:Press Association
Forensic officers attend Forbury Gardens after the incident
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Forensic officers attend Forbury Gardens after the incidentCredit: PA:Press Association
Armed cops at a block of flats off Basingstoke Rd in Reading after the attack
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Armed cops at a block of flats off Basingstoke Rd in Reading after the attackCredit: PA:Press Association

Sources revealed that Saadallah’s “terror links” were officially logged months ago while he was doing time for affray in Bullingdon prison, Oxon.

He was said to have boasted — within earshot of staff — that he had fought for and against IS.

Intelligence services were informed.

Saadallah was referred to the Government’s Prevent deradicalisation programme, but Prevent officials took no action.

He was released on licence from jail 16 days before the killings.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: “There were clearly very many worrying signals. The bottom line is that people have made crucial decisions in this case — and others are having to live with the consequences.”

Saadallah’s family have denied he is a terrorist.

His mum, in Tripoli, said: “If he’s a terrorist then England made him a terrorist.” She added her son “loved Western life”.

Reading terror suspect's relatives shows condolences for victims after triple stabbing

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