Streatham terror: Authorities expected imminent attack after Sudesh Amman’s violent outbursts in prison, security sources say
‘Many people do change in prison. But that was certainly not the case with Amman,’ security official tells Kim Sengupta
Sudesh Amman was automatically released halfway through his sentence despite his violent threats in prison causing such alarm that he was put under intense surveillance as soon as he was back on the streets, according to security sources.
Not only did the 20-year-old extremist show no signs of remorse or reform, but his aggressive behaviour was also escalating to the extent that it was decided that he may carry out brutal attacks at any time.
No evidence has yet emerged that Amman – who stabbed two people in Streatham, south London, before being shot dead by police on Sunday – was part of a wider conspiracy, and security agencies are not looking for anyone else at present. But they were aware he was a “lone wolf” capable of carrying out acts of extreme violence.
The early release of another terrorist, Usman Khan – who, like Amman, went on to carry out a knife rampage, killing two people – was more understandable, said officials, because he had made a deliberate effort to present himself as someone wanting to change.
He had, for instance, made a request from prison to join a de-radicalisation programme so that he could “prove I don’t carry the extreme views that I had carried before.”
In the case of Amman, an extraordinary picture has emerged of MI5 and Scotland Yard’s Counter Terrorism Command having prepared urgent measures, including tracking by armed police officers, without being able to prevent him from being released and becoming a danger to the public.
“Usman Khan had successfully invented himself as a poster boy for de-radicalisation and thus there was a belief in some quarters that he was no longer dangerous,” said a security official. “Many people do change in prison. But that was certainly not the case with Amman – there was no reason to think he would not be dangerous, but nothing could be done to stop him being freed.”
Amman carried out knife attacks at Streatham High Road 10 days after he was freed on licence and placed in a bail hostel. He was fitted with a GPS tag, had restrictions put on his use of the internet, surrendered his passport and was banned from going to ports and airports.
While serving time in Belmarsh prison he had declared his intention to do “something real” like killing an MP, emulating the murder of Jo Cox, according to fellow inmates. They also claimed that he regularly espoused conducting violent jihad.
Amman was jailed for three years and four months following his trial in December 2018 on six charges of possessing documents containing terrorist information and seven of disseminating terrorist publications. He was seen smiling while he was being sentenced.
His arrest by armed officers in May 2018 had been on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack using knives. However, there were no charges at the end on terrorism planning following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, police said.
The trial judge, Mark Lucraft QC, said in court that that the sentencing guidelines for some of the counts Amman faced were three to five years, while others were for four to six years. He told Amman that that he would serve half his sentence and then be released under licence, as is standard.
The time he had spent incarcerated in remand was taken into consideration in sentencing as was his plea of guilty, his young age – he was 17 when some of the offences were committed – and his relatively minor previous convictions of having a broken bottle as an offensive weapon and possessing cannabis.
A new law to prevent the automatic release of terrorists is now being rushed through parliament before 27 February, before an offender thought to pose a risk to the public is due to be released the next day.