London terror attack – live: Man wearing hoax suicide vest shot dead by police after three injured in ‘Islamist-related’ stabbings in Streatham
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A convicted terrorist was shot dead by armed police after stabbing two people on a London high street.
The Metropolitan Police said they were treating the incident in Streatham at 2pm on Sunday as an Islamist-related attack.
Officers named the suspect as Sudesh Amman, 20, who had been released from prison days earlier.
A man in his 40s remains in hospital but is no longer in a life-threatening condition. A woman in her 50s was discharged following treatment.
Police said a third victim suffered minor injuries, believed to be caused by flying glass during the shooting of the suspect.
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Boris Johnson is due to give a statement to camera about the Streatham terror attack at 8.30pm.
Residents who live within the cordon around the scene are still waiting to return to their homes, according to PA.
Officers have reportedly told them they are not sure when the cordon will come down but it could be tomorrow.
Boris Johnson has released a longer statement on the terror attack today.
The prime minister said:
"My thoughts are with the injured victims and their loved ones following today’s horrific attack in Streatham.
"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."
Here is another update on the situation for residents who live inside the police cordon.
Officers at the scene have said stranded residents are being offered temporary accommodation inside the Odeon cinema in the cordon, according to PA.
They added that workers at Lambeth Council are inside looking after those affected.
Streatham suspect was released from prison days ago, Whitehall sources say
Whitehall sources have said the suspect in the attack today had been released from prison days ago after serving half of a more than three year sentence for the possession and distribution of extremist material.
“He was under surveillance, that is what allowed police to do their job so quickly. It could have been much worse than it was,” sources said.
“There was nothing that could be done to keep him behind bars under existing laws, hence why he was under surveillance and strict licencing conditions.”
There were concerns that the suspect still held extremist views before their release from prison, according to sources.
They added: “This shines a light on something that clearly needs addressing.”
As mentioned in his statement earlier, Boris Johnson intends to announce plans for “fundamental changes” to deal with those convicted of terrorism offences tomorrow.
The Streatham terror suspect is understood to be Sudesh Amman, who was jailed after police found a stash of bomb-making manuals and other propaganda.
Here is Lizzie Dearden's report from that court hearing in December 2018:
The suspect's release from prison - said to be only days ago - is likely to renew the debate about jail sentences for terror offences which erupted following the London Bridge attack last year.
In November Boris Johson vowed to end early release for convicted terrorists and bring in minimum 14 year sentences for "serious" offences. It is not clear whether disseminating terrorist publications - as in the case of Sudesh Amman - would be considered a "serious terrorist offence".
Home secretary Priti Patel said that the government will announce new changes to the system for dealing with convicted terrorists.
In a TV interview a few minutes ago she said that the suspect “clearly had some history in relation to terrorist offences”.
The government has previously announced several measures including ending early release and putting terrorists through lie detector tests.
Here are the details of that "major overhaul' revealed less than two weeks ago:
The Henry Jackson Society, a conservative think tank which has analysed terror attacks, claimed that it had warned last month that Amman was due for release and should not be let out of prison.
Sam Armstrong, head of communications, said Amman was thought to have been staying in a bail hostel in Tulse Hill.
Victim of Streatham terror attack no longer in life-threatening condition, say police
Deputy assistant commissioner Lucy D'Orsi has said the condition of a man in his 40s has improved and he is no longer in a life-threatening condition.
A woman in her 50s who was also stabbed has left hospital.
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