The UK police have admitted that they knew one of the attackers of the London Bridge.
Apparently, the police were aware of the fact that one of the suspects was a member of an outlawed radical Islamist group. However, they closed the investigation on him due to the fact that there was no evidence that he represented an imminent threat.
The name of the known attacker is Khuram Shazad Butt and was associated with the extremist group al-Muhajiroun. The group is co-founded by preacher Anjem Choudary and was present in the documentary named “The Jihadis Next Door”, 2016.
Mark Rowley, assistant commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police said that even though Khuram was a known figure to the authorities, “there was no intelligence to suggest that this attack was being planned, and the investigation had been prioritized accordingly.”
“Work is ongoing to understand more about (the attackers), their connections and whether they were assisted or supported by anyone else. We cannot say more about them at this stage.”
He also added that, in the moment, the UK is in great danger and faces severe terrorist threats.
The attack of the three men who drove in a van into pedestrians on London Bridge resulted in the death of seven people and 48 others who suffered severe injuries. The attackers leaped out and started stabbing people in the nearby bars and restaurants. This was an image taken out of a horror movie and has left everyone in shock.
After the attack, twelve people were arrested but will now be released without charge. The police also reported that officers had raided an addres in Ilford.
As a result of the police investigations, two attackers have been identified and a third one is yet to have his name released. The first attacker, Butt, is a 27-year-old British citizen, born in Pakistan. The second is Rachid Redouane, a 30-year-old who claimed to be Moroccan and Libyan.
Moreover, a London mosque said that Butt did not attend prayers and was once asked to leave an incident a few years ago when he interrupted a Friday sermon.
