Reading terror suspect Khairi Saadallah 'came to attention of MI5 last year' | London Evening Standard

Reading terror suspect Khairi Saadallah 'came to attention of MI5 last year'

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The terror suspect held after the killing of three people in a Reading park briefly came to the attention of MI5 last year, security sources have said.

Khairi Saadallah, a 25-year-old refugee who fled the civil war in Libya, was detained at the scene on suspicion of murder but was on Sunday re-arrested under the Terrorism Act.

Three other people were injured during the attack at 7pm on Saturday in Forbury Gardens in Reading town centre.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “appalled and sickened” by the attack and said “we will not hesitate to take action” if there are lessons to be learned from the circumstances.

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The PA news agency has reported that Saadallah briefly came to the attention of the security services in 2019, but the information provided did not meet the threshold for investigation.

It has been reported that Saadallah briefly came to attention of MI5PA

Meanwhile, one of the victims of Saturday’s attack was named by The Holt School in Wokingham as James Furlong, its head of history and government and politics.

A letter from the school, which has been shared online, describes Mr Furlong as a “kind and gentle man” who had a “real sense of duty and cared for each and every one of our students”.

Forensics officers respond to an attack in Forbury Gardens, ReadingPA

Deliveroo driver Amir Hadyoon, 31, saw a man who was covered in blood arrested outside the Job Centre at the opposite end of Friar Street from Forbury Gardens.

Mr Hadyoon told reporters the man had not resisted the officers, adding: “To me it looked very weird because he didn’t say a word. He didn’t care, he was just staring… he was just completely silent.

“He wasn’t even blinking, he looked really weird.”

Mr Furlong's parents paid tribute to a 'wonderful son'Family handout

Investigators have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack.

Thames Valley Chief Constable John Campbell said: “Incidents of this nature are very rare, though I know that will be of little comfort to those involved and understand the concern that this incident will have caused amongst our local community.

“We will be working closely with our partners over the coming days and weeks to support the Reading community during this time, as well as with Counter-Terror Police South East (CTPSE) as they progress their investigation.”