This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2017/jun/06/london-attack-questions-police-khuram-butt-rachid-redouane-live
The article has changed 35 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
Next version
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| London attack: questions over what police knew about Khuram Butt and Rachid Redouane – live | London attack: questions over what police knew about Khuram Butt and Rachid Redouane – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.07am BST | |
| 07:07 | |
| Little has been made public so far about Rachid Redouane, who police say was not known to them before Saturday’s attack. But Khuram Butt was on the radar of counter-terrorism investigators, as the Guardian reports: | |
| Butt went by the name Abu Zaitun and was known widely as Abs by friends at the gymnasium where he trained in weightlifting and at the two mosques where he worshipped. He had two young children, a son aged about three and a recently born baby, with a woman described locally as his wife. He reportedly had jobs on the London transport network and in a fast food restaurant and lived a couple of miles from his mother in Plaistow, east London. | |
| In recent years his fundamentalist approach to religion repeatedly caused concern among people who knew him. He associated with al-Muhajiroun, the banned extremist group whose leader, Anjem Choudary, has been linked to the recruitment of more than 100 British terrorism suspects. | |
| Community sources in east London active in working against al-Muhajiroun and the groups that succeeded it, said Butt was asked not to enter the east London mosque after concerns about his activities. One source at the mosque, on Whitechapel Road, said that after the 2017 general election was called he was seen handing out flyers telling Muslims they should not vote or participate in the democratic process. In 2015, he was asked not to enter the mosque having tried to urge worshippers inside the building not to vote. | |
| He was also forcibly ejected from a Barking mosque, Jabir bin Zayd, after he repeatedly interrupted the imam shouting “only God is in charge” and refusing to stop. It is believed he was also urging people not to vote at that mosque ahead of the 2015 poll. It was around this time that the police opened their investigation into Butt. | |
| He also featured in a Channel 4 documentary about British jihadis broadcast last year, which showed he was involved in an altercation with police after a black flag was unfurled in Regent’s Park in London. | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.14am BST | |
| 6.57am BST | |
| 06:57 | |
| My colleague Hannah Ellis-Petersen was at the vigil on Monday evening for the victims of the London attack: | |
| Standing in the crowd, bearing the banner with the sign “Not In My Name”, was Qasim Chowdhury, 38, who said the Muslim community of London was shocked at the attack. He said it had been important for him to see Sadiq Khan emphasising how those who carried out the stabbings in the busy restaurants and pubs of Borough Market were not representative of the values of Islam. | |
| “This was a barbaric act, a heinous crime, and there’s no place for that in our religion,” said Chowdhury. “If you look at the meaning of Islam, it means peace, so for Islam to be associated with these types of crimes, these murderous acts, it has really shaken our whole community.” | |
| He said he and many around him were worried about how terror and fear might change the welcoming spirit of London. “I never for once thought I would be witnessing this in my life,” said Chowdhury, who grew up in the city. “Islam is unfortunately now on the back foot because of the actions of a few.” | |
| One family of three, who stood in the crowd sobbing and asked not to be named, said simply that they had lost someone in the Manchester terror attacks and had come to London to show “solidarity and strength”. | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.06am BST | |
| 6.40am BST | 6.40am BST |
| 06:40 | 06:40 |
| Peter Walker | Peter Walker |
| The London Bridge attack has put issues of security and counter-terrorism at the top of some voters’ election concerns, according to focus group work carried out for the Guardian, although the issue does not seem to be favouring either major party. | The London Bridge attack has put issues of security and counter-terrorism at the top of some voters’ election concerns, according to focus group work carried out for the Guardian, although the issue does not seem to be favouring either major party. |
| Comments from undecided voters in six key constituencies following the attack that killed seven people on Saturday night are notably different to those after the Manchester bombing, according to BritainThinks, which has been carrying out the work with the Guardian. | |
| Tom Clarkson, the associate director of BritainThinks, said a number of those asked on Sunday what the most important issues would be affecting their vote pointed to security: | Tom Clarkson, the associate director of BritainThinks, said a number of those asked on Sunday what the most important issues would be affecting their vote pointed to security: |
| While the Manchester Arena attack prompted an outpouring of shock and disgust among the swing voters participating in the research, Saturday night’s terrible events have prompted far more comments around the political response to the threat of terrorism. | While the Manchester Arena attack prompted an outpouring of shock and disgust among the swing voters participating in the research, Saturday night’s terrible events have prompted far more comments around the political response to the threat of terrorism. |
| Many swing voters have suggested that security and terrorism are now the most important issue determining how they will vote on Thursday – and there now appears a greater belief that this is an ongoing challenge for the country, rather than just a terrible one-off event. | Many swing voters have suggested that security and terrorism are now the most important issue determining how they will vote on Thursday – and there now appears a greater belief that this is an ongoing challenge for the country, rather than just a terrible one-off event. |
| Updated | |
| at 6.53am BST | |
| 6.28am BST | 6.28am BST |
| 06:28 | 06:28 |
| Fears are growing for missing Brisbane woman Sara Zelenak, who became separated from friends at the scene of the London Bridge terrorism attack, Australian Associated Press has reported. | Fears are growing for missing Brisbane woman Sara Zelenak, who became separated from friends at the scene of the London Bridge terrorism attack, Australian Associated Press has reported. |
| A Facebook post by a family friend shared hundreds of times on Monday appealed for information about the 21-year-old, saying she usually rang her mother daily. | A Facebook post by a family friend shared hundreds of times on Monday appealed for information about the 21-year-old, saying she usually rang her mother daily. |
| Zelenak’s stepfather, Mark Wallace, said from Brisbane that British authorities had been unable to shed any light on where she was following the attack on Saturday night UK time. | Zelenak’s stepfather, Mark Wallace, said from Brisbane that British authorities had been unable to shed any light on where she was following the attack on Saturday night UK time. |
| “I feel terrible, I can’t think,” he told News Corp. “I’ve contacted every hospital in London but they can’t give out patient details or even tell us if she has been admitted.” Wallace said Zelenak’s mother, Julie Wallace, was flying to London to try to find her daughter. Zelenak had moved to London in March to work as an au pair. | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.54am BST | |
| 6.17am BST | 6.17am BST |
| 06:17 | 06:17 |
| The Metropolitan police confirmed on Monday night that all of those arrested on Sunday in connection with the attack have been released without charge. Twelve people had been detained but have now been freed: | |
| A 38-year-old woman arrested at address 1 in Barking. | A 38-year-old woman arrested at address 1 in Barking. |
| A 28-year-old man arrested at address 2 in Barking. | |
| A 52-year-old man arrested at address 2 in Barking. | A 52-year-old man arrested at address 2 in Barking. |
| A 55-year-old man arrested at address 2 in Barking. | A 55-year-old man arrested at address 2 in Barking. |
| A 27-year-old man arrested at address 2 in Barking. | A 27-year-old man arrested at address 2 in Barking. |
| A 55-year-old man arrested at address 2 in Barking. | A 55-year-old man arrested at address 2 in Barking. |
| A 49-year-old woman arrested at address 2 in Barking. | A 49-year-old woman arrested at address 2 in Barking. |
| A 60-year-old woman arrested at address 2 in Barking. | A 60-year-old woman arrested at address 2 in Barking. |
| A 19-year-old woman arrested at address 2 in Barking. | A 19-year-old woman arrested at address 2 in Barking. |
| A 27-year-old female arrested at address 2 in Barking. | A 27-year-old female arrested at address 2 in Barking. |
| A 24-year-old female arrested at address 2 in Barking. | A 24-year-old female arrested at address 2 in Barking. |
| A 53-year-old woman arrested at address 2 in Barking. | A 53-year-old woman arrested at address 2 in Barking. |
| Updated | |
| at 6.58am BST | |
| 6.06am BST | 6.06am BST |
| 06:06 | 06:06 |
| A 23-year-old man arrested in the Chorlton area of Manchester the day after the arena bombing was also released overnight without charge. | A 23-year-old man arrested in the Chorlton area of Manchester the day after the arena bombing was also released overnight without charge. |
| Greater Manchester police did not name him, but the description matches that of Ismail Abedi, the brother of suicide bomber Salman Abedi. | Greater Manchester police did not name him, but the description matches that of Ismail Abedi, the brother of suicide bomber Salman Abedi. |
| 5.52am BST | 5.52am BST |
| 05:52 | 05:52 |
| The Metropolitan police says officers have been conducting a search at an address in Ilford, east London, overnight and into this morning. | The Metropolitan police says officers have been conducting a search at an address in Ilford, east London, overnight and into this morning. |
| It says nobody has been arrested. | It says nobody has been arrested. |
| 5.34am BST | 5.34am BST |
| 05:34 | 05:34 |
| What we know so far | What we know so far |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| Police have identified two of the three London Bridge attackers as Khuram Butt and Rachid Redouane. The third perpetrator has not been named. | Police have identified two of the three London Bridge attackers as Khuram Butt and Rachid Redouane. The third perpetrator has not been named. |
| Officials confirmed that Butt, 27, who was born in Pakistan but brought up in the UK, was known to police and had been investigated in 2015. He had appeared in a Channel 4 documentary, The Jihadis Next Door, and had been reported to the anti-terrorism hotline for extremism. | Officials confirmed that Butt, 27, who was born in Pakistan but brought up in the UK, was known to police and had been investigated in 2015. He had appeared in a Channel 4 documentary, The Jihadis Next Door, and had been reported to the anti-terrorism hotline for extremism. |
| Butt was also linked to al-Muhajiroun, the banned extremist group whose leader, Anjem Choudary, was jailed last year for encouraging support for Islamic State. | Butt was also linked to al-Muhajiroun, the banned extremist group whose leader, Anjem Choudary, was jailed last year for encouraging support for Islamic State. |
| But his case was ranked in the “lower echelons” of counter-terrorism investigations and he was not suspected of planning an attack. | But his case was ranked in the “lower echelons” of counter-terrorism investigations and he was not suspected of planning an attack. |
| Redouane, 30, who reportedly claimed to be Moroccan and Libyan, was not known to police or MI5. | Redouane, 30, who reportedly claimed to be Moroccan and Libyan, was not known to police or MI5. |
| Twelve people – seven women and five men – who were arrested at two properties in Barking on Sunday were released without charge on Monday evening, police said. | Twelve people – seven women and five men – who were arrested at two properties in Barking on Sunday were released without charge on Monday evening, police said. |
| Hundreds of people gathered in London on Monday evening in a vigil for the seven people killed and dozens wounded. | Hundreds of people gathered in London on Monday evening in a vigil for the seven people killed and dozens wounded. |
| Two of those killed have been named as Christine Archibald, from Canada, and Londoner James McMullan. A French citizen, as yet unidentified, is also known to have died. | Two of those killed have been named as Christine Archibald, from Canada, and Londoner James McMullan. A French citizen, as yet unidentified, is also known to have died. |
| Others remain missing, including 21-year-old Australian Sara Zelenak. | Others remain missing, including 21-year-old Australian Sara Zelenak. |
| There are 36 people still being treated in hospital for their injuries; 18 of them are in critical care. | There are 36 people still being treated in hospital for their injuries; 18 of them are in critical care. |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron have continued to criticise the prime minister, Theresa May, over cuts to police numbers. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron have continued to criticise the prime minister, Theresa May, over cuts to police numbers. |
| A book of condolence for the victims opens today at 9am at Southwark council headquarters in Tooley Street; it will move to Southwark Cathedral once the police cordon around the site of the Borough Market attack is lifted. | A book of condolence for the victims opens today at 9am at Southwark council headquarters in Tooley Street; it will move to Southwark Cathedral once the police cordon around the site of the Borough Market attack is lifted. |
| There will be a minute’s silence across the UK at 11am. | There will be a minute’s silence across the UK at 11am. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.40am BST | at 5.40am BST |