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London attacks: Spanish authorities decry lack of information over missing man - live London attacks: Spanish authorities decry lack of information over missing man - live
(about 1 hour later)
10.02pm BST
22:02
Corbyn rejects May's plan to rip-up human rights laws
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, says Theresa May’s plans would not deter further attacks.
We will always keep the law under review, but don’t believe would-be terrorists and suicide bombers will be deterred by longer sentences or restricting our rights at home.
The right response to the recent attacks is to halt the Conservative cuts and invest in our police and security services and protect our democratic values, including the Human Rights Act.
May said she wanted to place harsher restrictions on the freedom of terrorist suspects, even if there is not enough evidence to prosecute them, and would change human rights laws if they stood in her way.
She also said she wanted longer prison sentences for convicted terrorists and to make it easier to deport foreign terror suspects.
Updated
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The Press Association is now reporting that Gardai have confirmed a suspect is being held at Wexford Garda station in connection with documentation linked to Redouane under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.
That follows reports that police in Ireland had arrested a second man in the south-eastern city on Tuesday evening.
9.12pm BST9.12pm BST
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Martha Spurrier, the director of the human rights campaign group Liberty, has criticised Theresa May’s promise to change human rights laws that get in the way of her plans to restrict the freedom of terror suspects who cannot be prosecuted for lack of evidence. Spurrier has said:Martha Spurrier, the director of the human rights campaign group Liberty, has criticised Theresa May’s promise to change human rights laws that get in the way of her plans to restrict the freedom of terror suspects who cannot be prosecuted for lack of evidence. Spurrier has said:
If Theresa May does what she threatens, she will go down in history as the prime minister who handed terrorists their greatest victory. For cheap political points and headlines, she is willing to undermine our democracy, our freedom and our rights - the very things these violent murderers seek to attack.If Theresa May does what she threatens, she will go down in history as the prime minister who handed terrorists their greatest victory. For cheap political points and headlines, she is willing to undermine our democracy, our freedom and our rights - the very things these violent murderers seek to attack.
9.06pm BST9.06pm BST
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The Irish public service broadcaster, RTE, has more details on those reports of a second arrest. It says the man is in his 30s and was arrested in Wexford, in the south east of Ireland, this evening.The Irish public service broadcaster, RTE, has more details on those reports of a second arrest. It says the man is in his 30s and was arrested in Wexford, in the south east of Ireland, this evening.
RTE reports that, like the first arrestee, the man is “under investigation for theft and fraud offences” and that each man is “suspected of using documents and PPS numbers associated with” Redouane. A PPS number is similar to a British National Insurance number.RTE reports that, like the first arrestee, the man is “under investigation for theft and fraud offences” and that each man is “suspected of using documents and PPS numbers associated with” Redouane. A PPS number is similar to a British National Insurance number.
The reports have not been confirmed by Irish police.The reports have not been confirmed by Irish police.
8.55pm BST8.55pm BST
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Irish police make arrest - reportIrish police make arrest - report
Sky News is reporting that Irish police investigating the background of one of the attackers, Rachid Redouane, have made a second arrest.Sky News is reporting that Irish police investigating the background of one of the attackers, Rachid Redouane, have made a second arrest.
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Theresa May has said she would change human rights laws to allow her to restrict terror suspects’ movements, even where there is insufficient evidence to prosecute them. But the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, has accused her of launching a “nuclear arms race” in terror laws that would reduce freedom, not terrorism.Theresa May has said she would change human rights laws to allow her to restrict terror suspects’ movements, even where there is insufficient evidence to prosecute them. But the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, has accused her of launching a “nuclear arms race” in terror laws that would reduce freedom, not terrorism.
Theresa May is simply posturing about being tough on terror as she panics that her abysmal record is coming under scrutiny.Theresa May is simply posturing about being tough on terror as she panics that her abysmal record is coming under scrutiny.
In her years as home secretary, she was willing to offer up the police for cut after cut.In her years as home secretary, she was willing to offer up the police for cut after cut.
We have been here before - a kind of nuclear arms race in terror laws. It might give the appearance of action, but what the security services lack is not more power, but more resources. And responsibility for that lies squarely with Theresa May and her dereliction of duty.We have been here before - a kind of nuclear arms race in terror laws. It might give the appearance of action, but what the security services lack is not more power, but more resources. And responsibility for that lies squarely with Theresa May and her dereliction of duty.
All she would do is reduce freedom, not terrorism.All she would do is reduce freedom, not terrorism.
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Sam JonesSam Jones
Relatives of Ignacio Echeverría, the 39-year-old Spaniard missing since the London Bridge attacks three days ago, have joined the Spanish government in asking British authorities why it is taking so painfully long to find out what has happened to him.Relatives of Ignacio Echeverría, the 39-year-old Spaniard missing since the London Bridge attacks three days ago, have joined the Spanish government in asking British authorities why it is taking so painfully long to find out what has happened to him.
Echeverría, who is from Madrid but lives in London and works for HSBC, has been hailed as a hero for apparently using his skateboard to take on the London Bridge attackers.Echeverría, who is from Madrid but lives in London and works for HSBC, has been hailed as a hero for apparently using his skateboard to take on the London Bridge attackers.
He is thought to have been skateboarding in a park when he stopped to defend a woman who had been injured in the attack near Borough Market.He is thought to have been skateboarding in a park when he stopped to defend a woman who had been injured in the attack near Borough Market.
Friends who were with him at the time said he fell to the ground after confronting one of the assailants. He has not been heard from since.Friends who were with him at the time said he fell to the ground after confronting one of the assailants. He has not been heard from since.
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May prepared to change human rights laws to tackle terrorismMay prepared to change human rights laws to tackle terrorism
The prime minister, Theresa May, says she will change the law so that she can place restrictions on people suspected of posing a terror threat, but against whom there is not enough evidence to bring a prosecution. Speaking to supporters on Tuesday, she said:The prime minister, Theresa May, says she will change the law so that she can place restrictions on people suspected of posing a terror threat, but against whom there is not enough evidence to bring a prosecution. Speaking to supporters on Tuesday, she said:
I mean longer prison sentences for people convicted of terrorist offences. I mean making it easier for the authorities to deport foreign terror suspects to their own countries.I mean longer prison sentences for people convicted of terrorist offences. I mean making it easier for the authorities to deport foreign terror suspects to their own countries.
And I mean doing more to restrict the freedom and the movements of terrorist suspects when we have enough evidence to know they present a threat, but not enough evidence to prosecute them in full in court.And I mean doing more to restrict the freedom and the movements of terrorist suspects when we have enough evidence to know they present a threat, but not enough evidence to prosecute them in full in court.
And if human rights laws stop us from doing it, we will change those laws so we can do it.And if human rights laws stop us from doing it, we will change those laws so we can do it.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.37pm BSTat 8.37pm BST
7.07pm BST7.07pm BST
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Stephanie KirchgaessnerStephanie Kirchgaessner
One of the three terrorists who attacked London Bridge called his mother on Thursday in what she now believes was a “call of farewell”.One of the three terrorists who attacked London Bridge called his mother on Thursday in what she now believes was a “call of farewell”.
Valeria Collina told L’Espresso magazine that she only realised her son Youssef Zaghba’s intention after she learned that he was behind the terror attack that killed seven people in London.Valeria Collina told L’Espresso magazine that she only realised her son Youssef Zaghba’s intention after she learned that he was behind the terror attack that killed seven people in London.
“Even though he did not say anything in particular, I felt it from his voice,” Collina said.“Even though he did not say anything in particular, I felt it from his voice,” Collina said.
“We have always tried to control his friendships, but the internet came around. Then in London he was with the wrong people. I understand why the imams don’t want to celebrate his funeral,” she said.“We have always tried to control his friendships, but the internet came around. Then in London he was with the wrong people. I understand why the imams don’t want to celebrate his funeral,” she said.
Italian officers came looking for Collina early on Tuesday morning, according to the report. Initially Collina, who lived in Morocco on and off for years before returning to Italy about a year and a half ago, believed they were coming to ask her more questions about her son’s disappearance, which she had reported to local police.Italian officers came looking for Collina early on Tuesday morning, according to the report. Initially Collina, who lived in Morocco on and off for years before returning to Italy about a year and a half ago, believed they were coming to ask her more questions about her son’s disappearance, which she had reported to local police.
“Unfortunately we are not here for that. We came to tell you another thing,” they told her. “Your son is dead.”“Unfortunately we are not here for that. We came to tell you another thing,” they told her. “Your son is dead.”
She recalled the last conversation, in which they discussed an upcoming visit to London.She recalled the last conversation, in which they discussed an upcoming visit to London.
“We joked about how he would welcome me at the London airport. I was to go see him in 10 days to celebrate the end of Ramadan. He had recently bought a used car and I asked him if he would put flags on it for me,” Collina told the magazine.“We joked about how he would welcome me at the London airport. I was to go see him in 10 days to celebrate the end of Ramadan. He had recently bought a used car and I asked him if he would put flags on it for me,” Collina told the magazine.
She lost touch with him after that. Even immediately after the attack, she did not suspect his involvement.She lost touch with him after that. Even immediately after the attack, she did not suspect his involvement.
“I only found out later that [the other assailants] were his friends, and I told myself that maybe he’s hiding from the authorities to not get into trouble, since in Italy he was still being monitored,” she said.“I only found out later that [the other assailants] were his friends, and I told myself that maybe he’s hiding from the authorities to not get into trouble, since in Italy he was still being monitored,” she said.
While he did talk about Syria, a country where Zaghba told his mother he believed he could live under “pure Islam”, he never spoke about fighting, she said.While he did talk about Syria, a country where Zaghba told his mother he believed he could live under “pure Islam”, he never spoke about fighting, she said.
She said people might blame her, but it was the internet that was to blame.She said people might blame her, but it was the internet that was to blame.
She said asking for forgiveness was futile, but she would dedicate her life to ensuring “this does not happen again”.She said asking for forgiveness was futile, but she would dedicate her life to ensuring “this does not happen again”.
“We must fight the ideology of the Islamic State with true knowledge, and I will do it with all my strength.”“We must fight the ideology of the Islamic State with true knowledge, and I will do it with all my strength.”
Franco Bortolini, a neighbour of Collina, described Zaghba as “normal”, the son of a “simple lady” who was “very respectful”.Franco Bortolini, a neighbour of Collina, described Zaghba as “normal”, the son of a “simple lady” who was “very respectful”.
“I would pass by the door and he would say hello, good morning and good evening. For me he was a normal person. After a while not seeing him, she [Collina] said he went to work in England,” Bortolini told the Guardian.“I would pass by the door and he would say hello, good morning and good evening. For me he was a normal person. After a while not seeing him, she [Collina] said he went to work in England,” Bortolini told the Guardian.
The news that Zaghba was involved in a terror attack at first struck Bortolini as unbelievable when he was first approached by a reporter at 2pm on Tuesday.The news that Zaghba was involved in a terror attack at first struck Bortolini as unbelievable when he was first approached by a reporter at 2pm on Tuesday.
Bortolini had known Zaghba on and off for years, since he was a boy. Even though the family mostly lived in Morocco, they would return to Italy and spend about 20 days a year in Castello di Serravalle, a leafy village about 25km from the city of Bologna.Bortolini had known Zaghba on and off for years, since he was a boy. Even though the family mostly lived in Morocco, they would return to Italy and spend about 20 days a year in Castello di Serravalle, a leafy village about 25km from the city of Bologna.
He did not have any particular hobbies and was not into sports, but there was nothing particularly unusual about him, he recalled. About a year and a half ago, Collina returned to Italy without her husband. Bortolini saw her taking a walk on Monday night and on Tuesday morning, but she refused to answer the door following several attempts to summon her by journalists camped outside the two-storey apartment building.He did not have any particular hobbies and was not into sports, but there was nothing particularly unusual about him, he recalled. About a year and a half ago, Collina returned to Italy without her husband. Bortolini saw her taking a walk on Monday night and on Tuesday morning, but she refused to answer the door following several attempts to summon her by journalists camped outside the two-storey apartment building.
Bortolini did not recall Collina ever saying she was worried about her son or that she had noticed any changes in her behaviour. He described Collina as “quiet” and said she was not employed. She worshipped at the town’s closest mosque, in Bazzano. The last time Bortolini recalled seeing Zaghba was about six months ago.Bortolini did not recall Collina ever saying she was worried about her son or that she had noticed any changes in her behaviour. He described Collina as “quiet” and said she was not employed. She worshipped at the town’s closest mosque, in Bazzano. The last time Bortolini recalled seeing Zaghba was about six months ago.
“I can’t imagine it for anything, for anything,” he said.“I can’t imagine it for anything, for anything,” he said.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.41pm BSTat 7.41pm BST
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Police appeal for information about potential eighth victimPolice appeal for information about potential eighth victim
Appeal for Xavier Thomas missing since the terror attack on #LondonBridge https://t.co/oGrJZJf4nA pic.twitter.com/vxrzZyvhXmAppeal for Xavier Thomas missing since the terror attack on #LondonBridge https://t.co/oGrJZJf4nA pic.twitter.com/vxrzZyvhXm
Detectives from the Metropolitan police are appealing for information about Xavier Thomas, 45, a French national who has been missing since the night of the terrorist attack on London Bridge.Detectives from the Metropolitan police are appealing for information about Xavier Thomas, 45, a French national who has been missing since the night of the terrorist attack on London Bridge.
It is understood that Xavier is not one of the seven victims already identified by police. Witnesses suggest it is possible Xavier was struck by the attackers’ van on London Bridge and was thrown into the river.It is understood that Xavier is not one of the seven victims already identified by police. Witnesses suggest it is possible Xavier was struck by the attackers’ van on London Bridge and was thrown into the river.
Xavier was in London for the weekend with his girlfriend, and the couple were walking south over London Bridge at around the time the attack started. Xavier’s girlfriend Christine Delcros was seriously injured on the bridge when she was hit by the van.Xavier was in London for the weekend with his girlfriend, and the couple were walking south over London Bridge at around the time the attack started. Xavier’s girlfriend Christine Delcros was seriously injured on the bridge when she was hit by the van.
Her sister, Nathalie Cros Brohan, posted online that she was on her way to London to visit Christine in hospital. She appealed for anyone with news of Thomas to get in touch, adding: “We are terribly worried.”Her sister, Nathalie Cros Brohan, posted online that she was on her way to London to visit Christine in hospital. She appealed for anyone with news of Thomas to get in touch, adding: “We are terribly worried.”
By Tuesday afternoon she said the family had still not had any news. “My sister has tried to remember every instant of the drama … we don’t understand why he hasn’t been found in the hospitals despite the photograph that has been circulated to help identify him. That adds to the worries we have. We fear that the collision with the terrorists’ van may have thrown him into the Thames. The more time that passes, the more we fear the worst and our hopes dwindle.”By Tuesday afternoon she said the family had still not had any news. “My sister has tried to remember every instant of the drama … we don’t understand why he hasn’t been found in the hospitals despite the photograph that has been circulated to help identify him. That adds to the worries we have. We fear that the collision with the terrorists’ van may have thrown him into the Thames. The more time that passes, the more we fear the worst and our hopes dwindle.”
In a statement, the Met said:In a statement, the Met said:
Specialist officers from the Marine Police Unit and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) have been searching the river since the night of the attack.Specialist officers from the Marine Police Unit and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) have been searching the river since the night of the attack.
If anyone was on London Bridge at the time of the attack and has not yet spoken to police or has seen Xavier since 3 June, then please contact police on 0800 0961 233.If anyone was on London Bridge at the time of the attack and has not yet spoken to police or has seen Xavier since 3 June, then please contact police on 0800 0961 233.
Specially trained family liaison officers have been deployed to support the families of all those people that police believe died in the attack. Families continue to be updated on both the coronial process and the police investigation.Specially trained family liaison officers have been deployed to support the families of all those people that police believe died in the attack. Families continue to be updated on both the coronial process and the police investigation.
Formal identification procedures will take place over the coming days. This happens after police have proved to an evidential standard, such as DNA or fingerprints.Formal identification procedures will take place over the coming days. This happens after police have proved to an evidential standard, such as DNA or fingerprints.
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at 7.43pm BSTat 7.43pm BST
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A teenager who went to the same gym as Khuram Butt has said he was a “quiet guy” and seemed like the “last person” to carry out an attack, the Press Association reports.A teenager who went to the same gym as Khuram Butt has said he was a “quiet guy” and seemed like the “last person” to carry out an attack, the Press Association reports.
The Ummah Fitness Centre in Ilford, east London, issued a statement saying Butt trained there “occasionally” but they “do not know him well, nor did we see anything of concern”.The Ummah Fitness Centre in Ilford, east London, issued a statement saying Butt trained there “occasionally” but they “do not know him well, nor did we see anything of concern”.
Abdullah Mohamed, 18, said he had sparred with Butt, who, he said would also sometimes sit on the front desk and take payment.Abdullah Mohamed, 18, said he had sparred with Butt, who, he said would also sometimes sit on the front desk and take payment.
Mohamed identified Butt from a police-issue mugshot and said:Mohamed identified Butt from a police-issue mugshot and said:
I saw him here a few times. He just used to tell us the rules about the gym. He was a quiet guy. He did a little bit of boxing. He used to just help out little kids, like 10-, 12-year-olds when they used to come over, and he sparred with us once or twice.I saw him here a few times. He just used to tell us the rules about the gym. He was a quiet guy. He did a little bit of boxing. He used to just help out little kids, like 10-, 12-year-olds when they used to come over, and he sparred with us once or twice.
Asked if Butt seemed to be training in preparation for an attack, Mohamed said there was “nothing” to suggest as much.Asked if Butt seemed to be training in preparation for an attack, Mohamed said there was “nothing” to suggest as much.
It was quite shocking because I found out there someone in this gym was involved two days ago, but I didn’t know who he was or his name or anything like that.It was quite shocking because I found out there someone in this gym was involved two days ago, but I didn’t know who he was or his name or anything like that.
I thought, yeah OK, someone who was in the gym, but I never expected him because when I saw his face it was really shocking. He’s a quiet, small, skinny guy. [He was] the last person to do something dangerous or physical.I thought, yeah OK, someone who was in the gym, but I never expected him because when I saw his face it was really shocking. He’s a quiet, small, skinny guy. [He was] the last person to do something dangerous or physical.
Ahmed Alassi, 17, who visited the gym with Mohamed, said Butt was religious but had not tried to impose his views, even interacting with other gym users of different faiths.Ahmed Alassi, 17, who visited the gym with Mohamed, said Butt was religious but had not tried to impose his views, even interacting with other gym users of different faiths.
He was a nice guy, quite religious. He was humble, he didn’t talk much. Just once or twice he told us to come pray, but apart from that …He was a nice guy, quite religious. He was humble, he didn’t talk much. Just once or twice he told us to come pray, but apart from that …
Mohamed added:Mohamed added:
We used to pray inside the gym around 10.30pm because it’s Ramadan. He never asked us like that, he just said it out loud for everyone in the gym if they wanted to pray.We used to pray inside the gym around 10.30pm because it’s Ramadan. He never asked us like that, he just said it out loud for everyone in the gym if they wanted to pray.
Both teenagers said they had not seen Butt’s accomplices at the gym.Both teenagers said they had not seen Butt’s accomplices at the gym.
UpdatedUpdated
at 6.52pm BSTat 6.52pm BST
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The Press Association is reporting more details of the London Bridge attacker Rachid Redouane.
Terrorist Rachid Redouane married a British woman, Charisse Ann O’Leary, in November 2012 and gave an address in Rathmines, Dublin.
He left the country at some point and is believed to have lived in Ireland again in 2015.
Redouane was never under surveillance by Irish authorities, and the justice minister, Frances Fitzgerald, urged caution over speculating about his movements as the terror investigation continues.
Fitzgerald said they could not comment on the movements of people who could have been involved in the attack. She sought to assure the public that “everything required is being done”.
PA continues:
Rachid Redouane is believed by members of the Moroccan community to be a bogus name as it is a combination of two common first names.
The killer gave the date of birth of 31 July 1986 for his marriage certificate in Ireland, but according to the Met he also used an alias, Rachid Elkhdar, and the later birthday of 31 July 1991.
Redouane was described on his marriage certificate as a pastry chef.
Ireland’s terror threat level states that an incident is possible but unlikely and there is no specific information of a threat from international terrorism.
Fitzgerald defended Ireland’s ability to deal with a terrorist attack after the level of training and preparations for frontline responders was criticised. She said:
The gardai have in place the necessary operational measures in terms of intelligence, a well-trained and equipped special intervention capability and other national support resources. They are supported in this, as needed, by the considerable skills and resources of the defence forces.
The necessary resources and supports are being given to An Garda Síochána.
The PA report continues:
Meanwhile, gardai were preparing a case file after a man was arrested and later released without charge over the discovery of ID documents in Rachid Redouane’s name in Limerick.
The director of public prosecutions will be asked to assess if he should be charged in relation to offences under theft and fraud laws, a spokesman said.
Redouane is known to have lived in Ireland at different times over the last few years. He married O’Leary at the office of the Civil Registration Service at Sir Patrick Dun’s hospital in Dublin.
It is not clear when he came to the republic or how long he stayed but it is believed he used Irish jurisdiction to get a European Union permit which allowed him to be in the UK. He is also thought to have travelled to Morocco after leaving Ireland before settling in the UK.
He returned to Ireland in 2015, again for an unknown length of time, but the taoiseach, Enda Kenny, said he was not one of a small number of radicals under surveillance in Ireland.
An Irish security source described the killer as having “extensive immigration history related to the UK”.
Updated
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Matthew Taylor
Neighbours near the Ilford address that was raided in the early hours of Tuesday morning say the property belonged to a “nice and quiet” woman and her child.
Neighbours said unarmed officers arrived at the house in Fairfield Road, Ilford, at around 1am on Tuesday.
According to residents, a woman and child of Pakistani heritage had rented the property, which is half a mile from the home of one of the attackers, Khuram Butt. Police say no one was arrested following the raid.
Neighbour Foyez Rahman, 55, said: “There was a woman and child living there who were nice and quiet … they moved in maybe a year ago.”
None of the residents the Guardian spoke to recognised the pictures of the three attackers.
Updated
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The anti-extremism organisation the Quilliam Foundation has said it reported the London Bridge attacker Khuram Butt to counter-terrorism authorities almost a year ago.
Butt was involved in a “violent scuffle” with the foundation’s Dr Usama Hasan at a July 2016 event to mark Eid, the end of Ramadan. The organisation said that after reporting Butt they were “informed that Butt was already known to intelligence”.
Butt, who attended the event with his wife and young son, approached Hasan, who was with his family, and accused him of being an apostate who took “government money to spy on Muslims”.
He also attacked him for supporting gay marriage and the idea that “we come from apes”.
A scuffle broke out and Butt lunged twice at Hassan, said the organisation.
Quilliam’s chief executive, Haras Rafiq, said its report should have been taken more seriously as it came from a counter-terrorism group rather than a member of the public.
He said:
Although the police and security services have done a great job of keeping us safe in the past and are under-resourced against the sheer volume of the threat, on this instance, there are questions to be answered. It’s one thing when someone from the general public reports an individual as a violent extremist, but when experienced experts who are involved in deradicalizing jihadists – as Dr Hasan is – report them, a caution is not enough.
Updated
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The Muslim community in Barking had highlighted concerns about the London Bridge attacker Khuram Shazad Butt, who is thought to have once attended the Jabir Bin Zayd Islamic Centre in Barking, according to a community leader.
Ash Siddique, the secretary of al-Madina mosque in Barking, which is close to centre, said concerns were raised about Butt on three occasions, the Press Association reported. He said:
What’s emerging is that on three occasions the community highlighted concerns about this individual. He was on tape in a documentary made by Channel 4 several years ago
So those concerns I think were in the public domain and highlighted as they should have been. The failings were not on the part of the community - the community has done what it is supposed to do.
Siddique said Muslim women in Barking had been the target of physical and verbal abuse since the London Bridge attacks; one woman had been grabbed around the throat at a bus stop, he said.
I would not describe it as a backlash. We’ve had a number of incidents where ladies coming to the mosque have been attacked. One lady was at the bus stop and she was grabbed around the throat. We’ve reported that matter to the police.
We’ve had a number of ladies who have been verbally abused and a number of ladies who have been spat on. We’ve had a couple of telephone calls, physical threats - ‘we are going to attack you’ and that sort of thing.
Perhaps that’s to be expected after a major event like this but it’s still disconcerting for those individuals involved. To be honest with you, it’s par for the course of being a Muslim in the UK today.
Al-Madina mosque is near to the Jabir Bin Zayd Islamic Centre that Butt was thought to have once attended. Siddique said he did not believe Butt had visited the mosque.
As far as I’m aware, no. To be honest with you, sometimes we have 1,000 people here so he could have come here but as far as we know, I’ve asked some of my colleagues and the people that work here and nobody seems to recognise him.
Siddique said he understood police and security services had an “enormously difficult job” and that terrorists “just need to get lucky once”.
The east London community had “felt terrorism” following the death of Shahara Islam, 20, a bank cashier from Plaistow, who was killed in the 7/7 bombings after boarding the number 30 bus.
It’s a community that feels that it is under siege because in 7/7 when the bombings went off on the trains, we lost a daughter. So we’ve felt terrorism and the effects of terrorism in this community first-hand and at the same time when this happens, you get the finger pointed at you.
Asked what Theresa May meant when she said during a speech in Downing Street that there had been “too much tolerance of extremism”, he said:
I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know. It does make me worry because she said ‘enough is enough’. What more are we going to do? As a community, we are always asked the question when this sort of thing happens. What has the Muslim community done?’. Well, I’ll tell you what the Muslim community did on this occasion. People in the Muslim community told the authorities that this individual was of concern. We did our part.
Updated
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Southwark cathedral dean says community in deep shock
Harriet Sherwood
Southwark cathedral remains inaccessible within the police cordon in the London Bridge/Borough area while officers continue to collect forensic evidence.
“We don’t know when we’ll be able to get back in; we can’t make any definite plans at the moment,” Andrew Nunn, the cathedral’s dean, told the Guardian.
He and colleagues spent this morning talking to traders and small businesses who normally operate in Borough market. “People who were working on Saturday night are still shocked and upset. Some are concerned because they are small businesses which can’t trade,” said Nunn.
“There are residents who still can’t get to their homes, they are displaced. The personal impact of this has been different to Westminster in many way, because this attack took place in the heart of a very real and mixed community. Emotions are running very high.”
The cathedral has been holding its regular daily services in local churches outside the cordon. “You can minister on the streets, but you can’t welcome people in. The cathedral has been here for 1,400 years, and the market for 1,000 years, so we’re deeply embedded in the area. The cathedral is normally a focal point. It is also our workplace and the tool of our trade.”
Nunn and his colleagues are co-operating with the police and fully understand the need for the cordon, he said. “But of course we want to re-inhabit the space and bring it back to normality. We want to get our doors open again.”
Updated
at 5.09pm BST
4.40pm BST
16:40
French police say the incident at Notre Dame is “under control”.
🔴 Parvis de #NotreDame Situation maîtrisée, un policier blessé, l'auteur des faits a été neutralisé et orienté vers un hôpital
🔴 Parvis de #NotreDame Le public confiné lors de l'intervention va être progressivement autorisé à sortir après les vérifications d'usage
They tweeted: “An officer was injured, the accused was neutralised and taken to hospital.”
People who were initially kept inside the cathedral are now being allowed to leave after checks.
Updated
at 4.46pm BST
4.25pm BST
16:25
Italian counter-terrorist agencies play down information sharing
Ewen MacAskill
Italian counter-terrorist agencies are playing down the extent to which they shared information with British security and police about one of the London Bridge attacker, Youssef Zaghba.
If the security services had been alerted by the Italians and failed to act on the information, it would have been a major embarrassment to be added to the list of missed opportunities to have prevented the attack. The UK security services are to conduct an inquiry into their handling of the London attack.
According to Italian newspaper report, quoting Italian intelligence sources, he was stopped at Bologna airport last year bound for Syria via Turkey and told officials: “I am going to be a terrorist.” The newspapers said the information had been shared with the British and that he had been placed on a ‘watchlist’.
An Italian intelligence anti-terrorism office told the Guardian the country’s anti-terrorism office based in Rome sent an alert to MI5, the UK’s domestic intelligence agency. This could have been done by directly sending a dossier or placing Zaghba’s name on a European-wide intelligence-sharing database of potential jihadis.
The UK security services, which includes counter-terrorism police and the intelligence agencies, have found no such alert or direct communication and are puzzled by the description ‘watchlist’. Although one of the three attackers was on a list of 23,000 subjects of interest, Zaghba was not on it.
An Italian diplomatic source, seeking to clear up the apparent discrepancy between the Italian press accounts and the UK security services, said Zaghba, who had been living in Casablanca until March 2016 before returning to Italy, had been stopped during a routine search and found to have jihadi material.
The source said that the information had been uploaded onto a European database, one to which several names a day were sent, highlighting Zaghba as a subject of risk of being radicalised.
Updated
at 6.17pm BST
4.13pm BST
16:13
Paris police shoot 'lone attacker with hammer' at Notre Dame cathedral
BFMTV are reporting that the assailant attacked two police officers and that the reported explosions appear to have been gunshots fired at the attacker, who is said to be injured in the throat.
Sky News are reporting that the attacker is “inert” on the floor, though they may have been told to remain still.
The area has been cordoned off while police carry out security checks. But the scene is currently calm and police have confirmed that there was one lone attacker with a hammer.
Shooting heard in area of #Paris Notre Dame cathedral minutes ago pic.twitter.com/YGo485cORT
Sky News spoke to one tourist, Robbie who was inside the cathedral when the incident happened.
He said: “Everyone is calm, everyone is sat down, an announcement right now is asking everyone to stay calm until we know what is happening outside.
He said he had been prevented from leaving the cathedral because of the incident.
“A man I spoke to said he’d run inside because he’d heard gunshots and everyone ran in at the same time,” he said.
Updated
at 4.18pm BST
3.52pm BST
15:52
Jon Henley
Contacted by FranceInfo, journalist David Rahul Métreau, who was at the scene, said he heard two detonations that provoked panic in the crowds near the cathedral. The police officer who was attacked responded by firing on the man, who is lying on the ground injured, but reportedly still alive.
The police officer is believed to be also injured, but alive.
Updated
at 4.12pm BST
3.49pm BST
15:49
More reports from Paris suggesting a policeman was attacked by a hammer and responded with gunfire, this can’t be verified for the moment. Some tweets have come out saying people are trapped in the cathedral.
It is understood that the assailant has been shot, but is not dead.
We're trapped in Notre-Dame de Paris, something is happening outside. Police sirens can be heard. They are not letting anyone in or out
Un homme a tenté d'attaquer un policier sur le parvis de Notre Dame. Le policier a riposté .
L'assaillant semble avoir tenté de frapper le policier avec un marteau
Updated
at 3.58pm BST