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| London Bridge attack: Convicted murderer Steven Gallant 'did not hesitate' to tackle knifeman | London Bridge attack: Convicted murderer Steven Gallant 'did not hesitate' to tackle knifeman |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A convicted murderer has said he "did not hesitate" to join the fight against the London Bridge knifeman in November. | A convicted murderer has said he "did not hesitate" to join the fight against the London Bridge knifeman in November. |
| Steven Gallant, 42, told how he began to tackle Usman Khan armed only with a chair during the attack which began at a nearby prisoner rehabilitation event. | Steven Gallant, 42, told how he began to tackle Usman Khan armed only with a chair during the attack which began at a nearby prisoner rehabilitation event. |
| Gallant, who was out on licence to attend the event, is serving a minimum of 17 years for killing ex-firefighter Barrie Jackson in Hull, 15 years ago. | Gallant, who was out on licence to attend the event, is serving a minimum of 17 years for killing ex-firefighter Barrie Jackson in Hull, 15 years ago. |
| Khan, who killed Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt, was later shot dead by police. | Khan, who killed Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt, was later shot dead by police. |
| Three others were injured in the attack which began at Fishmongers' Hall on November 29. | Three others were injured in the attack which began at Fishmongers' Hall on November 29. |
| Gallant is the last of three people who were filmed restraining Khan on the bridge to be identified. | Gallant is the last of three people who were filmed restraining Khan on the bridge to be identified. |
| In his first interview since what he called "that tragic day", Gallant said he went to investigate after he heard noises from a lower floor of the building. | In his first interview since what he called "that tragic day", Gallant said he went to investigate after he heard noises from a lower floor of the building. |
| "I could tell something was wrong and had to help," he told PA news agency. | "I could tell something was wrong and had to help," he told PA news agency. |
| "I saw injured people. Khan was stood in the foyer with two large knives in his hands." | "I saw injured people. Khan was stood in the foyer with two large knives in his hands." |
| "He was a clear danger to all, so I didn't hesitate." | "He was a clear danger to all, so I didn't hesitate." |
| Last month, civil servant Darryn Frost described how a man - now identified as Gallant - used a wooden chair to keep the knifeman at bay, before throwing it at Khan when he revealed his suicide belt, which was later shown to be fake. | Last month, civil servant Darryn Frost described how a man - now identified as Gallant - used a wooden chair to keep the knifeman at bay, before throwing it at Khan when he revealed his suicide belt, which was later shown to be fake. |
| Mr Frost said he then handed Gallant a narwhal tusk, which he had found on a nearby wall display, as Khan "started running towards him (Gallant) with knives raised above his head". | Mr Frost said he then handed Gallant a narwhal tusk, which he had found on a nearby wall display, as Khan "started running towards him (Gallant) with knives raised above his head". |
| Gallant has offered "special thanks" to Mr Frost. "Had he not passed me the narwhal tusk at that crucial moment, not only could I have been killed, the situation could have been even worse," he said. | Gallant has offered "special thanks" to Mr Frost. "Had he not passed me the narwhal tusk at that crucial moment, not only could I have been killed, the situation could have been even worse," he said. |
| He also described reformed ex-prisoner John Crilly, who used a fire extinguisher to help subdue Khan, and a chef - known only as Lukasz - who was stabbed five times when he stepped in to help, as "extremely brave". | He also described reformed ex-prisoner John Crilly, who used a fire extinguisher to help subdue Khan, and a chef - known only as Lukasz - who was stabbed five times when he stepped in to help, as "extremely brave". |
| Gallant was jailed, alongside his accomplice James Gilligan, in 2015 for carrying out a fatal attack on 33-year-old former firefighter Mr Jackson. | Gallant was jailed, alongside his accomplice James Gilligan, in 2015 for carrying out a fatal attack on 33-year-old former firefighter Mr Jackson. |
| During their trial, Hull Crown Court heard the attack was carried out because Gallant wrongly believed Mr Jackson had attacked his girlfriend. | During their trial, Hull Crown Court heard the attack was carried out because Gallant wrongly believed Mr Jackson had attacked his girlfriend. |
| "Nobody has the right to take another's life and I offer my sincere apologies to my victim's family for the hurt caused," Gallant said. | "Nobody has the right to take another's life and I offer my sincere apologies to my victim's family for the hurt caused," Gallant said. |
| "I can never bring that life back, and it is right that I was handed a severe penalty for my actions. | "I can never bring that life back, and it is right that I was handed a severe penalty for my actions. |
| "Once I'd accepted my punishment, I decided to seek help. | "Once I'd accepted my punishment, I decided to seek help. |
| "When you go to prison, you lose control of your life. Your own future relies on the decisions of others. | "When you go to prison, you lose control of your life. Your own future relies on the decisions of others. |
| "Bettering yourself becomes one of the few things you can do while reducing the existing burden on society." | "Bettering yourself becomes one of the few things you can do while reducing the existing burden on society." |
| Since going to prison, Gallant, who will be eligible for parole in 2022 subject to approval, has "vowed never to turn to violence again". | Since going to prison, Gallant, who will be eligible for parole in 2022 subject to approval, has "vowed never to turn to violence again". |
| He has since learned to read and write, is studying for a business studies degree and was taking part in the Learning Together rehabilitation project, which was hosting the event at which Khan struck. | He has since learned to read and write, is studying for a business studies degree and was taking part in the Learning Together rehabilitation project, which was hosting the event at which Khan struck. |
| He said the deaths of course co-ordinators Mr Merritt, who he met in 2016, and Miss Jones were an "unbearable blow" and the "sense of loss is immense". | He said the deaths of course co-ordinators Mr Merritt, who he met in 2016, and Miss Jones were an "unbearable blow" and the "sense of loss is immense". |
| Gallant described Mr Merritt as a "role model and friend". | |
| He said: "Jack didn't care who you were: he cared about you and your future; he saw who you could become and did not define you by your past. I will miss him badly." | He said: "Jack didn't care who you were: he cared about you and your future; he saw who you could become and did not define you by your past. I will miss him badly." |
| Miss Jones, he said, was "highly respected and loved" by those involved with the course. | |
| He added that he was "certain" the pair would wish for the Learning Together programme to continue. |