Photo Credit/ The Sun newspaper/The crazed knifeman has been named as Sudesh Amman
By Alex Matthews
THE crazed knifeman who strapped a fake bomb vest to his chest before stabbing two people in South London had been released from prison just DAYS earlier. Sudesh Amman was being monitored by counter-terror cops before the “knife obsessed” jihadi went on a rampage on Streatham High Road this afternoon.
It has since been revealed that Amman was sentenced to more than three years in jail but let-out on automatic release after serving half his sentence – despite concerns he still held extremist views. A Whitehall source said there was nothing the authorities could do under existing laws to keep him behind bars. As a result he was put him under the most stringent licencing terms and that’s why the police were on the scene so quickly today.
Amman, who was only a teenager when arrested, was jailed for terror offences relating to possession and distribution of terror material so his case would not have applied to the PM’s existing plans to end automatic early release for violent offenders. Scotland Yard is yet to confirm that the attacker was known to counter-terror authorities, yet the speed of their response suggest that he may have been on a watch-list.
Labour MP for Streatham Bell Ribeiro-Addy suggested the attacker was known to cops. She said: “The perpetrator was shot dead by police. The police and the emergency services have been fantastic in their response.
“They got here quite quickly, responded to the incident, taking down the perpetrator, who, as you may know, they had been watching for some time, so hopefully we’ll hear more information about that tomorrow.” In dramatic footage of the attack undercover officers in plain clothes appear out of nowhere and swoop in on the suspect as he lies gunned down on the pavement in Streatham High Road. Seconds later, in scenes straight out of an action movie, another cop in plain clothes leaps off a motorbike as the expert team surround the “Islamist” terrorist, in footage captured by a passenger on a bus.
The officers dressed like members of the public wearing man bags, jeans and even holding shopping bags, then secure the scene and stand guard over the attacker. They then order shoppers and witnesses to move away as the suspect lies bleeding on the pavement. A witness claimed they saw a man wearing silver canisters strapped to his chest, wielding a machete being chased by undercover officer moments before armed cops swooped, the Mirror reports.
The Met Police later said that three people were injured in the deadly attack with one of the victims fighting for their life in hospital. A spokesperson said: “As part of a proactive Counter Terrorism operation, armed officers were in immediate attendance and shot a male suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene. “A third person also received minor injuries – believed to have been caused by glass following the discharge of the police firearm.
“A device was found strapped to the body of the suspect and specialist officers attended. “Cordons were put in place and it was quickly established that this was a hoax device.”Three victims have been taken to south London hospitals. One man is being treated as life-threatening, one woman has non-life threatening injuries and another woman has minor injuries.”
Source: The Sun newspaper