The #Streatham attacker has been identified as Sudesh Amman. He was released a week ago after having served half of his sentence for Islamist related terrorism offences. Some thoughts below:
1. Sudesh was 17 when he started collecting terrorist material and attempting to radicalise others (including his girlfriend). He was caught on possession of bomb making material and other propaganda. He had sent extremist material on a WhatsApp group to his family.
2. This highlights some important trends which I have written about before. First, what powers do we have to monitor those under violent extremist concerns? What powers do we have to monitor this online? Sudesh was caught only under terrorist material possession in his home.
3. Why do we continue to see young, heavily radicalised young men want to commit violent crimes with rudimentary weapons and tools? They often have little training and an ideology that is difficult to counter, even with “deradicalisation” initiatives in jails
4. Are our sentences long enough? Once again we see an individual released from jail after serving half of their sentence. Even with surveillance (expensive for the state) these people have an interest in public, violent terrorist attacks and martyrdom
5. Increasingly, these people are desperate to use any tactic to draw attention. They use fake suicide vests (HMP Whitemoor) and ordinary knives. Why are they released before we are certain they no longer pose a threat to society?
6. Is it time to consider assessing the length of our sentences (allowing people to grow out of a terrorist ideology while being closely monitored) but also interventions they offered? Are ideological deradicalisation approaches adequate? Does intervention need more support?
7. Do we need to expand our material support laws (a US model) where precursor offences such as violent extremism and influence can also be addressed?
The government has many questions to address to ensure this stops happening.
The government has many questions to address to ensure this stops happening.
I’ll be on @LBC shortly to discuss my views on this case
