Fury erupted last night over the imminent release of terrorist Haroon Aswat, 50, who confessed to being a mastermind behind both 9/11 and the 7/7 London bombings whilst in US custody.
Despite his confession and counter-terror chiefs’ belief that he remains a continuing threat to national security, Aswat could be freed from Bethlem Royal Hospital within days. A legal loophole prevents him from undergoing full risk assessment procedures whilst detained under the Mental Health Act.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick condemned the release: “This despicable man was behind one of the most deadly attacks in modern history. He should never experience freedom again.”
Confession to Terror Mastermind Role
US court documents obtained by The Sun reveal the al-Qaeda terrorist’s chilling confession made whilst imprisoned in America in 2017. The district court papers state Aswat told staff he was “associated with al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden was his ‘commander’ and that he would ‘behead all of you’.”
In March 2017, the defendant stated: “If you think I am a terrorist, I don’t shy away from my responsibility.” He then confessed he was “a mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks and a 2005 terrorist attack in the UK.”
The US District Court document emphasised: “The defendant’s crimes are incredibly serious. He is a terrorist and foot soldier of al-Qaeda trained to commit acts of violence.”
Police Express ‘Grave Concerns’
Detective Chief Superintendent Gareth Rees, head of operations for the Met’s SO15 Counter Terrorism Command, revealed Aswat’s continuing extremist views in his witness statement to the High Court.
“He has spoken positively of his time with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and expressed aspirations to reconnect with them,” DCS Rees stated. “Based on my experience, this is conduct which gives me grave concerns about the risk which the defendant poses to the UK’s national security and to the public.”
The senior officer noted that whilst medical practitioners assess Aswat as having capacity to make complex decisions when mentally stable, “he may temporarily lose capacity if he were to relapse into a psychotic state.”
Extensive Terror Network Links
Aswat’s connections to international terrorism span decades. He trained in al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan months before the 2001 terror attacks which claimed more than 3,000 lives. Documents revealed his name on a ledger recovered from a Pakistan house where 9/11 “architect” Khalid Sheikh Mohammed stayed.
In 1999, Aswat helped Finsbury Park mosque hate preacher Abu Hamza set up a US terror camp. Three years later, he stayed at an al-Qaeda safe house in Pakistan where he met two of the 7/7 bombers, Mohammed Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer.
Police traced 20 calls to a phone linked to Aswat made by the 7/7 bombers before their attack, which killed 52 people and injured over 800 on London’s transport network.
Arrest and Extradition Battle
In 2005, Aswat was arrested in Zambia whilst possessing a terror manual and suspected bomb parts. He was deported to the UK and held under a US arrest warrant but fought extradition on mental health grounds for nine years.
Finally sent to the US in 2014, he pleaded guilty to terror charges a year later. His 20-year jail term was reduced to seven years due to time detained at Broadmoor Hospital. Aswat was deported back to the UK in December 2022 and has been held under the Mental Health Act at Bethlem Royal Hospital in South London.
Doctors Say Release ‘Relatively Near’
Despite police warnings, doctors say Aswat is well enough to be released “in the relatively near future.” UK law means he cannot be formally risk-assessed whilst detained under mental health provisions, creating what critics call a dangerous loophole.
A 2022 report by psychiatrist Dr Richard Taylor concluded Aswat still posed a serious risk, highlighting he has “continued to express violent extremist Islamic ideology” even when in a relatively stable mental state.
Detective Sergeant David Taylor warned: “I assess the defendant has a significant involvement within Islamist extremism, involvement in terrorism and a long-standing association with others holding radical beliefs.”
Limited Monitoring Upon Release
Under the notification order granted by Mr Justice Jay, Aswat will face minimal restrictions. He will not be under surveillance or required to wear a tag and can travel abroad if he tells police in advance.
Detective Inspector Karen Bradley expressed alarm at the limited monitoring: “In my professional judgment, I believe that Mr Aswat still poses a potential terrorist risk.”
The High Court was told that Aswat’s detention prevented assessment under Extremism Risk Guidance protocols. Mr Justice Jay noted: “No formal terrorist risk assessment has been carried out since the defendant’s return here. The circumstances of his detention have precluded that.”
Human Rights Considerations
Papers revealed police and courts were obliged to consider Aswat’s human rights when applying for the notification order. He will only be required to register his address and inform police of future travel plans.
The judge acknowledged: “On the basis of the material which is available the defendant has been assessed by various police officers that he remains a risk to national security.”
Counter-terror chiefs had to apply for permission in April to keep tabs on Aswat, who remains from Batley, West Yorkshire. The Metropolitan Police agreed to release statements only after formal notification of press interest.
Government Response
A Government spokesman said: “Protecting our national security is the very first priority of this government and if any individual poses a threat to that security, the police and intelligence services have a range of powers they can apply to deal with that threat.”
The spokesman added: “We will always do whatever is necessary inside the law to protect the public from any risk posed by former terrorist offenders or people of terrorist concern.”
The imminent release highlights ongoing debates about balancing mental health treatment with public safety when dealing with convicted terrorists who continue to express extremist views.
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