Brace yourself: a man tied to some of the most devastating terrorist attacks in history could be walking British streets any day now.
The Daily Mail reported that Haroon Aswat, a 50-year-old convicted terrorist connected to both the 9/11 attacks and the 7/7 London bombings, is on the verge of release from a secure hospital in the UK, despite being labeled an ongoing threat to national security.
Born in Yorkshire and later influenced by radical figures in north London, Aswat’s descent into extremism took him to Afghanistan and Pakistan, where he mingled with terror sympathizers.
His associations included direct ties to the likes of Osama bin Laden and training in al-Qaeda camps just before the catastrophic events of September 11, 2001.
Newly revealed U.S. court documents expose Aswat’s chilling confession to orchestrating the 9/11 attacks, which claimed over 3,000 lives, and the 7/7 London bombings that killed 52. He even boasted, “I'm a terrorist,” showing no remorse for his alleged role. If that’s not a red flag, what is?
Further evidence ties him to the 7/7 bombers, with police tracing 20 calls from them to a phone linked to Aswat. He also met two of the attackers in Pakistan in 2002, a connection that paints a grim picture of his influence.
Back in 1999, Aswat aided hate preacher Abu Hamza al-Masri in setting up a terror training camp in the U.S., a plot that landed him a 20-year sentence in 2015 after pleading guilty.
His name even surfaced on a ledger in a Pakistani house tied to the so-called architect of 9/11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. This isn’t just a footnote; it’s a glaring warning.
After serving most of his sentence in the U.S., Aswat was deported back to the UK in December 2022. Now, he’s detained at Bethlem Royal Hospital in Bromley, southeast London, but not for long. Authorities confirm his release is imminent, and the public deserves to know why.
Shockingly, no formal risk assessment for terrorist behavior has been conducted since his return, thanks to the peculiar circumstances of his detention.
High Court Mr. Justice Robert Jay noted, “No formal terrorist risk assessment has been carried out.” How can safety be assured without the basics?
Despite this gap, reports from experts like Dr. Richard Taylor, who evaluated Aswat in 2022, are deeply troubling. Taylor identified a persistent risk of violent Islamic extremism, warning of Aswat’s potential to sway vulnerable minds. This isn’t speculation; it’s a professional alarm bell.
Dr. Taylor’s findings aren’t just academic— they’re terrifying, with Aswat displaying 15 out of 22 factors for extreme risk, including threats to kill specific religious groups.
“There remains the risk of Islamic violent extremism,” Taylor stated. Why isn’t this being taken more seriously by those in charge?
Even when mentally stable, Aswat clings to dangerous ideologies, per Taylor’s diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder paired with traits like manipulativeness and narcissism.
In 2017, he voiced support for al-Qaeda to prison staff, and in 2022, he sent letters filled with death threats. This isn’t a man who’s turned a corner.
Det. Chief Supt. Gareth Rees of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command didn’t mince words, expressing “grave concerns” about the threat Aswat poses to national security. When law enforcement sounds this alarmed, shouldn’t the system prioritize public safety over procedural hiccups?
Upon release, Aswat will face a notification order, forcing him to report his address, travel plans, and vehicle details to the police. But Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick isn’t buying it, declaring, “He should never experience freedom again.” Many will nod in agreement, wondering if paperwork is enough to contain such a risk.