An individual alleged to be an al-Qaeda operative claiming responsibility for orchestrating the 7/7 London bombings has received well wishes from a UK judge as he prepares to be released. Haroon Aswat purportedly admitted his involvement in the 2005 attacks that claimed 52 lives and in the 9/11 assault in New York, resulting in nearly 3,000 casualties. This confession reportedly took place while Aswat was serving a 20-year sentence in the US for conspiring to establish a terrorist training camp in Oregon.
After being deported back to the UK in 2022, Aswat was placed under detention under the Mental Health Act. However, he is now scheduled to leave a secure mental facility to reside with his family in Batley, West Yorkshire. Despite this, Metropolitan Police’s senior counterterrorism officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Gareth Rees, has expressed serious concerns regarding Aswat’s potential threat to national security. Court documents indicate that as recently as April, Aswat, aged 50, appeared before Sir Robert Jay at the High Court.
During the High Court session on April 1, it was revealed that law enforcement had sought a notification order to monitor Aswat, but due to a legal loophole, psychiatric patients like him cannot be subject to electronic monitoring. In a statement, Detective Chief Superintendent Rees highlighted Aswat’s favorable remarks about his time with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and his desire to reconnect with the group, citing these as reasons for alarm regarding the risk he poses to public safety.
In the court proceedings, Mr. Justice Jay inquired about Aswat’s well-being and plans upon release, to which Aswat responded positively and indicated his compliance with treatment and legal requirements. Mr. Justice Jay advised Aswat to focus on his medication, follow guidance, and avoid past activities that led to his incarceration in the US, emphasizing the importance of steering clear of such behaviors to prevent a recurrence of previous events.
Aswat’s appearance in the High Court marked his first public presence since his return from the US, where he admitted to severe terrorism-related offenses. Following his deportation to the UK, he has been held at Bethlem Royal Hospital in South London. Notably, despite being linked to the 7/7 attacks through phone calls made by the bombers, Aswat was never formally charged in connection with the incident. His arrest in Zambia shortly after the bombings, possession of terror-related materials, and subsequent deportation to the UK under a US arrest warrant have raised significant concerns.
In response to questions regarding national security risks posed by individuals like Aswat, a Government spokesperson emphasized the authorities’ commitment to employing legal mechanisms to safeguard the public from potential threats posed by former terrorism offenders or individuals associated with extremist activities.
Efforts to reach Mr. Justice Jay for comment via email at 9:30 am are currently underway.
