Controversial Release: 7/7 Terror Plotter Haroon Aswat to Walk Free Despite Security Warnings

Background and Current Developments

Haroon Aswat, a 50-year-old terrorist who confessed to involvement in major attacks, is currently housed at a secure psychiatric unit in the UK and faces imminent release without undergoing a full risk assessment due to a legal loophole.

Historical Context

Aswat was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a New York court in October 2015 for conspiring to set up a terrorist training camp with hate preacher Abu Hamza. He was later deported back to the UK in 2022, where his sentence was reduced to seven years after time spent at Broadmoor Hospital.

Current Concerns

A 2022 psychiatric report by Dr Richard Taylor highlighted that Aswat still posed a major threat to the public and continued to express violent extremist Islamic ideology despite being in a stable mental state. Currently held at Bethlem Royal Hospital in South London, security concerns have intensified after probation officials were unable to assess his risk due to regulations preventing checks on psychiatric patients.

Legal and Security Implications

Upon release, Aswat will not be subject to surveillance and will be permitted to travel abroad with prior police notification. The Government has responded by stating that if any individual poses a threat to national security, law enforcement and intelligence services have various powers at their disposal to address such threats.

Professional Assessment

The judge found that Aswat continues to pose a risk of violent extremism-motivated terrorist offending behaviour, particularly concerning his threats against specific religious groups. There are also concerns about his potential to influence other vulnerable individuals, as his religious extremist rhetoric becomes amplified during periods of mental instability.