Reading stabbings were avoidable, inquest finds

An inquest has concluded the deaths of three men murdered by a man convicted under anti-terror laws in Reading park could have been avoided, the BBC has reported. 

Khairi Saadallah killed James Furlong, David Wails, and Joe Ritchie-Bennett, in Forbury Gardens in 2020. 

In 2021, he was given a whole-life term after admitting to the murder and attempted murder of three other people. 

However, Judge Coroner Sir Adrian Fulford found that there were major problems with intelligence sharing between authorities. 

Counter Terrorism Policing, the Probation Service and Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust were among the organisations criticised for failing in the case.

Saadallah arrived in the UK in 2012 as a teenage refugee, having fought in the Libyan revolution, and suffered from PTSD, among other conditions.

He had extensive contact with mental health services, but Fulford said Saadallah was "caught in a catch-22" with no continuity of care.

He concluded it was "at least possible" Saadallah would never have attacked the men if his mental health had been correctly managed by authorities.

The night before the attack, a police officer visited his home on a visit. Body-worn video from the two-minute encounter shows Saadallah reassuring the officers, who asked how he was feeling and if he had enough food.

A carrier bag containing a knife was visible on the floor behind him.

Fulford said Saadallah should have been recognised as a high-risk patient. He had "demonstrated capacity for violence" on many occasions, and his behaviour had "markedly deteriorated" in the 18 months before the attack.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, chief officer lead for Counter Terror Policing South East, said: "They are also with the people of Reading, who I know have been deeply affected by what happened in Forbury Gardens.

"We acknowledge the conclusions given by the Judge Coroner today, which we will of course need time to fully consider and we await the full details of any formal recommendations.

"However, we, in policing, have not waited until this point to make changes where needed. When reviewing our actions in relation to this case, we identified a number of areas where changes were needed or processes could be improved.

"Much has already been done to address these issues, but let me be clear, I know that there is still work to do."

He said: "We must now fully review and reflect on the conclusions from the Judge Coroner and ensure we do all we can to strengthen our efforts to keep our communities and our country safe."