London Bombing Mastermind Set for Release, Judge Says "I Wish You All the Best"
Twenty years after the horrific 7/7 London bombings, the mastermind of the attacks is poised for release. A judge's bizarre statement raises concerns as he frees a man still deemed capable of "violent extremism-motivated terrorist behavior."
Twenty years after Islamic extremists carried out a series of bombings on London’s public transport system, killing 56 people, the alleged mastermind, Haroon Rashid Aswat, is poised for release from detention. The 7 July 2005 attacks, known as 7/7, targeted commuters during the morning rush hour, with three bombs detonating on Underground trains and a fourth on a double-decker bus.
Aswat, now 50, was convicted in the U.S. in 2015 for his role in a conspiracy to establish a terrorist training camp in Oregon, a charge unrelated to the London bombings but linked to his alleged ties with al-Qaeda. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years, with additional time for psychiatric care. Deported back to the UK in 2022, he has been held in Broadmoor Hospital due to mental health issues, preventing a formal terrorist risk assessment, according to the same source.
Yesterday (Monday), a High Court judge overseeing Aswat’s case expressed a bizarre mix of caution and hope, telling him, “I wish you all the best and advise you to stay on your medication, follow the guidance you are given, and stay away from the activities you were involved in before.” This statement reflects the court’s recognition of Aswat’s ongoing risk, described as capable of “violent extremism-motivated targeted terrorist offending behavior” due to threats against Jews, Christians, and certain Muslim groups, as well as his potential to influence vulnerable individuals when mentally unstable.
The 7/7 attacks, a watershed moment in UK history, saw four suicide bombers detonate homemade devices, with investigations revealing extensive preparation and a practice run a week prior.