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Fishmongers hall / London bridge attack inquests

The inquests concluded that the victims were unlawfully killed following a catalogue of "systemic failures" by the police and probation services, which missed numerous opportunities to identify that the perpetrator was planning an attack.

The Fishmongers' Hall attack took place on 29 November 2019 during a conference organised by Cambridge University’s "Learning Together" programme. The perpetrator, Usman Khan, was a convicted terrorist who had been released from prison on licence 11 months earlier. Despite his history, he was permitted to travel from Stafford to London unescorted to attend the event. During the conference, he strapped two kitchen knives to his hands and donned a fake suicide vest, killing two young graduates, Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones, and injuring several others before being shot dead by police on London Bridge.

The inquests, held at the Guildhall in London, focused on the management of Khan by the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). The evidence revealed a "blind spot" in the way high-risk extremists were monitored. The jury heard that intelligence suggesting Khan was "self-segregating" and returning to his old ways was not shared effectively. Furthermore, the probation officer assigned to Khan was inexperienced and "overstretched," while the police counter-terrorism unit (TPAC) failed to carry out a formal risk assessment for his attendance at the London event.


Judge Mark Lucraft's findings were scathing regarding the lack of communication between the various agencies. He noted that the organisers of the conference were never informed of Khan's full risk profile, meaning they were unable to take basic security precautions. The inquest also highlighted the extraordinary bravery of the "civilian" responders—including several ex-offenders attending the conference—who fought Khan with a fire extinguisher and a narwhal tusk taken from the hall's wall.


The legal legacy of the inquests was the passage of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, also known as "Martyn’s Law," which mandates that venues must have a prepared counter-terrorism plan. It also led to a total overhaul of the "licence" conditions for convicted terrorists, ensuring they are subject to much more intrusive monitoring and stricter travel restrictions upon release.

Key numbers at a glance

22

Recommendations

19

Months to complete

​

Cost in millions      (if known)

2

Deaths (direct)

Recommendations

Recommendation Category

Summary of Advice

Current Status

MAPPA Reform

Overhaul the management of terrorist offenders in the community.

Implemented (Creation of the National Security Division in Probation).

Intelligence Sharing

Ensure MI5, Police, and Probation have a unified data-sharing portal.

Implemented (Multi-agency "hubs" established).

Venue Security

Legislate for mandatory security assessments at public venues.

In Progress (Martyn's Law/Terrorism Bill 2024/25).

Risk Assessments

Mandatory police presence or search protocols for high-risk offender events.

Implemented (New MOJ guidelines for "Learning Together" style events).


Podcasts by Inquests and Inquiries

Podcasts by other providers

Downloadable files


Links to other resources

Official links

  1. "Statement from the Commissioner following incident at London Bridge". MPS. 29 November 2019. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019.

  2. Prevention of Future Deaths Report (Courts and Tribunals Judiciary)

  3. The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill - Parliament.uk

News and context

  1. Dixon, Hayley; Ward, Victoria; Wilford, Greg (1 December 2019). "London bridge attacker was poster boy for rehab scheme he targeted". The Daily Telegraph.

  2. Harper, Tom; Ungoed-Thomas, Jon; Wheeler, Caroline (1 December 2019). "London Bridge attack: poster boy for rehabilitation. And killer". The Times.

  3. McInnes, Kathie (6 December 2019). "How London Bridge murderer Usman Khan's radicalisation began in Stoke-on-Trent". stokesentinel.

  4. "London Bridge attack: What is the Learning Together scheme?". BBC News. 1 December 2019.

  5. Ludlow, Amy; Armstrong, Ruth (2 March 2016). "Learning Together – being, belonging, becoming". Cambridge Centre for Teaching and Learning. Archived from the original on 9 December 2020.

  6. "Learning Together". University of Cambridge. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019.

  7. Duncan, Conrad; Stubley, Peter (1 December 2019). "London Bridge attack: First victim named as pressure mounts on Johnson for investigation into release of convict taught by Anjem Choudary". The Independent.

  8. "Usman Khan attack at London Bridge: what we know so far". The Guardian. 30 November 2019.

  9. "London Bridge attacker convicted of terror offence". BBC News. 29 November 2019.

  10. Brown, David; Ford, Richard; Yeomans, Emma; Morgan-Bentley, Paul; Elliott, Francis (30 November 2019). "Terrorist wearing a tag kills two on London Bridge". The Times.

  11. "London Bridge attack: 'Amazing heroes' praised". BBC News. 30 November 2019.

  12. "Narwhal tusk hero a year on from London Bridge attack". BBC News.

  13. Marsh, Sarah (30 November 2019). "Narwhal tusk and fire extinguisher used to tackle London Bridge attacker". The Guardian.

  14. "London Bridge: Latest updates as investigations continue after stabbing attack". BBC News.

  15. Wharton, Jane (30 November 2019). "Named and pictured: The London Bridge attacker was convicted terrorist". Metro.

  16. Booth, Robert (3 December 2019). "Bravery, teamwork, tragedy: How London Bridge attack unfolded". The Irish Times.

  17. Weaver, Matthew; Marsh, Sarah (29 November 2019). "London Bridge: suspect shot dead by police in incident 'treated as if terror-related' – live news". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.

  18. "London Bridge: Video shows public confront London Bridge attacker". BBC News. 1 December 2019.

  19. "London Bridge attack: Darryn Frost on using a narwhal tusk to stop knifeman". BBC News. 21 December 2019.

  20. Coughlan, Sean (7 December 2019). "300 seconds on London Bridge". BBC.

  21. "London Bridge attack filmed from all angles". Sky News. 30 November 2019.

  22. Gardham, Duncan (1 June 2021). "London Bridge attack: Terrorist Usman Khan shot at 20 times by police, inquest hears". Sky Newn.

  23. "London Bridge: Attacker had been convicted of terror offence". BBC News. 30 November 2019.

  24. Coughlan, Sean (11 December 2019). "London Bridge shot might have passed through bus". BBC News.

  25. Stephen Fidler; Paul Hannon (1 December 2019). "London Attack Reflects Problems in Tracking Convicted Terrorists". The Wall Street Journal.

  26. "London Bridge attacker had terror conviction". BBC News. 30 November 2019.

  27. "London Bridge attack victim had 'lust for life'". BBC News. 30 November 2019.

  28. Brown, Richard (30 November 2019). "First victim of London Bridge terror attack named as Cambridge University worker". cambridgenews.

  29. Lynne, Freddie; Pengelly, Ella (2 December 2019). "Cambridge vigil for terror attack victims Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones". CambridgeshireLive.

  30. "Second London Bridge victim named as Saskia Jones". BBC News. 1 December 2019.

  31. "London Bridge attack victim named as Jack Merritt". BBC News. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.

  32. "London Bridge victims Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones remembered in services". BBC News. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.

  33. Townsend, Mark; Iqbal, Nosheen (30 November 2019). "We don't understand how Usman Khan ended up like this". The Guardian.

  34. Rehman, Atika (1 December 2019). "London attacker of Pakistani descent is terror convict: officials". Dawn.

  35. Newsnight, BBC2, 29 November 2019

  36. Davies, Gareth (29 November 2019). "London Bridge: Attacker who killed two was convicted terrorist who was wearing a tag". The Daily Telegraph.

  37. "London Bridge attack: Did Boris Johnson vote against early prisoner release?". BBC News. 3 December 2018.

  38. "LIVE: London Bridge knife attacker known to police and had links to terror groups". Sky News.

  39. "Usman Khan profile: terrorist who wanted to bomb London Stock Exchange". The Guardian. 30 November 2019.

  40. Chung, Alison (30 November 2019). "London Bridge killer Usman Khan was convicted terrorist recently freed from jail". Sky News.

  41. Hannon, Paul; Fidler, Stephen (30 November 2019). "Attack by Convicted Terrorist Prompts U.K. to Review Sentencing". The Wall Street Journal.

  42. Sheridan, Danielle; Sawer, Patrick; Swerling, Gabriella; O'Neill, Katie; Ensor, Josie (30 November 2019). "London Bridge attack: Usman Khan was student of, and personal friend of Anjem Choudary". The Daily Telegraph.

  43. "Fishmonger's Hall attack: Prevent officers for Usman Khan 'lacked training'". BBC News. 16 October 2020.

  44. "Latest updates as shots fired on London Bridge". BBC News.

  45. "London Bridge incident – live updates: Armed police 'shoot man dead' as area evacuated amid major security operation in capital". MSN.

  46. "Man shot dead by police in London Bridge attack". BBC News. 29 November 2019.

  47. "London Bridge terror attack: Boris Johnson vows to 'hunt down' anyone involved — latest news". Financial Times. 29 November 2019.

  48. "Cambridge University staff member Jack Merritt among those killed in London Bridge Attack". University of Cambridge. 30 November 2019. R

  49. Castle, Stephen (30 November 2019). "Amid Heroism in London, Gnawing Fear of a Simmering Terrorism Threat". New York Times.

  50. "Islamic State claims responsibility for London Bridge knife attack, says Usman Khan was one of its fighters". South China Morning Post. 1 December 2019.

  51. Hymas, Charles; Farmer, Ben (6 December 2019). "London Bridge terrorist Usman Khan is buried in family village in Pakistan after UK backlash". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019.

  52. "Terror laws watchdog calls for life sentences for attack planners". The Richmond and Twickenham Times. 28 May 2021.

  53. Warburton, Dan; Macaskill, Grace (17 October 2020). "Murderer on day release who foiled London Bridge terrorist is pardoned by Queen". mirror.

  54. "Queen intervenes to cut sentence of convicted killer who restrained London Bridge attacker". Sky News.

  55. Otte, Jedidajah (17 October 2020). "Murderer who tackled London Bridge attacker with narwhal tusk to have sentence reduced". The Guardian.

  56. "Fishmongers' Hall: Steven Gallant to be freed from prison". BBC News. 6 July 2021.

  57. "London Bridge attack: Living next door to Usman Khan 'scary'". BBC News. 3 December 2019.

  58. Siddique, Haroon (4 December 2019). "London Bridge attack victims died after being stabbed in chest – inquest". The Guardian.

  59. Speare-Cole, Rebecca (12 December 2019). "Staffordshire Police to be investigated over handling of London Bridge attacker Usman Khan". Evening Standard.

  60. Dodd, Vikram (12 April 2021). "Security services and police to face questions over London Bridge attacker". The Guardian.

  61. Harvey, Sarah (28 May 2021). "London Bridge terror attack victims were 'unlawfully killed', inquest finds". The Evening Standard.

  62. "Fishmongers' Hall: Usman Khan was lawfully killed by police". BBC News. 10 June 2021.

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