Al-Muhajiroun was regenerating after a number of supporters were released from prison, this website reported in February.
London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing
Show all 29
The assailant had been recently released from prison and was being monitored by police.
The Times reported the attacker was attending a Cambridge University conference on prisoner rehabilitation being held at Fishmongers’ Hall and had threatened to blow up the building.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has ordered a review into the attack having learnt of the perpetrator’s identity soon after it took place, the paper further reported.
A maintenance worker who witnessed the attack said: “Some of the guys who were on top of him were ex-prisoners and they had all been in the Fishmongers’ Hall.”
Speaking before he chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee, Boris Johnson said he had “long argued” that it is a “mistake to allow serious and violent criminals to come out of prison early and it is very important that we get out of that habit and that we enforce the appropriate sentences for dangerous criminals, especially for terrorists, that I think the public will want to see”.
The reports came only two hours after Cressida Dick, the Met commissioner, said her officers were working “full tilt” to gain more information about whether the attacker was known to police and was operating alone.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies