Reading, England – The deaths of James Furlong, Dr. David Wails, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett in a terror attack carried out by Khairi Saadallah were ruled as “probably avoidable” due to the failings of multiple agencies, according to Judge Coroner Sir Adrian Fulford at the Old Bailey.
Saadallah fatally stabbed the three victims in Forbury Gardens while shouting “Allahu akhbar” on June 20, 2020. Additional individuals were also injured in the attack before Saadallah attempted to flee, leading to an off-duty police officer pursuing him.
Throughout the inquest, it was revealed that Saadallah, a Libyan refugee who arrived in Britain in 2012, had a history of criminal convictions, including theft and assault. Judge Coroner Sir Adrian Fulford pointed out that the deaths could have been prevented if mental health services had prioritized stabilizing Saadallah and providing access to long-term psychological therapy.
Furthermore, Judge Coroner Fulford highlighted the lack of proper analysis of Saadallah’s extremist risk, stating that this oversight could have led to his recall to custody on the day prior to the attacks, potentially averting the tragic events. The deaths of Furlong, Wails, and Ritchie-Bennett were deemed to have been influenced by the failures of various agencies.
Gary Furlong, the father of James, expressed anticipation for the judge coroner’s recommendations, emphasizing the importance of preventing similar tragedies and ensuring public safety. The inquest involved testimonies from probation, immigration, police, and MI5 personnel, shedding light on the inadequate handling of Saadallah prior to the attack.
In conclusion, Saadallah received a whole-life sentence in January 2021 after pleading guilty to the murders and attempted murders. Despite losing an appeal against his sentence later that year, the case underscored the need for improved coordination among agencies to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.