Khairi Saadallah stabbed three gay men to death in a Reading park.
Khairi Saadallah, the terrorist who killed three gays in the Reading terrorist attack, is in prison for the rest of his life.
Saadallah, 26, admitted three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder after a knife attack at Reading’s Forbury Gardens in June 2020.
The three men killed in the attack – James Furlong, David Wails and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett – were all beloved members of the local LGBT + community who were in the park with a group of friends.
His friend Stephen Young was also injured, as was another pair nearby, Patrick Edwards and Nishit Nisudan.
Saadallah, who was born in Libya and was granted asylum in the UK in 2018, already had previous convictions for violent and criminal crimes and was released from prison just weeks before the attack. He was known by the MI5 security service because of suspicious links to terrorist groups.
On Monday (January 11), in Old Bailey, Judge Sweeney subjected Saadallah to an entire life order, a sentence that means he will spend the rest of his life behind bars, with no prospect of release.
The judge said to him, “I have no doubt that this is a rare and exceptional case where just punishment requires you to be kept in prison for the rest of your life.”
He noted that the victims “did nothing more than sit in gardens”, adding: “Their attack on them was so fast, cruel and brutal that none of them had a chance to react, let alone defend themselves”.
In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Sweeney said that the premeditated attack was carried out “for the purpose of promoting a political, religious or ideological cause”, which is the legal definition of terrorism under UK law.
Reading attack killer denied terror.
Prosecutors sought a life sentence without parole, arguing that the killings were a terrorist attack, but Khairi Saadallah denied the reason for the terrorism.
During the knife attack, the defendant was heard shouting words in the sense of “Allahu akbar”. He was arrested minutes after the riot, after an off-duty policeman called 999.
Saadallah claimed to have only a “passing or occasional interest” in Islamic extremism and described himself as “partly Muslim and partly Catholic”.
“The defendant believed that in carrying out this attack he was acting in pursuit of his extremist ideology,” said prosecutor Alison Morgan QC.
“An extremist ideology that he seems to have maintained for some time. He believed that by killing as many people as possible that day, he was performing an act of religious jihad ”.
She added: “The defendant intended to inflict as much damage in the shortest time as possible to allow him to kill as many people as possible.
“In fact, the murders of Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, David Wails and James Furlong were highly effective executions.”
Reading victims of attacks remembered by families and the LGBT + community.
The city’s LGBT + community was devastated by the news that three of them were murdered in the attack, with Reading Pride raising thousands to help cover the funeral expenses of bereaved loved ones, as well as to build a permanent memorial for the victims.
James Furlong was a school teacher, described by friends as a “proud homosexual who wanted equality for everyone”.
Joe Ritchie-Bennett was a “bright and loving” American who had lost his husband to cancer just over five years ago. David Wails was a scientist who always “made people smile”.
The Wails family said: “We would like to thank the people who helped immediately after the terrible events in the park last June. Members of the public who tried to help save the lives of the attacked; the paramedics, the ambulance service and the policemen who helped on the spot.
“We would also like to thank the people of Reading, including the LGBT community, for showing the love and support they have shown to us and to the other families of those involved.
“We would like to thank immensely the police who worked tirelessly to ensure that justice was done by David, James, Joe and the other three victims in this case.”
The Bennett family added: “Joe was a dedicated and loving husband, a man who cared a lot about his family. His generosity, warmth and laughter provided him with countless friends with whom the memories are shared.
“Unfortunately, the events that took place at Forbury Gardens cut Joe’s right to a full and vibrant life. He will always be loved and never forgotten. “
Stephen Young, who was injured in the attack, said the loss of his three friends “left a huge hole in my life”.
He said: “When we met on June 20, it was the first time in months that we met due to the coronavirus blockade. We were just going to sit in the sun, have a few drinks together and enjoy some music.
“Dave and I had been friends for over 20 years, we used to play pool and talk about football. I especially miss him coming for a beer. He was a very good friend, as were Joe and James. They were all lovely people, they would greet you with a hug and a smile.
“I am also very grateful to my other friends, who have also had this terrible experience. I believe that they saved my life that day, shouting a warning at the critical moment, and I feel that I can never thank them enough for what they did ”.
Reading Pride said: “With the tragic loss of life, today’s sentence can help to end the healing process in our community.
“We continue to urge the Prime Minister, the central and local government, together with the support organizations, to work together and implement future safeguards to help prevent this from happening again.
“We confirm our commitment to work with the Reading community to remember Joe, James and David. Our thoughts go to families, friends and colleagues during this difficult time. “
Attack ’caused unspeakable pain and anguish’
Chief Detective Superintendent Kath Barnes, head of the Southeast Anti-Terrorism Police Department, said: “Saadallah is a committed jihadist and intended to kill as many people as he could on that sunny June night.
“As the evidence shows, Saadallah planned this attack in meticulous detail. The men he killed were not only murdered, they were executed at such speed, they had very little chance of reacting or defending themselves.
“The horrors of this incident took just a minute to unfold. It took less than 10 seconds to kill three innocent men, and then he went on to attack and tried to kill three other men before fleeing to the city center.
“In that short time, he changed the lives of everyone involved forever.
“He caused indescribable hurt and anguish to the families of the three men who were brutally murdered while relaxing and socializing with friends on a Saturday night. I am sure that there will also be lasting effects on those who were injured in the attack, who were fortunate not to have been hurt even more seriously.
“The scene for other people in the busy park at the time of this incident was horrible and I must pay tribute to the many people who helped with first aid and who subsequently provided important evidence as part of our investigation.
“The details heard during this hearing were undoubtedly distressing for the families of the victims and survivors and I extend my sincere thanks to each of them for their unwavering support throughout this investigation.”