Man arrested in Stoke-on-Trent after terror convicts licence review
1 December 2019, 18:21
A man has been arrested in Stoke-on-Trent in connection to the ongoing review of existing licence conditions of released terrorism convicts.
There is no information to suggest that the arrested man was involved in the incident at London Bridge on Friday and no immediate risk to public safety.
Staffordshire Police deputy Chief Constable Nick Baker said a police cordon remains in place at two properties in the county while forensic officers continue their investigation on Sunday night.
"These incidents have resulted in intense focus on the county and I would like to thank local communities and partners for their support and understanding while these crucial enquiries continue."
It comes after police searched a property in Stafford yesterday believed to be connected to London Bridge attacker Usman Khan.
Khan, 28, had been released from prison on licence in December 2018 and was wearing an electronic monitoring tag when he was shot dead by police after the rampage.
He was convicted of terror offences in February 2012 and handed an indeterminate sentence for public protection, with a minimum term of eight years.
The sentence was quashed at the Court of Appeal in April 2013 and he was given a determinate 16-year jail term, with a five-year extended licence period, under legislation which meant he was released automatically halfway through the sentence.
Sentencing law changed later in 2012, and if Khan was given the same sentence today he would have had to serve at least two-thirds of it.
The incident at London Bridge has raised questions about the policy of releasing convicted terrorists on licence.
