AN EXPERT in terrorism says mental health support in the UK is under resourced, and this is causing problems for police.
Professor Harmonie Toros, who teaches at the University of Reading’s politics and international relations faculty, was responding to the conclusion of the inquest into the Forbury Gardens terror attack in June 2020.
Khairi Saadallah murdered three people, James Furlong, 36, a history teacher; David Wails, 49, a scientist; and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, an American pharmaceutical worker, and injured three others during the assault.
He has since been given a whole life sentence, meaning he must spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Judge Sir Adrian Fulford has highlighted a lack of communication between healthcare trusts who had been assessing Saadallah for mental health.
Responding, Prof Toros said: “The inquest into the tragic murders of three men at Forbury Gardens in 2020 highlights two things.
“First, the evidence from the inquest made clear that mental health support in the UK is under-resourced.
“Second, the UK needs to train counterterrorism officers adequately.”
She continued: “As we learned earlier, a counterterrorism police officer who gave evidence himself said that he was not properly trained to deal with Khairi Saadallah’s case.
“The UK has to focus on training those specifically tasked with the counterterrorism remit rather thank expand counterterrorism monitoring and assessments to other branches of public service, such as health, social services or education.”
Professor Toros is a former reporter, having previously worked for Associated Press in Turkey, Italy and the United States from 1998-2003.
She has reported on stories involving political violence in Europe, the Middle East and North America.
