THE INQUEST into the murder of James Furlong, David Wails, and Joe Ritchie-Bennett has heard that repeated warnings were given to authorities about their killer.
It began on Monday, January 15, to examine the handling of Saadallah, as preparatory hearings revealed that due deportation was dropped shortly before he killed the three men, all from Reading.
Led by Judge Coroner Sir Adrian Fulford, the inquest is expected to last six weeks in total, due to conclude on February 23.
Last week, the coroner heard from the CEO of Reading Refugee Support Group (RRSG), Nick Harborne, as the charity had come into contact with Saadallah before the terror attack in June 2020.
Speaking at the inquest, Mr Harborne gave evidence showing that authorities had been warned repeatedly about the potential for violence and concerns about his mental health.
He explained that Saadallah had approached RRSG in September 2012, when he attended a drop-in session held by the charity.
He was seeking information about claiming asylum in the UK, and also told support workers that he had been a child soldier while in his native Libya.
Then in November 2016 Saadallah told support workers at another session that he wanted to return to Libya to fight, causing concern at the charity about his mental health.
Saadallah left the meeting abruptly and subsequently assaulted two members of the public, for which he was then imprisoned.
Mr Harborne explained that the charity notified both health officials and probation officers that Saadallah was at risk of radicalisation while in prison, with the potential to carry out a terrorist attack.
These warnings were made multiple times, including just days before the attack took place in Forbury Gardens in June 2020.
An email shown in court showed that Mr Harborne wrote to NHS Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group, explaining that Saadallah had been “let down” by authorities.
It explained: “Prevent, probation, social services, the community mental health team, and the rest of us have all let him down.
“I am fearful if he doesn’t get the right support for his trauma whilst in prison there could be disastrous consequences.”
During the inquest, Mr Harborne agreed that he felt nobody wanted to take responsibility for how to deal with Saadallah.
Saadallah subsequently associated with a prominent radical preacher linked with the proscribed terrorist group Al-Muhajiroun while imprisoned, the pre-inquest heard last year.
While Saadallah was subject to a preliminary investigation after security services received information about potential terrorist activities, they did not seek further action.
It comes as memorial mural on Reading Bridge, which was mistakenly painted over by Reading Borough Council last year, has been reinstated.
The mural by anonymous artist Peachy depicts three cherubs surrounding the Maiwand Lion, adorned with butterflies and a rose.
It was painted over last summer after a “breakdown in communication” at Reading Borough Council.
As of Monday, February 5, however, the mural had been repainted, with James, Joe, and David’s names added alongside it.
The inquest is due to continue at the Old Bailey for another three weeks.
