The senior police officer who oversaw the investigation into the 2020 Reading terror attacks has told the inquest that the killer was “pretty indiscriminate” in targeting victims.
At the Old Bailey, Det Ch Sup Oliver Wright of Thames Valley police went through Khairi Saadallah’s movements leading up to the attacks, in which he killed friends James Furlong, 36, Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, and David Wails, 49.
Saadallah was heard by multiple witnesses shouting “Allahu akbar” as he fatally stabbed the three men who were enjoying a summer evening in Forbury Gardens, a public park, on 20 June 2020, during the first national lockdown.
Saadallah also stabbed and wounded their friend Stephen Young and two other men who were sitting nearby, Patrick Edwards and Nishit Nisudan. He then threw away the 20cm knife and fled the park, pursued by an off-duty police officer. He was arrested minutes later.
Saadallah was seen preparing for the attacks in footage captured on nearby CCTV cameras, which were shown to the court. The inquest also saw him carry out the attack from behind some bushes in grainy footage, the whole incident lasting about 30 seconds.
Wright agreed with counsel to the inquest Nicholas Moss KC that the victims had “no chance to react, let alone defend themselves”.
In the moments after the attack, 38 calls to 999 were made. One of the calls was played to the court, in which a distressed member of the public said he believed 10 or more people had been stabbed. He said: “Just get loads of police here now, do it now.”
Judge coroner Sir Adrian Fulford, overseeing the inquest into what police have described as a terrorist rampage, has said much of the evidence the court will hear will “undoubtedly be challenging to listen to”.
Ritchie-Bennett’s older brother read an emotional pen portrait of him on a video link from the US, describing him as “a blessing to the entire world”.
“He was lovable, he was funny and he was hilarious at times. He was the definition of the world ambassador.
“We have missed you every day of our lives since June 20th 2020 and we always will … it’s as if our family is just frozen in time,” he said.
Ritchie-Bennett was an American pharmaceutical worker, Furlong was a history teacher and Wails a scientist. Furlong and Ritchie-Bennett died after single wounds to their necks. Wails was stabbed once in the back.
Saadallah has a history of mental health issues and had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and an emotionally unstable personality disorder.
In a pre-trial hearing, Saadallah admitted three counts of murder and three of attempted murder.
In January 2021, the killer was handed a whole-life sentence at the Old Bailey after he pleaded guilty to three murders and three attempted murders.
The full inquest will look at the management of Saadallah while in prison and on probation, as well as his mental health. The assessment and response to his risk of terrorism before the attacks will also come under scrutiny.
