Reading, United Kingdom – After the tragic murders of James Furlong, Dr. David Wails, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett by Khairi Saadallah in Reading, Judge Coroner Sir Adrian Fulford is set to deliver his findings at the Old Bailey. Today, a judge ruled that the deaths of the victims in the Reading terror attack were “probably avoidable” and were a result of the failures of multiple agencies.
The three victims, James Furlong, Dr. David Wails, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, were fatally stabbed by Saadallah in the Berkshire town. The lengthy inquest proceedings culminated in Judge Coroner Sir Adrian Fulford’s verdict at the Old Bailey. Saadallah, a Libyan refugee, shouted “Allahu akhbar” as he carried out the attacks that claimed the lives of the three men on June 20, 2020. Additionally, three other individuals were injured in the incident before Saadallah fled the scene, eventually being apprehended by an off-duty police officer.
Since his arrival in Britain in 2012, Saadallah had a history of convictions for various offenses, including theft and assault. Judge Coroner Sir Adrian Fulford emphasized that the tragic deaths of the victims could potentially have been prevented if mental health services had prioritized stabilizing Saadallah and ensuring access to long-term psychological therapy. The judge noted that a better analysis of Saadallah’s extremist risk might have led to his recall to custody the day before the attacks took place, ultimately preventing the tragic loss of lives.
Ahead of the verdict, Gary Furlong, James’ father, expressed the families’ deep pain over the loss of their loved ones and the enduring impact of the terror attack. As the judge coroner’s ruling is awaited, the families hope for answers and recommendations that will contribute to preventing similar tragedies and safeguarding the community from such senseless violence.
Throughout the inquest proceedings, evidence was presented by staff members from various agencies, including probation, immigration, police, and MI5. The failures highlighted during the inquest point to systemic issues that need to be addressed to prevent similar incidents in the future. The court also heard about the challenges in dealing with Saadallah, particularly concerning his mental health and asylum status, which contributed to the events leading to the fatal stabbings.
In January 2021, Saadallah received a whole-life sentence at the Old Bailey after pleading guilty to the murders of three individuals and the attempted murders of three others. Despite his attempts to challenge the sentence in the Court of Appeal in October of the same year, his bid was unsuccessful. The sentencing marked the conclusion of a tragic chapter in the Reading terror attack, underscoring the need for improvements in mental health services and the coordination of agencies to prevent such devastating events in the future.