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REVEALED: Violent past of Reading terror attack suspect Khairi Saadallah who was caught with knife,


READING terror attack suspect Khairi Saadallah (pictured above) was jailed for an attack on an emergency worker, fined for possessing a knife and charged with assaulting a district judge and a supermarket security guard... all within the space of six months.

Libyan refugee Saadallah, 25, is currently in police custody on suspicion of carrying out the horrific knife attacks in Reading yesterday that led to three people losing their lives and at least three others being injured.

Saadallah was detained by police in Forbury Gardens yesterday evening after it was declared by police a terror attack.

Witnesses said he approached a group of middle aged men who were drinking in the park and began stabbing at their necks.

Three men died, while one is in hospital in a stable condition, while another was discharged.

Armed counter terrorism police raided his flat in Basingstoke Road late on Saturday night and removed a number of items including a large circular saw.

Records show that a year ago in March 2019, Saadallah was jailed for two months for common assault at Reading Magistrates' Court after an attack on an emergency worker.

The same month on March 25 he escaped with a fine of just £115 after being found in possession of a blade or sharp pointed article.

COURT CASE: Saadallah was charged with an assault on District Judge Sophie Toms (University of South Wales)

He allegedly then attacked District Judge Sophie Toms, who sentenced him over the bladed object, the same day.

On August 15 he appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with her assault and the case was adjourned.

It was alleged he tore her necklace off, claiming there was a conspiracy against him, but he denied the offence.

Later in August 2019, he was in Reading Crown Court charged with affray, assault by beating and two counts of having an offensive weapon, in relation to a broken bottle and his belt. He was accussed of assaulting a security guard at a Sainsburys in Reading who allegedly challeneged him over stealing a bottle of alcohol.

It is not clear from local news reports at the time if he was found guilty or not in that case or the case of the assault on Ms Toms.

Saadallah has been described as an asylum seeker and refugee in reports, but it is not currently clear what his immigration status is or why he was not deported following his imprisonment.

it is understood Saadallah came to Britain several years ago as a refugee following the civil war in Libya.

He is seen posing with a baby in 2014 images on Facebook.

Mental health problems are being considered a factor in the incident, security source said, according to The Telegraph.

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