Sudesh Amman’s attack on Streatham High Road had striking similarities to Usman Khan’s London Bridge knife rampage last November. Besides their fanatical views and modi operandi, there was one more common link—both followed radical cleric Sheikh Abdullah el-Faisal, known as the “Sheikh of Hate”.
El-Faisal was convicted of “soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred” at his south London mosque back in 2003. After serving half of his nine-year sentence in prison, he was released and deported to Kingston, Jamaica.
Reports said el-Faisal had inspired hundreds of extremists, including the 7/7 bombers who killed 52 people in 2005.
Detectives had found el-Faisal's number on Khan’s mobile phone when he was initially arrested for links to a London Stock Exchange terror attack in December 2010.
Khan, then aged 20, was convicted and sentenced for 16 years. He was released “automatically” after serving eight years in prison, only to be shot dead by the police after he fatally stabbed two people near the London Bridge.
When Amman was first arrested in 2018 for terrorism-related activities, including dissemination of jihadi material, sleuths had found texts attributed to el-Faisal.
Amman was convicted and sent to the high-security Belmarsh jail in southeast London, where he reportedly had access to a USB stick containing el-Faisal’s speeches.
Commander Alexis Boon, the head of Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, noted during the trial that Amman had “fierce interest in violence and martyrdom” and “fascination with dying in the name of terrorism”.
Within days of his “automatic release” in January, Amman, 20, was shot dead by officers who were tracking him, after he went on a knifing spree on Streatham High Road.
Notably, two other British “devotees” of el- Faisal were imprisoned in December for publicising el-Faisal’s hate sermons on the Internet. His speeches, officials said, “glorified” the ISIS and al-Qaeda, and exhorted “volunteers” to engage in terrorism.
According to reports, el-Faisal faced terrorism charges in the US, too, and was fighting extradition from Jamaica.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)