The third London Bridge attacker has been identified as 22-year-old Youssef Zaghba. He, along with Khuram Butt and Rachid Redouane killed seven and injured 48 others on Saturday night. Zaghba was born in Fez, Morocco to an Italian mother and Moroccan father. He was suspected of trying to travel to a Syria from Italy last year, according to Italian media.
Who Is He?
Corriere Della Sera reports that Italian officials notified British security o Zaghba but that he was apparently allowed into the country and even managed to get a job in a London restaurant.
Zaghba may have been stopped at Bologna airport last year with a one-way ticket to Istanbul with just a backpack, passport and mobile phone on him.
The 22-year-old was n a “persons at risk” list but had been acquitted of terrorism charges, according to an Italian intelligence source. While working his “seasonal job” in London, he continued to speak to his mother back home.
The Met police insist that Zaghba was not a “subject of interest,” but the claims from Italy will continue to bring scrutiny upon British security services. Making matters worse is the fact that Zaghba’s identity was revealed in Italy before Scotland Yard confirmed it, similar to how details of the Manchester bombing leaked in the United States before police in the UK could release the specifics.
Scotland Yard seems to believe Zaghba has been in the capital for awhile, describing him as “of east London.”
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “While formal identification is yet to take place, detectives believe he is 22-year-old Youssef Zaghba, from east London. The deceased’s family have been informed.
“He is believed to be an Italian national of Moroccan dissent. He was not a police or MI5 subject of interest.”
Similarly, Butt had been looked at by security officials, but his case was downgraded as it was not believed he was planning an attack. While Redouane was not know to any intelligence communities, many are criticizing British intelligence for not taking the known affiliations of Butt and Zaghba more seriously.
London Bridge Attack
On Saturday, June 3, Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba drove a hired van into pedestrians on London Bridge before stabbing people in the area around Borough Market. The trio of terrorists killed seven individuals and injured 48 more before armed officers killed all three within eight minutes of receiving a 999 call.
The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for its “fighters” carrying out the attack.
