Al Qaida-inspired student who stabbed MP can be freed from prison
Roshonara Choudhry, then 21, was jailed for life for a minimum of 15 years for stabbing Sir Stephen Timms twice in the stomach in May 2010, and for two offences of possessing an offensive weapon.
The attack on the now social security minister is thought to be the first al Qaida-inspired attempt to assassinate a politician on British soil.
The former King's College London student knifed East Ham MP Sir Stephen as he held a constituency surgery at the Beckton Globe community centre in east London, smiling and pretending she was going to shake hands with him before stabbing him.
After she was arrested she told detectives the stabbing was 'punishment' and 'to get revenge for the people of Iraq'.
But after a Parole Board hearing on May 20 this year, a panel decided she could be freed from jail.
A decision summary said: 'After considering the circumstances of her offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing and in the dossier, the panel was satisfied that imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public.'
The document said that at the time of the attempted murder, Choudhry, now 36, had risk factors of problems with family relationships, development of extreme beliefs about the world and willingness to use violence to address perceived injustices.
But she had engaged in programmes in prison to understand how her extreme beliefs developed and her conduct in prison was described as 'exemplary'.
The summary added: 'Ms Choudhry was assessed as having shown a very high level of insight and understanding of herself.
'She had consistently shown over many years that she no longer held the same beliefs, that she was able to manage her emotional wellbeing effectively and she would no longer be likely to be influenced by other people with strong negative views, having developed the ability to critically evaluate information and to seek help from professionals if she needs it.'
The document said the panel did not receive a victim impact statement, or representations from the justice secretary.
It was recommended that Choudhry be released on licence under conditions such as living at a designated address, with a specific curfew and subject to an exclusion zone to avoid contact with Sir Stephen.
A Parole Board spokesman said: 'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
'Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
29 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Rugby league told £16m government funding will be stopped unless questions answered
The Rugby Football League has been told it will not receive the next instalment of government funding due next month unless it addresses concerns in Westminster about the sport's governance. Officials from Sport England are due to meet the RFL leadership team of the interim chair, Nigel Wood, and chief executive, Tony Sutton, this week to address the issue, with the next payment of a £16m government funding package at risk. The Guardian has learned that during preliminary discussions to arrange the meeting, the RFL was informed it will not receive next month's payment without providing satisfactory answers regarding recent changes to its board to Sport England, which will be represented by its chair, Chris Boardman, and interim chief executive, Phil Smith. Sport England is understood to believe that the RFL's decision to install Wood as interim chair may have breached the Code for Sports Governance, as it does not appear to have followed an 'open and transparent' recruitment process. Complying with the code, which sets out minimum standards regarding transparency, diversity and inclusion, accountability and integrity, is a prerequisite for governing bodies seeking government and National Lottery funding. An RFL spokesperson told the Guardian: 'The RFL is working with Sport England on a Governance Action Plan, following resignations from the Board earlier in 2025, which required transitional arrangements. 'We appreciate the need for Sport England to reassure themselves that our response will remain fully compliant with the Code for Sports Governance – the new RFL Board are totally committed to this. 'The outstanding work that is delivered by the sport in hard-to-reach communities, made possible partly by Sport England funding, continues unaffected.' Government money is critical to rugby league, the finances of which have been stretched in recent years by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the collapse in the value of its main broadcast deal with Sky Sports, which is paying the Super League clubs around half what it was five years ago to televise their matches. Without Sport England funding many other clubs would find themselves in a similar position to Salford Red Devils, who are fighting for their future after a disastrous takeover that has left them with only two senior players due to the repeated late payment of wages and several Super League fixtures being cancelled. The RFL receives £16m over five years from government in a deal managed by Sport England, with the money used to fund the elite end of the sport as represented by England's international teams and the development of the grassroots and recreational game. Sport England's concerns revolve around the processes involved in the return of Wood following the resignation of the former RFL chair Simon Johnson and three other directors this year. Wood was previously chief executive of the RFL for 11 years and received a £300,000 severance package following his departure in 2018, which accounted for almost one-sixth of the governing body's losses at the time. The Code for Sports Governance states the chairs of governing bodies must be independent, but Wood was chair of the Championship club Bradford Bulls before being appointed. While he has relinquished that role at Bradford he remains on the club's board. Wood initially returned to the RFL in March as senior independent director before taking the title of interim chair, which was made permanent last month. He has also been appointed chair of Rugby League Commercial, the body that manages the sport's broadcasting and sponsorship sales. In addition to Wood's links to Bradford, Sport England is expected to ask questions about the processes involved in his appointment, and whether any other potential candidates were interviewed. In March RFL sources insisted it would not be a long-term arrangement. Since returning to the RFL Wood has been instrumental in driving through an expansion of Super League from 12 to 14 clubs for next season, although Hull FC, Hull KR and Wigan Warriors failed to endorse the plan when it was voted through by the other nine clubs last month. In another twist Bradford are one of the clubs pushing to be promoted from the Championship to the expanded Super League, which has raised eyebrows given Wood's previous role. As the Guardian revealed last month, Sky Sports has also yet to endorse the expansion and has made it clear it will not provide additional funding for the extra clubs to cover the final season of its three-year TV deal, which expires at the end of next season. In addition, it is unclear who will cover the approximate £500,000 cost of televising an extra game across 27 rounds next season. Some Championship clubs vying for promotion as part of expansion plans have indicated they are willing to enter Super League without central funding next season, which has raised further concerns about its competitiveness in the light of the Salford debacle. Salford were thrashed 80-6 by Hull FC last week before Sunday's fixture against Wakefield was cancelled due to concerns over the safety of the younger players and triallists they were planning to field. Salford's owner, Dario Berta, has said the club will not go bust. They are due in court next month over an unpaid tax bill of almost £700,000.
BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
Redditch man drowns at Nuneaton beauty spot
A man has drowned after getting into difficulty while swimming at a Warwickshire beauty Berlan, from Redditch in Worcestershire, was swimming in Ensor's Pool in Nuneaton on Sunday afternoon, Warwickshire Police crews were called at about 12:30 BST to reports that the the 27-year-old man had disappeared in the water and not resurfaced for five was pulled from the water but confirmed dead at the scene at about 13:30, police said. The force is continuing to investigate on behalf of the Berlan's next of kin have been informed, a police spokesperson added, and anyone who was there at the time is asked to contact pool, in the south-west area of the town, is a former clay pit that served a nearby colliery and brick works and is now a site of special scientific interest. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Three men arrested in murder probe after woman in her 20s is fatally assaulted near care home
Three men have been arrested in a murder probe after a woman in her twenties was fatally assaulted near a care home. The horrifying attack happened early on Saturday morning on Chadwell Heath Lane in the Chadwell Heath area of east London. Metropolitan Police officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service were called at around 5.30am to reports of an assault. The emergency services worked to help her - but despite their best efforts, she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene, near the town of Romford. The brutal stabbing took place in a leafy residential area just outside the Chadwell House Residential Care Home, which provides residential, dementia and respite care. The Met has now said a 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and two men, aged 21 and 22, were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. 'Early enquiries by detectives indicate this is an isolated incident and those involved are believed to be known to each other', the force added. A cordon is in place and a white evidence tent was erected in the driveway to the care home. Officers continue to appeal for information and witnesses. The woman has not yet been formally identified but it is believed she was in her twenties. A post-mortem will soon be carried out. The victim's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist family liaison officers. Pictures of the scene on Saturday showed parts of nearby park Little Heath cordoned off with police tape, with the tent up while police investigated. Officers in hazmat suits appeared to be examining a vehicle with large clear plastic bags of unknown items in them. Detective Superintendent Brian Hobbs said: 'Our thoughts remain with the victim's family and friends in light of this truly tragic event. 'Although we have now made arrests, local residents will continue to see an increased number of officers in and around the area while our investigative work is carried out. 'I would ask anyone who was in the area of Romford, who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, to speak to us.' Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact the police via 101 quoting 1625/16Aug or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
