Staffordshire Police 'supporting' counter-terror chiefs as force investigated over Usman Khan contact
Police chiefs in Staffordshire have said they are supporting counter-terror officials after it emerged the force is to be investigated over its handling of London Bridge terrorist Usman Khan.
Staffordshire Police said it made a "voluntary referral" to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog as it had previously had contact with the terrorist, who was living in Stafford at the time of the attack.
The IOPC said the "decisions and actions" of the Staffordshire force would be scrutinised in a separate investigation to the shooting of Khan on London Bridge.
Khan was shot dead by armed police after he stabbed 25-year-old Jack Merritt and 23-year-old Saskia Jones to death during a prisoner rehabilitation event they were supporting on November 29.
The force said in a statement: "Staffordshire Police is continuing to support counter-terrorism police colleagues in London with their investigation following the incident on November 29.
“The force made a voluntary referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due its part management of Usman Khan through the MAPPA (multi-agency public protection arrangements) process.”
Khan was released from prison on licence in December last year, halfway through a 16-year prison sentence, after he was convicted of terror offences in February 2012.
The 28-year-old, originally from Stoke, was living at flats on Wolverhampton Road, Stafford, before the attack.
