The Reading terror attacker who murdered three men in a park and injured three others has been sentenced to life in prison.
Khairi Saadallah, 26, shouted “Allahu akhbar” as he fatally stabbed friends James Furlong, 36, David Wails, 49, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, on June 20 last year.
Saadallah, wearing a grey jacket over a sweater and a red and white hat, showed no emotion as he was sentenced on Monday at the Old Bailey.
Mr Justice Sweeney said he had “no doubt that this is a rare and exceptional case in which just punishment requires you must be kept in prison for the rest of your life”.
His victims’ families appeared emotional as the judge sentenced Saadallah to a whole-life term. He was also sentenced to concurrent 24-year jail terms for each count of attempted murder.
Three other people – Stephen Young, Patrick Edwards and Nishit Nisudan – were also injured before Saadallah threw away the knife and ran off, pursued by an off-duty police officer.
As he was detained, a Muslim member of the public told him: “You have nothing to do with Islam, bastard,” adding: “I am just livid.”
The asylum seeker had launched the attacks in Forbury Gardens, Reading, as the victims were enjoying a summer evening after the first lockdown restrictions in England were relaxed.
Saadallah, of Basingstoke Road, Reading, pleaded guilty to three murders and three attempted murders.