An unarmed inmate who tackled the Fishmongers’ Hall attacker to the ground has been directed for release from prison.
Convicted murderer Steven Gallant was one of three men who restrained convicted terrorist Usman Khan until armed police arrived at the scene in November 2019.
Khan, who had two large knives and a fake suicide belt, stabbed Cambridge graduates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, and injured three other people before running on to London Bridge.
Giving evidence at the inquest in April this year into the victims’ deaths, Mr Gallant said he “whacked” Khan with a narwhal tusk but was empty-handed by the time of the battle on the bridge.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: “We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Steven Gallant following an oral hearing.
“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.
“A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.”
The decision on release is provisional for 21 days subject to any appeal by the Justice Secretary.
Mr Gallant was pardoned by the Queen after using a narwhal tusk to fend off Khan at Fishmongers' Hall.
Khan, who was jailed over a bombing plot in 2012, was at the event as a rehabilitating offender out on licence.
He was tackled by Mr Gallant and two other men before he was shot dead by police.
At the time, Mr Gallant said: “I had to help. Khan was in the foyer with two large knives in his hands. He was a clear danger to all.”
A court heard in 2005 how Mr Gallant was in a gang which battered fireman Barrie Jackson, 30, to death in Hull.
Mr Gallant planned the assault, believing Barrie had attacked his girlfriend.
Last year Barrie’s student son Jack said of Mr Gallant’s early release: “I have mixed emotions – but what happened at London Bridge goes to show that people can change.”
And Jack Merritt’s father David, 55, of Cottenham, Cambs, said: “Steve deserves this. He turned his life around and reformed.”
Saskia’s uncles, meanwhile, have demanded the organisers of the Cambridge University Learning Together programme step down.
Pete and Phil Jones believe Khan manipulated the organisation and said programme chiefs Dr Ruth Armstrong and Dr Amy Ludlow “shouldn’t be leading an organisation that got something badly and tragically wrong”.
Cambridge University has suspended the programme while it reviews how it is run.
