Reading; Police now keeping an open mind on motive. Reading stabbings: Police to upgrade investigation to terror status

The latest from the Sunday Telegraph. Don’t ignore what I said below, but obviously I was not alone in my thoughts.

The investigation into an knife attack in Reading yesterday that killed three will shortly be upgraded to a terror investigation, The Telegraph understands.

Police originally said the incident was not thought to be terror-related, but The Telegraph understands the current murder investigation will be upgraded later today. 

The Prime Minister has said he was appalled by the attack.

Apparently the murders in Reading are now a ‘murder inquiry’ and police are ‘keeping an open mind’ about it being terror related. Yet they were certain within 5 minutes of the attacks that it was nothing to do with the Black Lives Matter demo in the park earlier. Therefore shouldn’t they also have an ‘open mind’ about any possible connection there? Especially if they have doubt that a Libyan national with a criminal record, stabbing to the neck at multiple strangers while shouting ‘unintelligible words’ might not be a terrorist.

Sky News

Thames Valley Police said it has launched a murder investigation and is keeping an open mind as to the motive, and although it is not currently treated as a terrorist-related incident it is being supported by colleagues from Counter-Terrorism Command.

Images have emerged of police carrying out an armed operation at a block of flats in Reading where the suspect was apparently held.

Sky News’ home affairs correspondent Mark White said: “A block of flats, about two miles from the park where the stabbings took place, was raided by counter-terrorism specialist firearm officers. There was the sound of an explosion inside the building after all residents were taken to safety. The building is believed to be the home address of the 25-year-old man, understood to be a Libyan national resident in the UK, who was arrested and is now in custody.” To be fair the explosive sound often heard at such raids isn’t always the potential terrorist’s bomb-making equipment, but the stuff the police use to blow the front door off. I believe the old-fashioned battering ram, or the largest officer present’s boot are considered a bit old school. 

Earlier security sources told the BBC the 25-year-old man arrested at the scene is thought to be Libyan. Home Affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said he had been told the suspect had previously been in prison in the UK but for a relatively minor offence, not a terrorism offence.