Liverpool bomber exploited UK’s ‘dysfunctional’ asylum system, home secretary says
Priti Patel has said the suspected Liverpool terror attacker was able to exploit Britain’s “dysfunctional” asylum system to remain in the country.
On a three-day visit to Washington, the UK’s home secretary said the system was a “complete merry-go-round” with a “whole industry” devoted to defending the rights of individuals intent on causing harm.
It comes as new analysis shows that most migrants crossing the English Channel to the UK are refugees fleeing persecution.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has said the UK’s asylum system is a ‘complete merry-go-round’
Terror suspect Emad Al Swealmeen is understood to have arrived in the UK from the Middle East in 2014 and had an application for asylum rejected the following year, but was still in the country. He had reportedly suffered mental health issues.
The 32-year-old died in an explosion outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital in a taxi shortly before 11am on Remembrance Sunday.
The UK terror threat level has since been raised from substantial to severe since the incident – indicating an attack is “highly likely” rather than “likely”.
Ms Patel told reporters on her flight to the US capital that the case proved the government is right to reform the asylum system.
She was quoted as saying: “The case in Liverpool was a complete reflection of how dysfunctional, how broken, the system has been in the past, and why I want to bring changes forward.
“It’s a complete merry-go-round and it has been exploited. A whole sort of professional legal services industry has based itself on rights of appeal, going to the courts day-in day-out at the expense of the taxpayers through legal aid. That is effectively what we need to change.”
She added: “These people have come to our country and abused British values, abused the values of the fabric of our country and our society.
“And as a result of that, there’s a whole industry that thinks it’s right to defend these individuals that cause the most appalling crimes against British citizens, devastating their lives, blighting communities – and that is completely wrong.”
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UK terror threat level raised
However, new research by the Refugee Council indicates that just a third of migrants crossing the English Channel would not be allowed to remain in the UK, and that the “majority of people crossing the Channel are likely to be recognised as being in need of protection” at the initial decision stage.
The charity, using Home Office statistics and data obtained through freedom of information laws, found that between January 2020 and June this year, 91% of migrants came from 10 countries where human rights abuses and persecution are common – including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Eritrea and Yemen.
Almost two-thirds of migrants crossing the English Channel are genuine refugees, research suggests
For the top 10 countries of origin arriving by small boat, 61% of initial decisions made in the 18 months to June 2021 would have resulted in refugee protection being granted, the research also suggested.
However last month, Ms Patel claimed that seven out of ten of those travelling to the UK across the Channel were “not genuine asylum seekers” and the government was “concentrating” its efforts on “creating safe passage for genuine refugees”.
“In the last 12 months alone 70% of the individuals who have come to our country illegally via small boats are single men, who are effectively economic migrants. They are not genuine asylum seekers,” she told the Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee.
“They are able to pay the smugglers… These are the ones who are elbowing out the women and children, who are at risk and fleeing persecution.”
Migrants in Dunkirk, northern France, hoping to make it across the English Channel
Al Swealmeen converted from Islam to Christianity and was not thought to have been known to MI5 – and there have been reports of growing concern within the Home Office at the role on the Church of England in converting asylum seekers.
An unnamed source quoted in The Sun said one issue being considered is whether he was motivated by an “unsolved grievance” with the Home Office over a bid to become a UK resident in 2014.
Malcolm Hitchcott, who along with his wife Elizabeth had taken al Swealmeen into their home to live with them, said the suspect came to Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral in 2015 and wanted to convert to Christianity.
He said the suspected terrorist had contacted them in 2017 when he was “desperate” for somewhere to stay.
Al Swealmeen converted from Islam to Christianity
“He arrived here on 1 April 2017. He was with us then for eight months, and during that time we saw him really blossoming in regards to his Christian faith,” Mr Hitchcott told BBC Radio Merseyside.
“He really had a passion about Jesus that I wish many Christians had, and he was ready to learn.
“He was keen on reading his Bible and every night we used to pray – my wife and him, and if there was anybody else in the house – we prayed for half an hour or so and studied the scriptures.
“He was absolutely genuine, as far as I could tell. I was in no doubt by the time that he left us at the end of that eight months that he was a Christian.”
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‘Controlled’ explosion after Liverpool terror incident
An Islamist plot is understood to be one line of inquiry being considered by police, though investigators are keeping an open mind and the motivation is yet to be established.
It is still believed that the hospital was the intended target of the attack.
Aerial view of police activity after an explosion at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, from Counter-Terrorism Police North West, previously told reporters that police believed al Swealmeen had “manufactured” the explosive device himself.
The investigation is also looking into other possibilities, including whether the main charge on the device failed to explode and if the homemade explosive TATP was used.
Police have searched properties in Rutland Avenue, where al Swealmeen was picked up in the taxi, as well as a second address in Sutcliffe Street where officers believe he previously lived.
Four men arrested in relation to the explosion have now been released from custody following interview, Greater Manchester Police said.
Police continued to appeal for any information about the incident or the suspected attacker.
The freed suspect in the Madeleine McCann case has come out of hiding to confront the prosecutor who has accused him of the British toddler’s murder.
Christian B, who cannot be fully identified under German privacy laws, travelled for hours to try to speak to lawyer Hans Christian Wolters.
Mr Wolters has stated publicly that he has evidence, which he has not revealed, to show that Christian B abducted and killed Madeleine, who vanished from her bed during a Portuguese holiday in 2007.
Christian B denies any involvement in her disappearance.
Christian B attempted to speak to lawyer Hans Christian Wolters
The suspect, who was released from a rape sentence two weeks ago, told Sky News in an exclusive interview: “The prosecutor refused to meet me, but I told his representative I wanted his help to get my life back.
“I’m being hounded by the media, and it’s his fault. I want him to take responsibility.
“I was told there was nothing they could do to help. I had been convicted and released, and I wasn’t their responsibility.”
Madeleine McCann vanished from her bed during a Portuguese holiday in 2007. File pic: PA
Christian B, 49, was driven from jail by his lawyer Friedrich Fulscher on 17 September and, since then, has lived in local authority accommodation in the town of Neumunster, north of Hamburg.
Journalists quickly tracked him down and exposed his new address, prompting anger in the community from people worried about his convictions for child sex crimes.
Local councillor Karin Mundt of the hard-right populist movement, Heimat Neumunster (Homeland Neumunster), took to Facebook to warn locals to be vigilant, not go out alone, and make sure that their children and elderly were safe.
She also called for a public protest under the slogan ‘Christian B. out of Neumunster – tougher measures against child abusers and rapists to protect all citizens!’
Germany operates draconian privacy laws, whereby even the media must get the consent of someone they photograph, or disguise their features.
Christian B pictured this month. Pic: Markus Hibbeler/Bild
Pic: Markus Hibbeler/Bild
Yet the group even decided to publish photos of Christian B, arguing that the danger he presents means he was a public person of interest, and that they had to make sure that elderly people were able to recognise him.
Two separate chat groups were set up, one dedicated to campaigning for Christian B to be booted out of Neumunster, the other to discuss alleged sightings of him.
Some claimed that Christian B had turned up near schools and that the police were called round, though other people said they worked at these schools, and that no police had been there.
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A woman at Domino’s pizza claimed that Christian B had turned up in a false beard, yet just days later, her colleague said she had seen the pictures and she was unsure that it was Christian B.
And throughout all this, a source close to Christian B’s defence claimed that he had not been out at all apart from to sort out his phone, and also once for a steak.
On Wednesday, one chat even discussed gathering at the town hall in the evening, and police vans then turned up to try to prevent this.
But the language of the chat became ever bolder – with people openly posting addresses they were convinced he was living at – and at one point, all people with English-sounding surnames were ejected from the group as people suspected they were journalists.
Explainer: What we know about Christian B
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Madeleine McCann suspect released from jail
Police quickly moved Christian B out of Neumunster, and reports he has since been spotted at a hotel in an unnamed town.
In a recent interview with Germany’s Stern magazine, Christian B’s main lawyer Dr Fulscher said: “The Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office has fuelled this media campaign of prejudgment.
“It has told the public that it is certain it has the right person. Without presenting sufficient evidence or even allowing my client to inspect the files.
“I find this highly questionable from a constitutional point of view. In my opinion, the Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office has made rehabilitation impossible.”
Prosecutor Mr Wolters told Sky News today that he’d been tipped off about the suspect’s visit to his office in Braunschweig near Hanover and refused to speak to him.
Christian B was released from Sehnde prison, near Hannover, earlier this month after a prosecutor failed to find enough evidence to charge him in the Madeleine case.
As part of his release conditions, he’s been fitted with an electronic ankle tag, has had to surrender his passport, and register his permanent address with probation officers.
Model Penny Lancaster has said she “felt ashamed and belittled” by how former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace treated her on the TV show.
Lancaster, who is also a TV personality, and is married to singer Rod Stewart, told Sky News’ The UK Tonight with Sarah-Jane Mee programme that she also felt let down by MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK.
“I didn’t feel like I was supported in that moment, I felt ashamed and belittled by the way Greg Wallace had treated me but equally I felt disappointed that the production company hadn’t come to my rescue,” Lancaster, 54 and a MasterChef contestant in 2021, said.
“There is a long way to go, but just by people coming forward and being honest about their experiences I think will help in the long term.”
At the end of July, Wallace, 60, apologised after a report commissioned by Banijay UK, and carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin, found 45 out of 83 allegations against him were substantiated.
Sir Rod Stewart criticised Wallace on Instagram in November 2024 and claimed he “humiliated” his wife when she was on the show.
He wrote: “Good riddance Wallace… You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn’t you?
“You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully.”
Gregg Wallace. Pic: PA
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Sky News has approached Wallace for comment.
He has previously apologised to people he has hurt, saying in July that he knows he has said things that have offended people. He has denied a specific allegation of unwanted touching.
The BBC referred Sky News to their statement from July, in which the corporation said: “Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour – both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.
“We want to thank all those who took part in the investigation, including those who first raised concerns directly with the BBC in November last year. We apologise to everyone who has been impacted by Mr Wallace’s behaviour.”
Penny Lancaster speaks to Sarah-Jane Mee
Banijay UK, the producers of MasterChef, told Sky News: “We are extremely sorry to anyone who has been impacted by any inappropriate behaviour by Gregg Wallace whilst working on our shows and felt unable to speak up at the time or that their complaint was not adequately addressed.
“Ways of reporting concerns whilst working on our productions, protocols around behaviour and training for both cast and crew, have improved exponentially in recent years and we constantly review welfare procedures across our productions to ensure that they are as robust as they can be.”
Sadiq Khan has hit back at politicians “spreading misinformation” about safety in London as new data shows the number of violent crimes leading to injury has fallen in every borough over the past year.
Figures from the mayor’s office for policing and crime compare the 12 months ending in August 2025 with the previous 12 months – and show there were 8,749 fewer crimes which resulted in someone being hurt, a drop of nearly 12%.
The borough of Havering in east London recorded the largest drop (16.3%) followed by Enfield in north London (16.1%).
The smallest decreases were in Greenwich (4.3%) and Kensington and Chelsea (4.6%).
Sir Sadiq said: “We’ve seen a number of politicians here and across the globe talking down London and spreading misinformation about crime and safety in the capital.
“The evidence is clear, our approach to tackling crime and its complex causes works. It’s driving down violence right across the capital.”
His comments come after Donald Trump reignited his feud with Sir Sadiq earlier this month by accusing him of doing a “terrible job” and claiming “crime in London is through the roof”.
The US president also hit out at the mayor in a speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, where he also made the outlandish claim that London “wants Sharia law” – something there is no evidence for.
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Trump attacks UN and London mayor
Asked about the attacks, Sir Sadiq said: “I think President Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic, and he is Islamophobic.”
He added that the public would be “wondering what it is about this Muslim mayor who leads a liberal, multicultural, progressive, successful city that means I appear to be living rent-free inside Donald Trump’s head”.
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According to the mayor’s office, overall homicides in London are at a 10-year low, and the city’s rate is lower than in Berlin, Brussels, Madrid, Paris and all major US cities.
The rate of homicide was down by 17% in the 12-month period to June this year compared with the 12-month period to May 2016, it previously said.
Sir Sadiq speaks with a police officer during a walkabout in the West End earlier this year. File pic: PA
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams said: “We’re targeting the most dangerous individuals, disrupting criminal networks, and investing in prevention to protect those most at risk.
“That’s why fewer people are being hurt, fewer lives are being lost, and London is becoming a safer city.”
The Conservatives rejected the suggestion that London is safer.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp claims ‘London isn’t safer’
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Under this Labour mayor, criminals know the odds are stacked in their favour.
“Only one in 20 robberies is solved, fewer offenders are being jailed, and more than a thousand police officers have been cut from the Metropolitan Police, with Sir Mark Rowley warning of further losses this year.
“Londoners don’t feel safer because London isn’t safer.”
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