Parson's Green bomber: Foster parents left in dark over teens radicalised past
THE foster care system for refugees from war-torn countries is set to be reviewed after the Parsons Green terrorist was placed with a British couple who were left in the dark about the fact he had been trained by Islamic State.
Concerns were expressed as to how Ahmed Hassan came to be living in Ron and Penny Jones’s terraced home in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, once the 18-year-old was arrested for his rushhour Tube plot on September 15.
The pensioner couple, who had been fostering for nearly 50 years, were told the teenager had a “terrible past” when he came to live with them in April 2016. But they claim they were not informed he was a would-be IS assassin who saw it as his duty to “hate” Britain.
Mr and Mrs Jones, who were appointed MBEs in 2010, yesterday told of their betrayal and shock – both at the boy they had grown to love as a son but also at the Home Office for knowingly sending a terrorist fighter to live under their roof without any warning.
On Friday Hassan was convicted of attempted murder after his “Mother of Satan” bomb containing 5lb of screwdrivers, knives, nuts and bolts exploded in the Tube train, injuring 51 people.
During his trial, the Old Bailey heard he was “disappointed” when the bomb only partly detonated in a huge fireball.
It was revealed that he had already come to the attention of the Home Office, telling officials in January 2016 that he had been recruited by IS.
During an immigration interview in Croydon, he said: “They trained us how to kill. It was all religious-based.”
Mr and Mrs Jones said the authorities “should have been honest” with them.
Ahmed Hassan found guilty of Parsons Green attack
“He needed somewhere to live and needed to be looked after, but I would have liked to have known because we could have been looking out for signs of radicalisation,” said Mrs Jones, 71.
Mr Jones, 89, added: “If we’d known, we could have been more watchful. I still can’t believe he did it.
“He seemed like such a good kid. I can only say he betrayed me. And out of the 269 kids we’ve had he’s the only one I can say that about.”
Senior government sources have told the Sunday Express a probe will be launched into the care of young people from countries such as Iraq and Syria.
I can only say he betrayed me. And out of the 269 kids we’ve had he’s the only one I can say that about
A Home Office source said: “Questions have been asked why a troubled Iraqi teenager was fostered by an elderly white couple who clearly could not be expected to cope with his complex issues.
"The system needs an overhaul this situation cannot be repeated.”
Hassan, who arrived in Britain on the back of a lorry in 2015, was referred to the anti-terrorism Prevent scheme.
A review of his dealings with Prevent is underway to see whether lessons can be learned.
A spokesman for Surrey County Council said: “We’re sorry Mr and Mrs Jones feel we didn’t support them well enough but we told them about Hassan’s background at the time.”
The authority added it placed a “high value on openness with all our foster carers – supporting Mr and Mrs Jones continues to be a priority for us”.