Around 50 terrorists were due to be automatically released from prison halfway through their sentences; that was before it was confirmed that emergency legislation becomes law later this week.
The bill was put forward by the government after the Streatham terror attack in south London earlier this month.
This new law will apply to those sentenced for crimes such as training for terrorist acts, membership of a terrorist organisation, and for sharing terrorist publications and texts.
Sudesh Amman, 20, stabbed two people just a week after being released from prison, halfway through serving a sentence for spreading extremist material.
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Usman Khan, who was responsible for the killings of two people in the London Bridge attack last year, was also released early.
The government has quickly brought ‘The Terrorist Offenders Bill’ (Restriction of Early Release) through parliament, days before the scheduled release of the next offender was set to take place. The bill cleared the Commons earlier this month and was backed by the House of Lords.
Before the bill was brought through parliament, Mohammed Zahir Khan, was set to be released on 28 February, after being imprisoned for four-and-a-half years in 2018 for sharing messages and material on social media supporting Islamic State.
Justice Secretary & Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, said:
No dangerous terrorist should be released automatically only to go on to kill and maim innocent people on our streets.
Enough is enough. This government will do whatever it takes to keep the public safe, including making sure no terror offender is released early without a thorough risk assessment by the Parole Board.
And we are not stopping there. We are stepping-up deradicalisation measures in our prisons, introducing a 14-year minimum for the worst terrorist offenders, and giving more money to the police to deal with these horrific crimes.
