Overview

Ahmed Hassan, an Iraqi refugee, was the first of seven suspects arrested in connection to the September 15, 2017 terrorist attack at the Parsons Green subway station in West London.Kevin Rawlinson, “Parsons Green tube attack: arrested man named as Yahyah Farroukh,” Guardian (London), September 18, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/18/parsons-green-tube-attack-arrested-21-year-old-named-as-yahyah-farroukh;
Lizzie Dearden, “Parsons Green attack: Seventh person arrested in Cardiff over London Tube bombing,” Independent (London), September 25, 2017, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/parsons-green-attack-arrest-cardiff-suspect-london-tube-bombing-newport-wales-isis-a7965531.html. On September 15, a homemade bomb partially detonated on a train at the station, injuring 30 people.“Parsons Green: Underground blast a terror incident, say police,” BBC News, September 15, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41278545;
Sewell Chan, Patrick Kingsley, and Ceylan Yeginsu, ‘Bucket Bomb’ Strikes London’s Vulnerable Underground,” New York Times, September 15, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/15/world/europe/uk-london-underground-tube-explosion.html. Hassan was arrested the following day at a ferry port in Dover, from where he intended to board a ferry to France. Hassan was charged on September 22, 2017, with attempted murder and the use of illegal explosives.Ian Cobain, Kevin Rawlinson, Vikram Dodd, and Damien Gayle; “Iraqi teenager appears in court accused of Parsons Green bombing,” Guardian (London) September 22, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/22/man-charged-over-parsons-green-tube-bombing.

On Friday, September 15, 2017, an improvised explosive device detonated on a District Line train at the Parsons Green subway station in West London around 8:20 a.m. local time.“Parsons Green: Underground blast a terror incident, say police,” BBC News, September 15, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41278545;
Sewell Chan, Patrick Kingsley, and Ceylan Yeginsu, ‘Bucket Bomb’ Strikes London’s Vulnerable Underground,” New York Times, September 15, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/15/world/europe/uk-london-underground-tube-explosion.html. Thirty people were injured in the blast and ensuing stampede to leave the station.“Parsons Green: Underground blast a terror incident, say police,” BBC News, September 15, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41278545;
Sewell Chan, Patrick Kingsley, and Ceylan Yeginsu, ‘Bucket Bomb’ Strikes London’s Vulnerable Underground,” New York Times, September 15, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/15/world/europe/uk-london-underground-tube-explosion.html. The device, which was reportedly homemade and fitted with a timer, had been placed in a white bucket in a Lidl supermarket bag.“Parsons Green: Underground blast a terror incident, say police,” BBC News, September 15, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41278545; Jack Moore, “First Images of London Bomb Suspect Yahyah Farroukh Emerge,” Newsweek, September 18, 2017, http://www.newsweek.com/first-images-london-bomb-suspect-yahyah-farroukh-emerge-666676;
“Parsons Green bombing: Police still questioning suspects,” BBC News, September 18, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41302284. According to authorities, the device did not fully detonate, but could have killed everyone in the subway car if it had.Lizzie Dearden, “Parsons Green: Homemade bomb ‘could have killed everyone in the carriage,’” Independent (London), September 17, 2017, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/london-attack-parsons-green-bomb-investigation-latest-dover-arrest-isis-surrey-searches-armed-police-a7950816.html. ISIS’s Amaq News Agency claimed responsibility for the attack hours after it happened.Sewell Chan, Patrick Kingsley, and Ceylan Yeginsu, ‘Bucket Bomb’ Strikes London’s Vulnerable Underground,” New York Times, September 15, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/15/world/europe/uk-london-underground-tube-explosion.html. The United Kingdom temporarily increased its national threat level to “critical,” the highest level possible, and authorities launched a manhunt for suspects.Sewell Chan, Patrick Kingsley, and Ceylan Yeginsu, ‘Bucket Bomb’ Strikes London’s Vulnerable Underground,” New York Times, September 15, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/15/world/europe/uk-london-underground-tube-explosion.html;
“Parsons Green: Police hunt bomber behind Tube attack,” BBC News, September 16, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41290951.

Hassan was an 18-year-old Iraqi orphan at the time of his arrest. He reportedly came to the United Kingdom in 2015, seeking asylum after his parents were killed in Iraq and he was arrested and tortured there.Ian Cobain, Kevin Rawlinson, Vikram Dodd, and Damien Gayle; “Iraqi teenager appears in court accused of Parsons Green bombing,” Guardian (London) September 22, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/22/man-charged-over-parsons-green-tube-bombing;
Nicola Harley, “Parsons Green: Teenager Ahmed Hassan accused of buying parts on Amazon to build Tube bomb,” Telegraph (London), September 22, 2017, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/22/parsons-green-teenager-charged-attempted-murder-tube-attack/. According to an immigration officer who worked with him, Hassan suffered from PTSD from his torture and blamed former British Prime Minister Tony Blair for the situation in Iraq.Nicola Harley, “Parsons Green: Teenager Ahmed Hassan accused of buying parts on Amazon to build Tube bomb,” Telegraph (London), September 22, 2017, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/22/parsons-green-teenager-charged-attempted-murder-tube-attack/. Upon entering the United Kingdom, he lived at a hostel for homeless youth before moving into a foster home in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, under the care of an elderly foster couple, Ronald and Penelope Jones.Ian Cobain, Kevin Rawlinson, Vikram Dodd, and Damien Gayle; “Iraqi teenager appears in court accused of Parsons Green bombing,” Guardian (London) September 22, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/22/man-charged-over-parsons-green-tube-bombing;
Hilary Clarke, Richard Allen Greene, Lauren Said-Moorhouse and Susannah Cullinane, “London Tube attack suspects were foster children, officials say,” CNN, September 18, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/18/europe/london-tube-terror-commute/index.html. The Joneses were a well-reputed foster couple, who had been honored by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for their foster work. They reportedly fostered over 280 children in 30 years, including eight refugee children in the 2016 and 2017.Hilary Clarke, Richard Allen Greene, Lauren Said-Moorhouse and Susannah Cullinane, “London Tube attack suspects were foster children, officials say,” CNN, September 18, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/18/europe/london-tube-terror-commute/index.html. Hassan, one of the refugee foster children, claimed asylum while living in their residence.Ian Cobain, Kevin Rawlinson, Vikram Dodd, and Damien Gayle; “Iraqi teenager appears in court accused of Parsons Green bombing,” Guardian (London) September 22, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/22/man-charged-over-parsons-green-tube-bombing.

Hassan allegedly created the bomb in his foster parents’ kitchen, using ingredients that he purchased through Amazon. The bomb was packed with items such as knives and screws, which served as shrapnel, and contained an electric timer and an explosive chemical compound called TATP. Hassan placed the bomb in a bucket, concealing it in a Lidl supermarket bag and covering it with a pair of pants.Nicola Harley, “Parsons Green: Teenager Ahmed Hassan accused of buying parts on Amazon to build Tube bomb,” Telegraph (London), September 22, 2017, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/22/parsons-green-teenager-charged-attempted-murder-tube-attack/. Footage was released depicting a man, presumably Hassan, leaving the Joneses’ foster residence on the morning of September 15 carrying a Lidl supermarket bag.“Parsons Green bombing: Police still questioning suspects,” BBC News, September 18, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41302284. He allegedly placed the supermarket bag containing the bomb on the District Line train during morning rush hour, getting off the train himself at Putney Bridge, the stop before Parsons Green.Nicola Harley, “Parsons Green: Teenager Ahmed Hassan accused of buying parts on Amazon to build Tube bomb,” Telegraph (London), September 22, 2017, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/22/parsons-green-teenager-charged-attempted-murder-tube-attack/.

The following day, Hassan was arrested at the port of Dover in Kent, England, where he was preparing to board a ferry to France.Ian Cobain, Kevin Rawlinson, Vikram Dodd, and Damien Gayle; “Iraqi teenager appears in court accused of Parsons Green bombing,” Guardian (London) September 22, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/22/man-charged-over-parsons-green-tube-bombing. Authorities searched the Joneses’ Sunbury residence following his arrest.“Parsons Green bombing: Police still questioning suspects,” BBC News, September 18, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41302284. Additional explosives were reportedly found hidden in a sofa.Nicola Harley, “Parsons Green: Teenager Ahmed Hassan accused of buying parts on Amazon to build Tube bomb,” Telegraph (London), September 22, 2017, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/22/parsons-green-teenager-charged-attempted-murder-tube-attack/.

Hassan appeared in court on September 22, 2017. He was charged with attempted murder and breach of the United Kingdom’s Explosive Substances Act.Ian Cobain, Kevin Rawlinson, Vikram Dodd, and Damien Gayle; “Iraqi teenager appears in court accused of Parsons Green bombing,” Guardian (London) September 22, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/22/man-charged-over-parsons-green-tube-bombing.