PEERS have sparked fears they will delay the Governments emergency terror laws next week – risking half a dozen terrorists being freed on to the streets within days.
Currently some terror offenders can be automatically released at the halfway stage of their sentence – even if they still pose a threat to the public.
Mohammed Zahir Khan, described as an ‘extremely concerning individual’, is due to be released on Friday under current law
But the Governments emergency legislation would end automatic early release for all current terror prisoners and Parole Boards would only consider them for early release at the two-thirds stage of their sentence rather than the halfway stage.
But a report by a powerful committee of peers has called for terror offenders to continue to be eligible for early release at the halfway stage.
The powerful House of Lords Constitution committee called for the full changes to be shelved until later in the year so they have more time to scrutinise them.
It says allowing Parole Boards to have the power to block early release would be sufficient.
But government insiders disputed this and said they need the legislation unamended to guarantee that six terror convicts due for automatic early release by the end of next month will not be let out.
And any amendments to the legislation risks the Government missing the crucial deadline of having the legislation on the statute book by Thursday – the day before the next terror offender is due to be freed.
‘EXTREMELY CONCERNING INDIVIDUAL’
The law is also needed to stop five other dangerous terrorists being automatically freed by the end of March.
Calling for changes to the legislation, the House of Lords Constitution Committee report says: The Bill not only makes the release of terrorist prisoners subject to the Parole Boards assessment but also delays the point at which that assessment can take place from half-way to two-thirds of the way through a sentence.
The Committee questions whether it is necessary to include this extension of the time terrorist prisoners will serve as part of this fast-track bill, rather than in the next counter-terrorism sentencing bill that the Government has said it will introduce.
The requirement for a Parole Board assessment should be sufficient to ensure that prisoners who still pose a risk to the public are not released early.
Mohammed Zahir Khan is due to be released on Friday.
HOARderland shopkeeper, described as an extremely concerning individual, was jailed for four and a half years in May 2018 for encouraging acts of terror, disseminating terror material and inciting religious hatred.
The emergency legislation was rushed through Commons following the stabbing spree by convicted terrorist Sudesh Amman in Streatham, South London
The emergency legislation was rushed through the Commons a fortnight ago following the horrifying stabbing spree by convicted terrorist Sudesh Amman in Streatham, south London, just days after he had been released halfway through his sentence.
The 20-year-old had been jailed for possessing and distributing terrorist documents in December 2018, but was freed automatically halfway through his sentence.
Among the five further terrorists believed to be due for release in March are Mohammed Ghani from Barnet, Jamshed Javeed from Manchester, Mohammed Khilji from north-west London, Atiq Ahmed from Oldham and Britains youngest terrorist known only as RXG.
RXG was sentenced in 2015 for plotting to murder police officers in Australia but is due for release within the next month.
Ghani, from Barnet, north London, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison in May last year after threatening to kill police officers.
Khilji, from north-west London, was sentenced to five years in prison in June 2018 after being found guilty of posting beheading videos on WhatsApp, as well as footage giving advice on how to make a car bomb.
Ahmed, who was arrested after hurling abuse at staff at a school in the town and later found to have IS propaganda on his phone, is due to be released in March.
And Javeed was jailed for six years in March 2015 for planning to travel from his Manchester home to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State (IS).
Mohammed Ghani was sentenced to two years and four months in prison May last year after threatening to kill police officers
Mohammed Khilji was found guilty of posting beheading videos on WhatsApp, as well as footage giving advice on how to make a car bomb
Atiq Ahmed, arrested after hurling abuse at school staff and was later found to have IS propaganda on his phone, is due to be released in March
Jamshed Javeed was jailed for six years in March 2015 for planning to travel from his Manchester home to Syria to join IS
