Channel 4 News have been forced to backtrack on a report which appeared to name the man responsible for Wednesday’s attack in Westminster.
Senior home affairs correspondent Simon Israel quoted a source as saying that the name of the attacker was Abu Izzadeen – also known as Trevor Brooks – as the suspect.
Channel 4 News says it has confirmed the attacker was Trevor Brooks aka Abu Izzadeen, well known to the security services and the media.
— Andrew Neil (@afneil) March 22, 2017
However, it later emerged that this was not the case. With many pointing out that Izzadeen is currently serving a prison sentence, Israel later went back on what he had originally said.
“It may be that we’re not as certain about identity of the attacker as we thought” @simonisrael on naming Abu Izzadeen as alleged attacker
— Hayley Barlow (@Hayley_Barlow) March 22, 2017
From certainty to uncertainty, good illustration of why we mustn't rush to judgement on id of suspect from @simonisrael on @Channel4News. pic.twitter.com/8YJaH7QbTu
— Gordon MacMillan (@gordonmacmillan) March 22, 2017
Channel 4 News is now having doubts that it's Trevor Brooks — because he's still in jail! Simon Israel looking worried.
— Andrew Neil (@afneil) March 22, 2017
Channel 4’s +1 channel then failed to show the news, with the following message being displayed instead.
This is C4 +1 right now after @Channel4News wrongly identifies the man behind the #WestminsterAttack. Very embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/Nh7L7b5Itk
— Andrew Connell (@andrewiconnell) March 22, 2017
Shortly after, Hayley Barlow, Head of Communications for Channel 4 News shared the following statement indicating that they were investigating the matter.
Statement from Channel 4 News pic.twitter.com/34QLcQasLI
— Hayley Barlow (@Hayley_Barlow) March 22, 2017
Izzadeen, who converted to Islam aged 17, was jailed in January of last year for breaching the Terrorism Act by illegally leaving the United Kingdom.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Izzadeen was radicalised by Omar Bakri Mohammed and Abu Hamza at the Finsbury Park Mosque.
Israel later acknowledged his mistake in a tweet which confirmed that Izzadeen is indeed in prison.
The source I trusted, but ultimately I made a mistake. This time I got it wrong. Abu Izzadeen is in prison.
— simon israel (@simonisrael) March 22, 2017
