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Met Police are slammed for failing to catch knifeman five days after he stabbed Christian preacher, 39, in Charlie Hebdo T-shirt at Speaker's Corner in front of 30 witnesses in broad daylight

Scotland Yard was today criticised for failing to catch a knifeman five days after he stabbed a Christian preacher wearing a Charlie Hebdo T-shirt at Speakers' Corner, as counter-terrorism officer continue to investigate.

An estimated 30 witnesses saw Hatun Tash, 39, being slashed across the face in broad daylight at Hyde Park on Sunday with some filming what happened in an area of Central London that is packed with CCTV cameras.

The force are believed to be holding a meeting today to discuss how they police Speakers' Corner going forward, but questions are being asked about how the attacker got away so easily after stabbing the preacher.

Some witnesses have claimed police quickly dispersed the gathered crowd after the attack without taking witness statements, and a film crew who are regularly at the site have published a clear picture of the alleged knifeman.

Ms Tash since claims to have had police officers turning up at her house trying to speak to her and pressurising her not to talk to broadcast media, before she did an interview with GB News on Wednesday.

When she arrived at Paddington station ahead of the chat she was escorted to the GB News studios by police, who have also turned up at the offices of the Christian Legal Centre, which is representing her, trying to find her.

The incident is not being treated as terror-related, despite Ms Tash being from the DCCI (Defend Christ Critique Islam) Ministries group which 'seeks to preach the Gospel to Muslims using apologetics and polemics'.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, told MailOnline: 'It is extraordinary that the attacker is still at large given the video evidence and witnesses at the scene, some of whom, we believe, know him.

'The footage clearly shows an attempt to kill, or at least seriously harm, a Christian woman in broad daylight in front of the police. Speakers' Corner is one of the most monitored places in the UK.'

The Metropolitan Police told MailOnline that no arrests have been made, but officers from SO15 Counter Terrorism Command are 'working hard to follow up all lines of enquiry and identify the person responsible for this attack'. Asked about going to her home, the force said: 'Officers from SO15 have been providing support to the victim.'

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Hatun Tash (leftin Charlie Hebdo T-shirt) was treated in hospital after being slashed with a knife at Hyde Park on Sunday

Hatun Tash (leftin Charlie Hebdo T-shirt) was treated in hospital after being slashed with a knife at Hyde Park on Sunday

Ms Tash is a Christian preacher from a group which 'seeks to preach the Gospel to Muslims using apologetics and polemics'

Ms Tash is a Christian preacher from a group which 'seeks to preach the Gospel to Muslims using apologetics and polemics'

Ms Williams continued: 'This is not the first time that Hatun has been threatened and assaulted at Speakers' Corner. The threats and attacks are intended to shut down any critique of Islam.

'If that's what happens the attacker wins. We are also concerned that blaming the victim for wearing a Charlie Hebdo T-shirt amounts to an acceptance that it is OK to shut down opposition to Islam through extreme violence.

Who is Hatun Tash? The ex-Muslim from Turkey who is now a regular at Speakers' Corner 

Hatun Tash is a Christian preacher from a group called DCCI (Defend Christ Critique Islam) Ministries who is a regular at Speakers' Corner.

The 39-year-old is a former Muslim from Turkey who is now a prominent critic of Islam and believes Muslims should be encouraged to convert to Christianity.

She has had many heated discussions with Islamic preachers and others, and has previously been attacked for piercing holes through the Koran and waving a cartoon image of the Prophet Mohammed depicted as a crying baby.

DCCI Ministries 'seeks to preach the Gospel to Muslims using apologetics and polemics', adding: 'Our motivation is a love for Muslims to bring them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ in order to attain eternal life.'

In October 2020, Sadiq Khan was asked about Ms Tash at Mayor's Question Time and said police had escorted her out of Hyde Park 'for her own safety' after a large and hostile crowd had gathered around her.

He added that 'freedom of speech is a principle that I hold dear', adding: 'One of the best things about London is the fierce way in which we protect this right and people's ability to exercise it.'

'An attack like this is an attack on us all. It strikes at the heart of what our society was built upon - freedom. Freedom to believe, freedom to disagree, freedom to move and speak without fear.'

Speaking about the incident, Ms Tash said: 'I am upset and disturbed by what has happened to me. I am asking myself if have done anything wrong? I am convinced I have not broken any law or incited hate.

'All I did was question Islam and I wanted to debate discuss and to tell people about Jesus Christ. Speakers' Corner is a great place to do this, it is a shame that this has happened at the home of freedom of speech.

'Watching the video, the intention is clearly to kill me. I can't believe this has happened in broad daylight at Speakers' Corner. You do not expect such things to happen in Great Britain. Police inaction has led to what happened to me (on Sunday). 

'In the past, they have seen it as easier to remove me than deal with people intimidating and threatening me. My attacker was not even afraid of the police as he did it right in front of them.'

Ms Tash's reference to 'police inaction' is in relation to two previous incidents at Speakers' Corner when she was arrested but claims officers should have removed those threatening her instead.

The first incident on December 20 last year saw Ms Tash arrested for breaching coronavirus regulations. She was then charged but pleaded not guilty, and the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges on May 5. 

The second incident was less than three weeks later on May 23 and this time saw Ms Tash arrested for a breach of the peace. But she was released with no further action after eventually spending 23 hours in custody.

As for the stabbing on Sunday, a distressing recording of the incident which happened at 3.34pm was posted on YouTube showing an unknown person dressed in a black hoodie attacking Ms Tash, then running away.

She fell to the ground and was seen bleeding as crowds gathered around her. But she got up and proclaimed: 'Cutting people's arms is not going to help you'.

The preacher added that it is 'not about the blood on my hands' and continued: 'It is unacceptable that you are running away from Jesus Christ.' 

Video footage showed a large group of people standing outside in torrential rain at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park on Sunday

Video footage showed a large group of people standing outside in torrential rain at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park on Sunday

Her Charlie Hebdo T-shirt had a cartoon showing a man kissing a cartoonist with the slogan 'L'amour plus fort que la haine' (love is stronger than hate).

Responding to the criticism by Ms Williams, a Met Police spokesman told MailOnline today: 'No arrests have been made at this stage, but officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism (SO15) are working hard to follow up all lines of enquiry and identify the person responsible for this attack. 

'We would urge any witnesses or anyone with information who has not yet come forward to contact police. The incident is not being treated as terrorism-related at this time.' 

Asked whether they turned up at Ms Tash's home, the spokesman said: 'Officers from SO15 have been providing support to the victim.' He added that the force was not prepared to discuss this further.

Ms Tash suffered a stab wound and was seen with blood pouring down her face on Sunday as she was taken to a police van

Ms Tash suffered a stab wound and was seen with blood pouring down her face on Sunday as she was taken to a police van

The Met did not comment on whether the force are discussing policing arrangements for Speakers' Corner.

Ms Tash has since been discharged from a hospital in London and Scotland Yard's SO15 Counter Terrorism Command are now leading the investigation.

But the force insisted the incident 'is not being treated as terrorism-related at this time' and that it was keeping an open mind about possible motives. 

Detective Superintendent Alex Bingley, of the Central West Command Unit which covers policing in Westminster, said: 'This was clearly a very distressing incident for the woman involved and officers have spent time with her, whilst she was being treated for her injury, to get an account of what happened.

The man who carried out the attack sprinted away as he was chased by members of the public - but he has not been caught

The man who carried out the attack sprinted away as he was chased by members of the public - but he has not been caught

'We know that this assault was witnessed by a number of people, many of whom captured it on their phones. I would ask them, if they have not already done so, to contact police.

'We remain in the early stages of our investigation and are working hard to trace the person responsible.'

DS Bingley also asked people not to 'speculate on the motive for the attack until we have established the full facts'.

Footage shared on social media showed someone dressed in black approaching Ms Tash who was wearing a Charlie Hebdo T-shirt.

Ms Tash claims police officers pressured her not to talk to broadcast media, before she did an interview with GB News

Ms Tash claims police officers pressured her not to talk to broadcast media, before she did an interview with GB News

Ms Tash was later seen clutching her right hand close to her body and with what appeared to be blood at her temple as she was helped into a police van by officers who were nearby.

No arrests have been made and a knife was found near the scene of the attack.

Twelve members of staff at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo were gunned down in January 2015 by two brothers who vowed allegiance to Al Qaeda.

The gunmen said they were taking revenge for the magazine's publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that many Muslims find offensive.

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Ms Tash has previously been attacked for piercing holes through the Quran and waving a cartoon image of the Prophet Mohammed depicted as a crying baby.

DCCI Ministries states on its website: 'Our motivation is a love for Muslims to bring them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ in order to attain eternal life.'

Speakers' Corner is a historic place for open-air debate, where people have gathered at Speakers' Corner since the 1860s to exercise their right to free speech.

Ms Tash was interviewed by GB News on Wednesday, having been escorted to the studios by police from Paddington station

Ms Tash was interviewed by GB News on Wednesday, having been escorted to the studios by police from Paddington station

Historic figures such as Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and George Orwell are all known to have visited to discuss the issues of the day.

In recent years, topics such as Islamic fundamentalism have often featured in the debates which normally take place on Sundays.

Anyone with information about Sunday's incident is asked to contact Scotland Yard via 101 or @MetCC quoting reference Cad 4376/25Jul. To remain anonymous, witnesses can instead call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

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