Lion of London Bridge, Roy Larner ‘on anti-terror watch list’

The ‘Lion of London Bridge’ who was hailed a hero for fighting off knife-wielding jihadis during the terror attack said he is on an anti-terror watch list after being contacted by far-right anti-Islam supporters. 

Roy Larner, 49, screamed, ‘f*** you, I’m Millwall,’ as he took on the knife murderers when they struck in June 2017 while he was enjoying a pint in the Black & Blue restaurant in Borough Market, in Southwark, south-east London.

But Mr Larner has since been placed on the Government’s Prevent programme over fears that he could become an extremist after he was contacted by far-right yobs.

He has had to attend de-radicalisation classes and police are monitoring him, the Sun reported. 

Mr Larner said: ‘They treat me like a terrorist but I’m not political at all. 

The 49-year-old required surgery after being slashed multiple times in the head and neck by Rachid Redouane and Yousseff Zaghba, who – along with third terrorist Khuram Butt – ended up killing eight and injuring 38 others.

Roy Larner, 49, screamed, ‘f*** you, I’m Millwall,’ as he took on the knife murderers when they struck in June 2017 while he was enjoying a pint in the Black & Blue restaurant in Borough Market, in Southwark, south-east London. He suffered multiple slash wounds to his head and neck in the ordeal

He was released from hospital 12 days after the attack which left him with more than 80 stitches to his head, ear, arms and hands. 

While in hospital, he was pictured propping himself up in bed with a ‘learn to run’ manual his friends had given him – which they said displayed ‘our south-east London sense of humour’. 

Mr Larner said one of the attackers had shouted, ‘This is for Allah,’ and ‘Islam, Islam, Islam,’ when they struck. 

Even after being repeatedly stabbed and falling to the floor, CCTV footage showed Mr Larner raising his fists in defence. 

But Mr Larner has since been placed on the Government’s Prevent programme over fears that he could become an extremist after he was contacted by far-right yobs. Above: While in hospital, he was pictured propping himself up in bed with a ‘learn to run’ manual his friends had given him – which they said displayed ‘our south-east London sense of humour’

The Millwall fan was a hailed a hero after the attacks, with some even calling for him to be George Cross, the highest civilian award for gallantry.

However, in July 2017, footage from February of that year emerged of him spitting on a black photographer and ranting about ‘foreign c****s who ‘stink like s***t’. 

He escaped jail after being handed a suspended sentence and a £50 fine. 

Later, in September 2018, he was charged after being found with the powerful and potentially deadly painkiller fentanyl – the drug linked to the death of popstar Prince. 

A Home Office spokesman told MailOnline: ‘Prevent safeguards people who may be vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism. It is entirely up to an individual whether they accept the support offered through Prevent.

‘The support people receive through Prevent is rightly confidential and it would not be appropriate to comment on whether or not an individual has been offered support.’

Prevent: £40million-a-year scheme that failed to stop Parsons Green Tube bomber 

Prevent, which was introduced in 2011, has an annual budget of about £40 million and aims to stop people being drawn into terrorism.

Extremism is defined by Prevent as, ‘vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of the armed forces.’

Public bodies including councils and schools are required by the 2015 Counter-Terrorism Act to have ‘due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.’ 

Prevent, which was introduced in 2011, has an annual budget of about £40 million and aims to stop people being drawn into terrorism

Anyone concerned that someone they know is at risk of radicalisation can refer them to Prevent, but only a small percentage of cases are deemed to require anti-extremism action.

When authorities conclude there is a risk the person could be drawn into terrorism, the case will move to what is known as the Channel programme. A panel of support workers including police and local authority staff then assess what support a person needs. 

Prevent has come under renewed scrutiny recently after it emerged that Parsons Green Tube bomber Ahmed Hassan was referred to the scheme.

Police said he duped support workers by ‘appearing to engage with the programme’ when all the time he was plotting to cause carnage.

Staff from various agencies met him several times between February 2016 and September 2017, and he received ‘extensive support’ in mental health and education, but was not deterred from his murderous plans.