London Bridge terrorist entered UK under false name and date of birth, inquest hears

A London Bridge terrorist entered the UK under a false name and date of birth, an inquest has heard.

Rachid Redouane, 30, gave the Immigration Service the alias Rachid Elkhdar and said he was five years younger than his actual age.

Redouane, Khuram Shazad Butt, 27, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, all died from multiple gunshot wounds in Borough Market on June 3.

Their inquests were opened and adjourned at Southwark Coroner's Court on Tuesday, less than a quarter of a mile from the scene of their vehicle and knife rampage that killed eight.

A coroner's clerk who told the court: "This is the opening touching three matters, touching the deaths of three individuals in the London Bridge incident on June 3, 2017."

DCI Simon Moring then explained how and where each died stating in each case all were shot by the police at Borough Market.

He said a provisional post mortem gave the provisional cause of death of Butt as "multiple gunshot wounds."

Explaining how Butt was identified DCI Moring said: "He was identified by two primary means, the first being a set of fingerprints and a DNA profile.

"The fingerprints matched that of a man named Khuram Butt and the DNA profile also matched a man by the name of Khuram Butt, date of birth 20 April 1990."

Senior Coroner Dr Andrew Harris added: "A sample was taken for DNA analysis and that compared to a DNA profile held."

He added he also admitted dental evidence and scan evidence of CT imaging "indicating multiple perforating penetrating wounds."

Dr Harris added unemployed Butt was born in Jahelum, Pakistan, married, and was living in Barking when he died.

As to the identification of Rachid Redouane, DCI Moring said: "He was initially identified through fingerprints held by the immigration service.

"These came back in the name of Rachid Elkhdar, date of birth 31 July 1991.

DCI Simon Moring

"However a statement was taken from his wife who stated he used that name when he entered the country and his real name was Rachid Redouane, date of birth 31 July 1986.

"Subsequent finger print comparisons made against national identity documents held in Morocco again confirmed the name Rachid Redouane.

The coroner asked: "So the finger prints matched both the alias and the name Rachid Redouane. Now I understand there was difficulties with the date of birth?

DCI Moring replied: "Yes certainly, the date of birth 31 July 1991. His wife explained he entered the country essentially on false details."

The court did not hear when he entered on false details.

DCI Moring said the 1986 date of birth "was supported by his marriage certificate and also supported by the Moroccan authorities in which we have taken a statement, that's why his finger prints match against his Moroccan national identity."

The DCI said the autopsy gave the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds and Dr Harris added: "That is to the chest and abdomen.

"The full autopsy will take several months."

The coroner confirmed Redouane lived in Barking at the time of his death

Explaining how Zaghba was identified, DCI Moring said: "The fingerprints from the Moroccan authorities and dental records was the primary identification for Zaghba.

Dr Harris said: "I confirm the identity of Youssef Zaghbam born 26 January 1995 aged 22, born in Fez Morocco, no information of his martial status.

"He is known as an audio technician and gives an address as in Ilford.

Stating he was satisfied all three suspected deaths were unnatural he opened their inquests.

But he added: "I have been in consultation with Mark Lucraft QC, the chief coroner and agreed its appropriate for me to suspend my inquiries into all three deaths which I do pending further inquiries by police and decisions by the chief coroner."