Parsons Green terror suspect 'was reported to counter terror unit months ago'

New footage of the Parsons Green bombing has emerged as it was claimed the teenage suspect in the case was reported to counter terrorism police months before the attack.

The 18-year-old, who is a refugee and was fostered by a couple in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, was arrested on Saturday morning in the departure area of Dover ferry port.

Sources said that Penelope and Ronald Jones, aged 71 and 88, who are well-known and respected foster carers, were struggling to cope as his behaviour deteriorated in recent months.

It is alleged that he had been referred to Prevent, the Government’s de-radicalisation programme.

The referral was reportedly made months ago through Surrey County Council, which was responsible for placing the orphan with the Joneses, who have fostered hundreds of children.

A source told The Sun: “I understand he was flagged up to Prevent. There are bound to be questions over what they did.”

The suspect was arrested after a device partially exploded on a rush-hour tube train, injuring 30.

The claim comes as new footage emerged of the suspect riding his bicycle with a Union Jack bag near his foster home in the days before the attack.

Footage obtained by ITV news shows him passing the same CCTV camera on three days in the week of the planned attack.

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The same camera appears to show a man on his way to carry out the attack after leaving the property.

The person in the CCTV footage can be seen carrying a Lidl bag at 6.50am on Friday morning, just 90 minutes prior to the attack on the District Line train.

Ian Harvey, leader of Spelthorne Council, said: “Clearly there should now be an independent inquiry about the actions of all relevant agencies to ascertain exactly what has been going on.”

The Joneses are believed to have fostered the 18-year-old three years ago.

A second man, a 21-year-old Syrian named as Yahya Faroukh, was also arrested and is believed to have been under care of the Joneses at one time.

According to MailOnline, the 18-year-old is thought to have been a “problematic foster child” who arrived in the the UK aged 15.

A source said: “Both Penny and Ron were finding them difficult to deal with. [A] friend said she doesn’t know if it was over extremism but Penny referred it to the authorities. They decided these were going to be the last two students they had.”

On Saturday, pesidents in Cavendish Road were forced to evacuate as police raided the address Jones address.

The pair were awarded MBEs in 2009 for services to children and families. It is believed they have fostered up to 300 children over 40 years.

A neighbour described them as “beautiful people”, with one calling them “great pillars of the community”.

“They do a job that not many people do,” they added.

On Sunday the UK’s terror threat level was downgraded from critical to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.