English authorities placed the man who fended off terrorists during the 2017 attack on London Bridge on an anti-extremist watchlist out of concern over Islamophobia.
Roy Larner, 49, was deemed a hero after he ran out of a pub to stop three Islamic terrorists after they rammed a van through a crowd of people on London Bridge in 2017, killing seven. Larner was stabbed several times while fighting the men off.
Larner, who was dubbed the Lion of London Bridge for his actions, recalled the attack at the time saying, “They had these long knives and started shouting about Allah. Then it was, ‘Islam, Islam, Islam,’” Larner said. “Like an idiot I shouted back at them … I took a few steps towards them and said, ‘F— you, I’m Millwall.’”
Millwall was Larner’s favorite soccer team.
Larner has since been added to the United Kingdom’s “Prevent” program, a watchlist for those deemed to have anti-Islamic tendencies. Authorities claimed that they feared Larner was at risk for extremist behaviors because he had been contacted by individuals with ties to anti-Islamic groups.
Larner has been monitored by authorities and forced to take deradicalization courses.
“They treat me like a terrorist but I’m not political at all,” Larner told the Sun.
Larner had his first run-in with anti-extremist authorities in January 2018 after he was filmed yelling racist slurs and spitting on a black man who was attempting to take his picture. During the explicit rant, he told the man, “People like you stink.”
He was sentenced to eight weeks in jail and a 50 euro fine for his racist rant, but the judge delayed his sentence for one year, given that his crime had taken place just months after his heroic actions. Larner ended up serving his time 5 weeks after the ruling after he breached the requirements of his suspended sentence, which required that he attend anger management and diversity awareness courses.
It is unclear how long Larner will remain on the “Prevent” program’s watchlist.
London Bridge was attacked by a terrorist again this past week. The terrorist was stopped by heroic bystanders who used a narwhal tusk and a fire extinguisher to stop the attacker.
Larner claimed the men deserved an award for their actions, saying, “The heroes deserve a medal for rushing towards a man armed with knives and a suicide belt. They are acting for the greater good.”
He added, “I was only in the area an hour before yesterday’s attack, seeing some friends at the market. I feel lucky that I left when I did and not get caught up in it. I’m still struggling with flashbacks and need physiotherapy. The horror of yesterday’s events will likely make things worse.”
