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London extremist attack takes center stage in UK campaign

Buses and cars remain on London Bridge in London, Sunday Dec. 1, 2019, after it being closed to traffic and public after an attack on Friday. Authorities in Britain say the convicted terrorist who stabbed to death two people and wounded three others in a knife attack Friday had been let out of prison in an automatic release program. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Buses and cars remain on London Bridge in London, Sunday Dec. 1, 2019, after it being closed to traffic and public after an attack on Friday. Authorities in Britain say the convicted terrorist who stabbed to death two people and wounded three others in a knife attack Friday had been let out of prison in an automatic release program. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

By GREGORY KATZ / Associated Press 4 min read

LONDON (AP) – Britain’s political leaders sparred Sunday over who is responsible for the early release of a convicted extremist who launched a stabbing attack in central London that left two dead and injured three.

After a one-day pause out of respect for victims, Friday’s attack is dominating the political scene as the Dec. 12 election nears, shifting the focus, at least for the moment, from Brexit and the National Health Service to issues of security and criminal justice.

The argument centers over the early release from prison of Usman Khan, who served roughly half his sentence before being set free. He was able to stab five people before being shot dead by police despite conditions imposed on his release that were supposed to protect public safety.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, portraying himself as tough on crime, on Sunday blamed Khan’s freedom on changes in sentencing rules made by the last Labour Party government before Johnson’s Conservatives took power in 2010. He promised to toughen sentencing laws.

“I think it is repulsive that individuals as dangerous as this man should be allowed out after serving only eight years and that’s why we are going to change the law,” he told BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.