A man has been jailed for life, with a minimum term of 22 years after attacking a South Wales Police station, saying that “blood must be spilled.” Andrew Dighton was previously investigated for terror related issues, but was deemed to not be a danger. Police officers have said they feared for their lives during the attack.
00:00a man who launched a violent and premeditated terrorist attack on a south wales police station has been jailed for life twenty-eight year old alexander dyton will serve a minimum of twenty-two years after he attacked talbot green police station in rhondhaculantaf with petrol bombs a hatchet and a sharpened pole
00:20he knocked one officer unconscious and stabbed another in the leg narrowly missing a major artery dyton held racist and anti-muslim views and had been referred to the government's anti-terrorism prevent scheme in january twenty twenty four by his own sister who raised concerns about his extremist views and possible links to incel groups but that case was closed after just three weeks
00:42in court the judge said dyton clearly holds entrenched views and his actions had a terrorist connection he had prepared a sharpened shovel to use in officers came to arrest him and told police after his attack the blood had to be spilt
00:56he attempted to use a petrol bomb on police vehicles but when that failed turned on officers in the doorway of the station before being tasered but was unaffected as he was wearing body armour during the incident
01:07the officers involved have spoken of the shock and trauma they've suffered with some believing they would die during the attack
01:14dyton represented himself in court showing no emotion as the sentence was handed down at the old bailey
01:20he admitted ten charges including attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm
01:25and he'll also be subject to terrorist notification requirements for the next thirty years
01:30police have praised the courage and professionalism of the officers who faced down the attack
01:35and say the case is a stark reminder of the dangers that frontline staff face every day
