UnHerd with Freddie Sayers Ex-prisoner: The Islamist gangs inside our prisons
Dec 16, 2025
Steve Gallant, a former prisoner and national hero, shares his remarkable journey from a murder conviction to aiding in the 2019 London Bridge attack. He candidly discusses the realities of prison life, the rise of Islamist gangs, and their influence over inmates. Gallant offers a critical look at the failures in rehabilitation and the deception within the system. He argues for the necessity of isolating hardliners and addresses the complexities of genuine reform, sharing insights on what truly fosters change among long-term prisoners.
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London Bridge Intervention
- Steve Gallant described his first day out of prison where he confronted Usman Khan at Fishmongers' Hall and helped subdue him.
- He used a narwhal tusk and a chair, then assisted in holding Khan until armed police arrived and neutralised him.
Networks Grew Inside High‑Security Wings
- Islamist terrorists entering high-security prisons clustered together and gained strength by forming networks across facilities.
- Their organisation allowed them to exert authority and change the internal prison hierarchy.
Attack Over Ideological Status
- Steve described a respected Islamist prisoner being targeted and scalded with hot oil after being placed on a prison 'hit list.'
- That attack sparked further racialised tensions and retaliations across the wing.