UCL’s response to Abdulmutallab review report

UCL Council has today responded to publication of the report from the independent review panel headed by Dame Fiona Caldicott into Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's time at UCL. The Council has welcomed the central conclusion of the report that there was no evidence to suggest either that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was radicalised while a student at UCL, or that conditions at UCL during that time or subsequently were conducive to the radicalisation of students. In addition to investigating the nature of Mr Abdulmutallab's experience at UCL, the panel also undertook to suggest how UCL could review its processes in order to ensure that it is implementing good practice on campus. UCL Council discussed the panel's recommendations and will agree an action plan shortly setting out how this activity will be taken forward. The inquiry panel was set up in January 2010 following the arrest of Mr Abdulmutallab in the US on 25 December 2009 on suspicion of attempting to bomb a US civil aircraft, and the subsequent criminal charges brought against him. The inquiry panel was asked to explore the nature of Mr Abdulmutallab's experience as an undergraduate student of UCL between 2005 and 2008, including his period as President of the student Islamic Society. Sir Stephen Wall, Chair of UCL Council, said: 'Given the seriousness of the charges against him, UCL announced earlier this year it would be establishing a panel to explore the nature of Mr Abdulmutallab's experience as an undergraduate student of UCL, investigate whether there were at UCL at that time conditions that might have led to Mr Abdulmutallab's engaging in acts of terrorism, and whether there are at UCL today conditions that might facilitate the possibility of other students doing so in future.