Gun-toting migrant freed to roam British streets days after Bondi Beach massacre

A Palestinian gun-toting migrant who called for the death of all Jews has been released from prison in Britain and is free to roam the streets again, days after the December 14 Bondi Beach massacre in Sydney.

Abu Wadee, 34, also known as Mosab Abdulkarim Al-Gassas, was jailed in May after being convicted of illegally entering the UK on a dinghy that he livestreamed on TikTok. He was arrested by Home Office immigration enforcement officers at an asylum hotel in Manchester three days after his Channel crossing in March, following a stream of anti-Semitic posts that included a call for “death to all Jews” and images of a Kalashnikov assault rifle and an artillery shell.

Wadee was initially freed from prison in June under Labour’s early-release scheme to ease overcrowding, but was recalled weeks later for breaching his licence. He was released again earlier this month, having served his full sentence, and is understood to be staying in a bail hostel in the UK while wearing an electronic tag. He has lodged an asylum claim in the UK, having previously made similar bids in Greece, Belgium and Germany before crossing the Channel.

The release has drawn sharp condemnation from Jewish groups and anti-extremism campaigners, who say Wadee’s presence in the community poses a credible threat in the wake of the Sydney attack and a separate incident in Britain targeting Jews two months earlier.

Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “The Home Office owes the public answers, and given the potential threat, we need them now. British Jews can see that from Manchester to Sydney, the intifada has been well and truly globalised. The authorities need to get a grip – we are out of time.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called Wadee a “dangerous extremist,” saying he had spouted anti-Semitic bile, been pictured with an assault rifle and must be deported immediately. He added that leaving the European Convention on Human Rights would allow foreign criminals to be removed quickly after arrival in the UK.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick also pressed the government to address the issue, saying the country must treat small-boat crossings as a national security emergency. Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch, argued that Wadee’s case underscored Britain’s status as a “soft touch,” urging tougher removal of foreign nationals.

A Home Office spokesperson said Wadee was being monitored by an electronic tag and was not allowed to work or study, but acknowledged officials could not detain him if there was no realistic prospect of removal. The department confirmed that foreign national offenders who receive a prison sentence in the UK are referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity, though it did not provide specific details about Wadee’s case.

Wadee’s background, as documented by authorities and on social media, shows a history of militant rhetoric and extremist imagery. He has been linked to the so-called “tyre-burning unit,” a Palestinian militant group known for throwing fire-bombs and rocks at Israeli forces, and has posted material in support of Hamas and calls for violence against Jews. He was pictured with a Kalashnikov and an artillery shell in prior posts and posted videos praising militant actions along the Gaza border. His social media presence attracted millions of views at times, though many accounts have since been removed or deleted.

Security researchers and community groups say Wadee’s case illustrates the broader and ongoing challenge of monitoring foreign nationals who arrive through small-boat crossings and subsequently seek asylum, while critics warn against releasing individuals with extremist views into the community before removal can be secured. CST, which advises Jews in the UK, stressed that public safety must come first and called on authorities to take appropriate action given the nature of his alleged support for a terrorist organization and his anti-Semitic views.

Home Office officials reiterated that deportation decisions are handled on a case-by-case basis and that asylum processes can be lengthy, with removal dependent on the availability of safe and legal options. The department did not confirm Wadee’s current exact location or future deportation timetable, citing confidentiality and ongoing assessment.

The affair comes amid a wave of international and domestic tensions linked to antisemitic violence and militant rhetoric online, including a deadly attack in Sydney and security incidents in Europe and the United Kingdom. Government officials say they are pursuing all available avenues to ensure public safety, including possible removals when legally permissible.