Hull killer who fought terrorist with narwhal tusk wins Queen's award

Steve Gallant was serving a life sentence at the time for the murder of firefighter Barrie Jackson in Hull in 2005, alongside James Gilligan. He was on his first day out of prison on licence on November 29, 2019, when he tackled Khan.

He is now one of 15 people in the country receiving the late Queen's civilian gallantry award, which recognises the bravery of those who've put themselves in danger to save or attempt to save someone's life.

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In the 2019 incident, Khan killed Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt at a rehabilitation event which Steve, ex-offender John Crilly and Khan all attended. At the time, Steve said this was his 'first act of violence in 14 years' since the murder of Barrie Jackson.

Two years after the incident, Steve spoke about the harrowing moment he, John, and Ministry of Justice aide Darryn Frost pounced on Khan.

He said: "I felt something cold on my arm - which I later realised had been a fire extinguisher that John Crilly had. There was another man helping me pin down Usman with a narwhal tusk.

"I heard an armed officer shout, 'Bomb!' and turned away from Usman to see him being shot at. I'd just seen Saskia and knew that she was dead as the paramedics were trying to revive her.

"But it wasn't until later that day that Darryn introduced himself. He said, 'You saved lives there'. You should get time off'. I was in shock. All I could say was: 'That was my first act of violence in 14-and-a-half years'."

He and Darryn have since formed a lasting friendship and are setting up a charity - in honour of Jack Merritt's name - to help rehabilitate prisoners.

Steve explained: "It struck me, after meeting Darryn, that we were these two guys, on completely different sides of the criminal justice fence, who had come together to help save lives.

"It showed we're all human, no matter where you come from. And in that moment we had all come together to do good. That was quite powerful, I think, for both of us and he has been an absolute rock of support since."

Khan carried out his deadly attack at a Learning Together rehabilitation event at Fishmonger's Hall, which university students Saskia, 23, and Jack, 25, helped to organise. The jihadist had served eight years for trying to set up a terror training camp in Pakistan.

Steve tackled Khan with a narwhal whale tusk taken from a wall inside Fishmonger's Hall. The tusk broke and Khan burst open the doors and onto London Bridge, with Steve in pursuit. He jumped on Khan as John subdued Khan with the fire extinguisher and Darryn helped pin him down with another tusk.

It later emerged Khan, 28, from Stoke-on-Trent, had been under investigation by MI5. An inquest found failings by the security service, the police and probation. Steve and Darryn, meanwhile, kept in touch. After an application by his solicitor Neil Hudgell, Steve was granted a Royal Pardon which cut 10 months off his jail term.

On behalf of the Government, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden congratulates the award winners and expresses thanks for their courage in the face of extreme danger.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden said: "We all hope we'd react with courage in the face of danger. These people have lived through that test, and responded in the most admirable way.

"Their selfless actions have saved lives, and I want to express profound thanks for their willingness to put themselves in danger to protect others. They are all extremely worthy winners of the final Civilian Gallantry awards of Her Majesty the late Queen."

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