A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) has heard that an asylum seeker who was shot dead by police after stabbing several people in a Glasgow hotel had expressed a desire to leave the United Kingdom, citing unhappiness as his reason. Badreddin Abdalla Adam Bosh, a 28-year-old Sudanese national, was killed by police on June 26, 2020, at the Park Inn Hotel after attempts to subdue him with non-lethal weapons proved unsuccessful.
Details of the Incident
During the attack, Bosh injured three fellow asylum seekers, two hotel employees, and a police officer who had responded to the initial emergency call. The inquiry is examining Bosh's mental state prior to the stabbings and any concerns that were raised about his wellbeing.
Home Office Testimony
Paul Bilbao, a senior civil servant from the Home Office, testified on Tuesday that the department began using hotels for asylum seeker accommodation around 2014 or 2015 under a contracting arrangement. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an 'everyone in' policy was implemented to ensure no one was left homeless, significantly increasing demand for such accommodations.
Mr Bilbao acknowledged that hotel living could be 'particularly challenging' for asylum seekers who remained there for extended periods, noting that they might feel a 'lack of agency.' He stated that the Home Office aimed to phase out the use of hotels for asylum accommodation, describing it as 'absolutely the only option available' at the time despite its drawbacks.
Voluntary Return Application
Under questioning from Andrew Webster KC, representing the Home Office, Mr Bilbao discussed Bosh's application to return to Sudan under the voluntary return scheme. An application form shown to the inquiry listed Bosh's reason for leaving the UK as 'not happy.' Mr Webster noted that no medical issues were raised aside from a possible stomach ulcer.
The hearing also examined a message from an official at Mears, the company providing asylum accommodation for the Home Office. The message, sent the night before the fatal incident, expressed concerns about Bosh's behaviour. The official recounted a conversation with Bosh, who stated he 'hadn't threatened anyone' but appeared 'a bit confused.'
Inquiry Proceedings
Sheriff Stuart Reid questioned Mr Bilbao further about the mental health of asylum seekers in hotels during the pandemic. The civil servant recognised that asylum seekers could be 'particularly vulnerable' in such situations. The FAI continues at Glasgow Sheriff Court before Sheriff Reid.
The purpose of a fatal accident inquiry is to determine the cause and circumstances of death, as well as to establish what reasonable precautions could have been taken to minimise the risk of future similar deaths. Unlike criminal trials, FAIs are inquisitorial and aim to establish facts rather than assign blame.
