Brief overview: Today’s papers focus on the attack on Saturday night, which has left seven dead. It has come to light that one of the attackers, named Khuram Butt, was known to the authorities and had even been on a Channel Four documentary exploring extremism. The right and left wing papers ask repeated questions as to how this could have happened, but provide few answers.

The Daily Mail

Political leaning: Right

Today’s leading headline: MI5 and Yard: We had him — and let him go.

Today’s newspaper headline refers to the Khuram Butt, one of the three terrorists who committed Saturday’s attack. It has emerged that Butt was known by the police and MI5. Butt had also appeared on a Channel 4 documentary exploring Islamic extremism and hate preaching in the UK.

The Daily Mail’s headline reflects the anger many feel at how a many under this level of scrutiny could carry out this attack.

Afterthought: Counter-terrorism is not simple or straightforward. There is never a singular answer — we can’t arrest or lock up people that may be terrorists without having concrete evidence. To do so would set a dangerous precedent ripe for abuse, and would go against the legal fabric of this country. However, an examination is needed into how this man could commit this attack.

The Daily Telegraph

Political leaning: Right

Today’s leading headline: Brazen jihadist who was free to parade his extremism on TV.

This paper’s headline focuses on one of the terrorist, Butt, and the revelation that he was on a TV programme that explored extremism in Britain. Across the media in the UK today, fingers are being pointed at who is to blame for allowing this act to take place.

The Telegraph states the Butt prayed in front of the ISIL flag on the program.

Afterthought: Questions are being raised by the Telegraph as to how this could happen, but unfortunately for right wing paper many of the answers raise awkward points for Theresa May. Cuts to the police service, including a reduction of nearly 700 armed police officers, took place during her time as Home Secretary. Of course, this is not the only factor, but warnings were repeatedly raised by various police forces years ago about this outcome taking place.

The Times

Political leaning: Right

Today’s leading headline: ‘London attacker linked to 7/7 bombing suspect.

Today’s Times covers the potential links between Butt and the preacher Arjem Choudary, who many view as a hate preacher. The paper also investigates a link between Butt and one of the men who carried out the 7/7 London bombing attacks in 2005.

Afterthought: The outcome of the paper’s investigation will hopefully merit some interesting results. If the links can be fully proven, serious questions need to be asked. Choudary will become a recurring theme throughout the media as they attempt to understand how these men became radicalised. Unfortunately, the media taking responsibility for promoting Choudary, who was banned from preaching in multiple mosques, will no doubt be less prevalent.

The Guardian

Political leaning: Left

Today’s leading headline: Britain faces ‘completely different level’ of terror threat, police warn.

The Guardian quotes Scotland Yard’s assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, after revealing that Butt was cleared from investigation in 2015. Calls for a total over-hall of the system are made, with Rowley quoted as stating the need for a radical new way of tackling terrorism.

Afterthought: Lots of questions, very few answers. Caution is needed to avoid settling on what may seem to be a simple answer, as these rarely exist.

The i

Political leaning: Centre

Today’s leading headline: We will not be dragged into hatred.

Today’s paper chooses to focus on the victims of the crime, rather than the criminals who committed them. The paper’s front page bares the faces of two of the victims of Saturday’s attack — Christine Archibald, a Canadian, and James McMullan, a London native. Archibald’s family are attributed to the headline quote.

Afterthought: There are two camps when it comes to dealing with the attackers in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Some believe that the attackers identities should be examined and plastered all over the papers, so that the public can see who committed the atrocity. The other camp pushes for the attackers to get as little media coverage as possible. They believe this is what the attackers would have wanted, to gain a level of infamy. Perhaps the right answer lies in the middle. Perhaps there is no right answer.

The Daily Mirror

Political leaning: Left

Today’s leading headline: So how the hell did he get through.

Today’s Mirror joins the ranks of the other papers who choose to focus on the revelation that Butt was known to the authorities. They talk of his feature on Channel 4’s The Jihadi’s Next Door documentary, and claim Butt had multiple links to known terrorist.

Afterthought: The paper reflects the outrage that many feel about how this attack was allowed to have been able to take place.

The Sun

Political leaning: Right

Today’s leading headline: Why didn’t they stop TV Jihadi?.

The Sun too reflects its disbelief that Butt was allowed to walk free following his actions on the Channel 4 Jihadi’s Next Door programme. The paper mentions that MI5 had Butt on their radar, and he was still able to commit this atrocity.

Afterthought: Anger and shock are the immediate emotions in the wake of the attack. As has been said, questions must be asked, and many of the answers will be very uncomfortable for various people.