Forbury Gardens five year anniversary - #ReadingTogether @thamesvalleypoliceuk

Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 21 hours ago

Today marks five years since the terrorist attack in Forbury Gardens in Reading. We pay tribute to those who lost their lives that day, and remember them through the words of their families. 🌻

We also pause to reflect on the bravery of our colleagues who ran towards danger that day and those who worked tirelessly to secure a whole-life-order sentence for the attacker.

#ReadingTogether

Forbury Gardens five year anniversary - #ReadingTogether

Terrorist sentenced to life in prison following murder of three people – Reading

Our Race Action Plan - One year of progress 💫

Man Sentenced for Dangerous Driving - High Wycombe

$Man sentenced to prison for causing serious injury by dangerous driving – Oxford Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, a man has been jailed after he was convicted of three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving without insurance in Oxford. Omar Faruq, aged 21, of Whitson Place, Oxford, pleaded guilty to all charges in a hearing at Oxford Crown Court on 9 October 2025. Returning to the same court on Thursday (5/2), Faruq was jailed for two years and four months. He was also disqualified from driving for five years and two months, and he must take an extended re-test to regain his licence. At around 11.15pm on 24 October 2023, observations had been passed to officers for a white BMW being driven at speed earlier in the evening on Iffley Road, Oxford. The vehicle made off from the police and the car was later seen leaving the retail park at Ambassdor Avenue, Cowley, before joining the Oxford Eastern Bypass south. The BMW was driven along the Eastern Bypass at speeds over 100mph then left onto Horspath Driftway before travelling on the wrong side of the roundabout and losing control of the car as it joined The Slade. It then crashed into the rear of a black Volkswagen Touran, being driven at normal speeds, while the speed of the BMW at impact was approximately 88pmh. The Touran contained an adult female driver and her six children, all aged under 14. All of the occupants were injured, with three of the children seriously hurt. Four occupants inside the BMW were subsequently arrested with the help of Roads Policing officers and dog units. The fifth occupant was later arrested and a sixth man, who had hired the vehicle from Birmingham the previous evening was also arrested later that evening. Two girls aged 11 and five and a nine-year-old boy sustained extensive serious injuries, including broken legs, dislocation of a hip and a thigh fracture and lacerations. A mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to serious injuries following police contact. The IOPC directed that an investigation be carried out by TVP and they reviewed our outcome report, which concluded that no serving police officer or contractor had committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner that would justify disciplinary proceedings. Following a lengthy investigation, the BMW driver, Faruq, was charged with the offences via a postal requisition on 6 August 2025. Detective Constable Naomi Hames of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “The behaviour and manner of driving displayed by Omar Faruq on the evening of 24 October 2023 was absolutely shocking, and as a result, he caused three young children to sustain serious injuries, from which they are still recovering. Other innocent occupants of the VW were also hurt, and Faruq’s driving also caused grave danger to other road users, his passengers, and himself. Speeding is one of the fatal four offences, and we will never tire at enforcing the law where it is so flagrantly ignored. The fact that Faruq also had no insurance, shows the complete disregard he has for the law. The risks involved with young and inexperienced drivers in high performance vehicles, showing off to friends, can prove fatal, and this incident could very easily have resulted in child fatalities.Thankfully, and purely out of chance, this did not, but we cannot understate the level of injuries Faruq caused that night. I would like to pay tribute to the family who were injured and thank them for their patience and understanding while we brought Faruq to justice. I would also like to thank the residents of The Slade, who helped with the casualties on the night and supported officers at the scene. “It is this kind of community support that shows the very best of nature of the overwhelming majority of law-abiding people, and we shall forever have gratitude for the help they gave that evening.”$