Samurai man opts for treatment

Samurai sword attacker Eden Strang has decided to continue his treatment for his mental illness following the row over his early release from hospital.

Scotland Yard said Strang, 29, had "chosen to be relocated to continue with his treatment".

Strang burst naked into a south London church in 1999 and slashed 11 of the congregation with the 3ft-sword.

When news of his early release broke some of his victims in Thornton Heath spoke of their grave concerns that he could reoffend. He has now moved away from south London.

It is unclear whether he has moved to another hostel or if he has readmitted himself to hospital, but Scotland Yard said he had asked to be moved away.

The Yard ordered an urgent review of the case after it emerged it was not informed of his release in March this year. At his Old Bailey trial a psychiatrist said of Strang: "You can't get much madder than this."

Scotland Yard, which has described him as low-risk as long as he continues to take his medicine, said: "Following the recent attention Eden Strang has chosen to be re-located to continue with his treatment.

"Although Eden Strang was not convicted, the court finding was for him to receive his treatment which he continues to respond to positively and this was fully acknowledged by the meeting.

"The victims are being immediately informed of all the facts around the case by police family liaison officers."

At a meeting yesterday attended by police, a Home Office representative and NHS officials discussed former computer programmer Strang's state of mind.

Police are also investigating whether Strang was released earlier than expected due to an extraordinary blunder by the Home Office over his detention.

The Standard can reveal that a crucial piece of paperwork, which would have detained Strang indefinitely, was never signed.

The Home Office today admitted the "error" but insisted he would have been let out this year anyway.