Kamel Bourgass was an Algerian national who entered the United Kingdom illegally around the year 2000 or 2001, reportedly arriving hidden in the back of a lorry. Details about his life prior to entering the UK remain limited, although it is known that he was already under scrutiny from international authorities for suspected extremist affiliations.

Once in the United Kingdom, Bourgass blended into immigrant communities and lived under the radar of law enforcement for several years. He used aliases to avoid detection and did not have legal immigration status. During his time in the UK, he became involved with radical Islamist groups and reportedly attended meetings held by Al-Muhajiroun, an extremist organization known for its anti-Western ideology.

While in hiding, Bourgass was implicated in what came to be known as the Wood Green ricin plot, an alleged plan to use homemade poisons to attack London’s public transportation system, particularly the Underground. His connection to this suspected bioterror operation placed him on the radar of British authorities, though he had not yet been apprehended by early 2003.

On January 14, 2003, officers from the Greater Manchester Police's anti-terrorism unit arrived at Flat 4, 4 Crumpsall Lane in North Manchester as part of what was initially a routine immigration operation. It was not expected that the flat would be occupied, but inside, they found three men, including Kamel Bourgass.

At that moment, Bourgass was not immediately identified as a suspect in the London-based ricin conspiracy. Because the officers did not perceive an imminent threat, he was not placed in handcuffs. This decision would prove fatal. Believing that the police had come to arrest him in connection with the ricin plot, Bourgass panicked and violently resisted.

In the chaos that followed, Bourgass struck one officer, grabbed a kitchen knife from the flat, and launched a frenzied attack. Detective Constable Stephen Oake, who was unarmed and not wearing any protective gear, attempted to subdue him. In the struggle, Oake was stabbed eight times in the chest and upper body. One of the stab wounds penetrated his heart.

Despite suffering critical injuries, Oake continued to fight to restrain Bourgass, trying to protect his fellow officers. Three other officers were also stabbed during the altercation before Bourgass was finally overpowered and arrested. Detective Constable Oake later died from his injuries, becoming one of the few anti-terrorism officers in the UK to be killed in the line of duty. His bravery earned him the posthumous Queen’s Gallantry Medal.

Kamel Bourgass was tried at the Old Bailey in London. On June 29, 2004, he was convicted of the murder of DC Oake, as well as the attempted murder of two other officers and the wounding of a third. He received a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years, plus an additional 15 years for the attempted murder charges. He appealed his conviction, but it was upheld in July 2005.

In a separate trial, on April 8, 2005, Bourgass was found guilty of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance using poisons or explosives in relation to the alleged Wood Green ricin plot. He was sentenced to an additional 17 years. A related charge of conspiracy to commit murder was left on file after the jury failed to reach a verdict. Several other men associated with Bourgass were acquitted, and additional trials for other suspects were eventually abandoned.

While serving his sentence, Bourgass continued to cause problems for prison authorities. Initially incarcerated at Frankland Prison near Durham, he was later moved to Wakefield Prison in West Yorkshire. In 2008, his cell was set on fire during a disturbance. In 2009, reports emerged that he was attempting to radicalize other Muslim inmates and had been allegedly involved in organizing an assault on another prisoner. In 2011, his appeal claiming that his segregation violated human rights was rejected by the High Court.

As of the last available updates in 2011, Kamel Bourgass remained imprisoned in the UK under high security.