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London Bridge attack victim named as Jack Merritt | London Bridge attack victim named as Jack Merritt |
(about 1 hour later) | |
One of the people stabbed to death in Friday's attack at London Bridge has been named as 25-year-old University of Cambridge graduate, Jack Merritt. | |
He was one of two people killed when 28-year-old Usman Khan launched the attack at a Cambridge University conference on prisoner rehabilitation. | He was one of two people killed when 28-year-old Usman Khan launched the attack at a Cambridge University conference on prisoner rehabilitation. |
Khan, who had been jailed over a terror plot, was shot dead by police after members of the public restrained him. | Khan, who had been jailed over a terror plot, was shot dead by police after members of the public restrained him. |
Mr Merritt was described by his father on Twitter as a "beautiful spirit". | Mr Merritt was described by his father on Twitter as a "beautiful spirit". |
A woman who died in the attack - declared by officers as a terrorist incident - has not yet been named. Three others were injured. | A woman who died in the attack - declared by officers as a terrorist incident - has not yet been named. Three others were injured. |
Mr Merritt, from Cambridge, was a course coordinator for Learning Together, a prisoners' rehabilitation programme which was hosting the conference at Fishmongers' Hall, at the north end of London Bridge. | |
Khan had been one of dozens of people - including students and offenders - at the event. | Khan had been one of dozens of people - including students and offenders - at the event. |
Mr Merritt's father, David, said on Twitter that he was a "a beautiful spirit who always took the side of the underdog". | Mr Merritt's father, David, said on Twitter that he was a "a beautiful spirit who always took the side of the underdog". |
"Jack spoke so highly of all the people he worked with & he loved his job," he added. | "Jack spoke so highly of all the people he worked with & he loved his job," he added. |
Mr Merritt studied for a bachelor's degree in law at the University of Manchester, graduating in 2016. | |
He went on to study at the University of Cambridge, where he worked in the criminology department running Learning Together. | |
Audrey Ludwig, who knew Mr Merritt through work, said his "deep commitment to prisoner education and rehabilitation was deeply impressive". | Audrey Ludwig, who knew Mr Merritt through work, said his "deep commitment to prisoner education and rehabilitation was deeply impressive". |
"I send condolences to his family, colleagues and the prisoners' group," she added. | "I send condolences to his family, colleagues and the prisoners' group," she added. |
Another friend said Mr Merrit was "incredibly witty and intelligent, with more lust for life than many our age and a determination to make his mark in the world". | Another friend said Mr Merrit was "incredibly witty and intelligent, with more lust for life than many our age and a determination to make his mark in the world". |
Rapper Dave also paid tribute to Mr Merritt, saying he had "dedicated his life to helping others". | |
The Streatham-born rapper said it was "genuinely an honour to have met someone like you" and he would "never ever forget" everything the law graduate had "done for us". | |
Dave's Mercury Prize-winning album was inspired by rehabilitation therapy his brother Christopher Omoregie has received as he serves a life sentence for murder. | |
The Metropolitan Police said the attack is believed to have started inside Fishmongers Hall at 13:58 GMT on Friday, before continuing onto London Bridge itself, where Khan was shot by armed officers. | The Metropolitan Police said the attack is believed to have started inside Fishmongers Hall at 13:58 GMT on Friday, before continuing onto London Bridge itself, where Khan was shot by armed officers. |
Khan was known to the authorities, having been convicted of a terrorism offence in 2012. He was released from prison in December 2018 subject to an "extensive list of licence conditions", Met Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said. | Khan was known to the authorities, having been convicted of a terrorism offence in 2012. He was released from prison in December 2018 subject to an "extensive list of licence conditions", Met Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said. |
Mr Basu said, on Saturday, that "to the best of my knowledge, he was complying with those conditions". | Mr Basu said, on Saturday, that "to the best of my knowledge, he was complying with those conditions". |
One of the conditions was that Khan was obliged to take part in the government's desistance and disengagement programme - the purpose of which is the rehabilitation of people who have been involved in terrorism. | One of the conditions was that Khan was obliged to take part in the government's desistance and disengagement programme - the purpose of which is the rehabilitation of people who have been involved in terrorism. |
Mr Basu said officers had been working "flat out" to try to establish the "full circumstances" of the stabbing. | Mr Basu said officers had been working "flat out" to try to establish the "full circumstances" of the stabbing. |
He praised the "incredible acts of bravery" by members of the emergency services and the public who intervened - even after they realised Khan was wearing a "very convincing" fake explosive vest. | He praised the "incredible acts of bravery" by members of the emergency services and the public who intervened - even after they realised Khan was wearing a "very convincing" fake explosive vest. |
Mr Basu added officers had found no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved in the attack. | Mr Basu added officers had found no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved in the attack. |
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said three victims remained in hospital following the attack - two in a stable condition and one with less serious injuries. | NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said three victims remained in hospital following the attack - two in a stable condition and one with less serious injuries. |
Police carried out searches at two addresses in Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent as part of the investigation. | Police carried out searches at two addresses in Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent as part of the investigation. |
Staffordshire Police's Deputy Ch Con, Nick Baker, said it was "vitally important everyone remains alert but not alarmed". | Staffordshire Police's Deputy Ch Con, Nick Baker, said it was "vitally important everyone remains alert but not alarmed". |
Shock and disbelief at search site | Shock and disbelief at search site |
Ben Perrin, BBC News Online Staffordshire | Ben Perrin, BBC News Online Staffordshire |
There is a general feeling of shock and disbelief here in Stafford, where a top floor flat is being searched. | There is a general feeling of shock and disbelief here in Stafford, where a top floor flat is being searched. |
Blue screens and forensic tents are outside the front of the semi-detached property within a 50m police cordon. | Blue screens and forensic tents are outside the front of the semi-detached property within a 50m police cordon. |
I've seen evidence bags being taken out of the house and the garden also appears to be part of the search. | I've seen evidence bags being taken out of the house and the garden also appears to be part of the search. |
The property is believed to be privately-owned and used, in part, as a halfway house. Local residents have told me it has a high turnover of tenants and Khan had been living there for about six months. | The property is believed to be privately-owned and used, in part, as a halfway house. Local residents have told me it has a high turnover of tenants and Khan had been living there for about six months. |
The Met Police is urging anyone with information - particularly anyone who was at Fishmongers' Hall - to contact them. | The Met Police is urging anyone with information - particularly anyone who was at Fishmongers' Hall - to contact them. |
Members of the public were widely praised for intervening to tackle Khan to the ground before police arrived on the scene. | Members of the public were widely praised for intervening to tackle Khan to the ground before police arrived on the scene. |
One man pictured in many newspapers, as he removed a knife from the scene, was a British Transport Police officer in plain clothes. | One man pictured in many newspapers, as he removed a knife from the scene, was a British Transport Police officer in plain clothes. |
Chief Constable Paul Crowther, of British Transport Police, said his officer "bravely ran towards danger". | Chief Constable Paul Crowther, of British Transport Police, said his officer "bravely ran towards danger". |
"He, as well as other members of the public, should be extremely proud of what they did to stop this man on London Bridge," he added. | "He, as well as other members of the public, should be extremely proud of what they did to stop this man on London Bridge," he added. |
Videos posted on social media show the knifeman being held down by members of the public. | Videos posted on social media show the knifeman being held down by members of the public. |
One witness described how a man at the event at Fishmongers' Hall grabbed a narwhal tusk - a long white horn that protrudes from the whale - that was on the wall, and went outside to confront the attacker. | One witness described how a man at the event at Fishmongers' Hall grabbed a narwhal tusk - a long white horn that protrudes from the whale - that was on the wall, and went outside to confront the attacker. |
Another person let off a fire extinguisher in the face of the attacker to try to keep him at bay. | Another person let off a fire extinguisher in the face of the attacker to try to keep him at bay. |
Some of those who helped were believed to be former prisoners attending the conference. | Some of those who helped were believed to be former prisoners attending the conference. |
On a visit to the attack site, the prime minister said the practice of cutting jail sentences in half and letting violent offenders out early "simply isn't working". | On a visit to the attack site, the prime minister said the practice of cutting jail sentences in half and letting violent offenders out early "simply isn't working". |
Mr Johnson vowed to "toughen up sentences", while Labour's Jeremy Corbyn said there were questions to be answered. | Mr Johnson vowed to "toughen up sentences", while Labour's Jeremy Corbyn said there were questions to be answered. |
But Mr Merritt's father said, in a now deleted post, on Twitter: "My son, Jack, who was killed in this attack, would not wish his death to be used as the pretext for more draconian sentences or for detaining people unnecessarily." | But Mr Merritt's father said, in a now deleted post, on Twitter: "My son, Jack, who was killed in this attack, would not wish his death to be used as the pretext for more draconian sentences or for detaining people unnecessarily." |
Political parties cancelled some events on Saturday, which had been planned ahead of the general election on 12 December. | Political parties cancelled some events on Saturday, which had been planned ahead of the general election on 12 December. |
Flags on UK government buildings were flown at half-mast on Saturday as a mark of respect to all those affected by the attack. | Flags on UK government buildings were flown at half-mast on Saturday as a mark of respect to all those affected by the attack. |
The Queen said in a statement: "Prince Philip and I have been saddened to hear of the terror attacks at London Bridge. | The Queen said in a statement: "Prince Philip and I have been saddened to hear of the terror attacks at London Bridge. |
"We send our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones and who have been affected by yesterday's terrible violence." | "We send our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones and who have been affected by yesterday's terrible violence." |
London Bridge was the scene of another attack, on 3 June 2017, in which eight people were killed and many more injured. | London Bridge was the scene of another attack, on 3 June 2017, in which eight people were killed and many more injured. |
The Dean of Southwark Cathedral, the Very Revd Andrew Nunn, said Friday's events had brought back memories. | The Dean of Southwark Cathedral, the Very Revd Andrew Nunn, said Friday's events had brought back memories. |
"It's only two-and-a-half years since the June attack and that's not long for healing, and actually it feels as though wounds have been reopened," he said. | "It's only two-and-a-half years since the June attack and that's not long for healing, and actually it feels as though wounds have been reopened," he said. |
"Where people felt they had come to terms with what had happened in their community, now I think they're wondering whether they really had - so a lot of work for us to do," he added. | "Where people felt they had come to terms with what had happened in their community, now I think they're wondering whether they really had - so a lot of work for us to do," he added. |
The latest attack comes after the UK's terrorism threat level was downgraded on 4 November from "severe" to "substantial", meaning that attacks were thought to be "likely" rather than "highly likely". | The latest attack comes after the UK's terrorism threat level was downgraded on 4 November from "severe" to "substantial", meaning that attacks were thought to be "likely" rather than "highly likely". |
The terror threat level is reviewed every six months by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which makes recommendations independent of government. | The terror threat level is reviewed every six months by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which makes recommendations independent of government. |