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London Bridge attack victim named as Jack Merritt | London Bridge attack victim named as Jack Merritt |
(32 minutes 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. | 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 taken part in the scheme while in prison and was one of dozens of people - including students and offenders - at the event. | Khan had taken part in the scheme while in prison and was one of dozens of people - including students and offenders - at the event. |
David Merritt said on Twitter that his son Jack was a "a beautiful spirit who always took the side of the underdog". | David Merritt said on Twitter that his son Jack 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 graduated from the University of Manchester with a bachelor's degree in law in 2016. | Mr Merritt graduated from the University of Manchester with a bachelor's degree in law in 2016. |
He went on to study at the University of Cambridge, where he worked in the criminology department running Learning Together. | He went on to study at the University of Cambridge, where he worked in the criminology department running Learning Together. |
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. | Khan was known to the authorities, having been convicted of a terrorism offence in 2012. |
He was released from prison half way through his 16-year sentence in December 2018 - subject to an "extensive list of licence conditions", Met Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said. | He was released from prison half way through his 16-year sentence 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". |
Khan took part in Learning Together while at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire. | Khan took part in Learning Together while at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire. |
He appeared as a "case study" in a report by the initiative. Identified only as "Usman", Khan was said to have given a speech at a fundraising dinner after being released from prison. | He appeared as a "case study" in a report by the initiative. Identified only as "Usman", Khan was said to have given a speech at a fundraising dinner after being released from prison. |
He was also given a "secure" laptop that complied with his licence conditions, to allow him to continue the writing and studying he began while in jail. | He was also given a "secure" laptop that complied with his licence conditions, to allow him to continue the writing and studying he began while in jail. |
Khan contributed a poem to a separate brochure, in which he expressed gratitude for the laptop, adding: "I cannot send enough thanks to the entire Learning Together team and all those who continue to support this wonderful community." | Khan contributed a poem to a separate brochure, in which he expressed gratitude for the laptop, adding: "I cannot send enough thanks to the entire Learning Together team and all those who continue to support this wonderful community." |
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". |
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. |