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London Bridge: Families mourn victims at vigil London Bridge: Families mourn victims at vigil
(about 2 hours later)
Vigils for the victims of the London Bridge attack have been held in London and Cambridge.Vigils for the victims of the London Bridge attack have been held in London and Cambridge.
Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were commemorated at the services and minute's silence at Guildhall Yard in the City of London and outside the Guildhall in Cambridge. Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were commemorated at the services, which included a minute's silence.
They were stabbed to death by convicted terrorist Usman Khan, 28, at a prisoner rehabilitation conference on Friday.They were stabbed to death by convicted terrorist Usman Khan, 28, at a prisoner rehabilitation conference on Friday.
Mr Merritt's family and girlfriend attended the Cambridge service. The BBC has learned Khan was given one of the lowest priorities for further investigation by MI5 when he left prison a year ago.
Mr Merritt and Ms Jones were both University of Cambridge graduates, and had been at an event for the university's Learning Together programme - which focuses on prisoner rehabilitation - when they were attacked. Mr Merritt and Ms Jones were both University of Cambridge graduates, and had been at an event for the university's Learning Together programme - which focuses on education within the criminal justice system - when they were attacked.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan were among those at the vigil in the capital. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn were among those at the vigil in the capital.
In an address, Mr Khan said London would never be cowed or intimidated by terrorism. They joined London Mayor Sadiq Khan who said the best way to defeat the hatred shown in the attack was to focus on the values of hope, unity and love.
"The best way to defeat this hatred is not by turning on one another, but it's by focussing on the values that bind us, to take hope from the heroism of ordinary Londoners and our emergency services who ran towards danger, risking their lives to help people they didn't even know," he said."The best way to defeat this hatred is not by turning on one another, but it's by focussing on the values that bind us, to take hope from the heroism of ordinary Londoners and our emergency services who ran towards danger, risking their lives to help people they didn't even know," he said.
The London service happened less than a mile from Fishmongers' Hall, where Usman Khan launched his attack on Friday.The London service happened less than a mile from Fishmongers' Hall, where Usman Khan launched his attack on Friday.
Usman Khan, who was released from prison in December 2018 after serving half of his sentence, was later shot dead by police on London Bridge.
Bishop of London Sarah Mullally said the vigils remembered "academics celebrating rehabilitation and finding only danger".Bishop of London Sarah Mullally said the vigils remembered "academics celebrating rehabilitation and finding only danger".
She paid tribute to the workers at Fishmongers' Hall, who she said went to work to offer hospitality, but found themselves needing to give protection.She paid tribute to the workers at Fishmongers' Hall, who she said went to work to offer hospitality, but found themselves needing to give protection.
A book of condolences is open at Guildhall Art Gallery and members of the public are invited to lay flowers outside nearby Mansion House.A book of condolences is open at Guildhall Art Gallery and members of the public are invited to lay flowers outside nearby Mansion House.
Mr Merritt's family and girlfriend attended the Cambridge service.
The victims' families have paid tribute to their loved ones.The victims' families have paid tribute to their loved ones.
Ms Jones' family said their daughter, from Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, had a "great passion" for supporting victims of criminal justice.Ms Jones' family said their daughter, from Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, had a "great passion" for supporting victims of criminal justice.
"Saskia was a funny, kind, positive influence at the centre of many people's lives," the family statement read.
"She had a wonderful sense of mischievous fun and was generous to the point of always wanting to see the best in all people."
In a statement, Mr Merritt's family described him as a "talented boy" who "died doing what he loved".In a statement, Mr Merritt's family described him as a "talented boy" who "died doing what he loved".
"We know Jack would not want this terrible, isolated incident to be used as a pretext by the government for introducing even more draconian sentences on prisoners, or for detaining people in prison for longer than necessary," the statement read. Cambridge University's vice-chancellor Prof Stephen J Toope said he was "devastated to learn that among the victims were staff and alumni".
Cambridge University's vice-chancellor said he was "devastated to learn that among the victims were staff and alumni".
Prof Stephen J Toope said the fact Mr Merritt was killed by someone he was trying to help "is the greatest tragedy of all".
Toby Williamson, chief executive of Fishmongers' Hall, praised the bravery of his staff who intervened to stop the attacker, hailing their actions as "extraordinary things done by ordinary people".Toby Williamson, chief executive of Fishmongers' Hall, praised the bravery of his staff who intervened to stop the attacker, hailing their actions as "extraordinary things done by ordinary people".
Mr Williamson told how Polish chef Lukasz suffered five wounds to his left-hand side as he fended off the knifeman with a narwhal tusk during "about a minute of one-on-one straight combat" - allowing others time to escape danger.Mr Williamson told how Polish chef Lukasz suffered five wounds to his left-hand side as he fended off the knifeman with a narwhal tusk during "about a minute of one-on-one straight combat" - allowing others time to escape danger.
Two others grabbed makeshift weapons such as fire extinguisher before the attacker fled down a staircase and then got trapped in reception.Two others grabbed makeshift weapons such as fire extinguisher before the attacker fled down a staircase and then got trapped in reception.
London Bridge itself, which was cordoned off for most of the weekend to allow forensic work to be carried out, has been reopened to traffic, although there remains a heavy police presence in the area.
Flower tributes were placed near the bridge, with one reading: ""I love you forever I am so proud of you."
Another dedicated to victim Jack Merritt read: "Rest in peace Jack. You were a wonderful friend to us."
Dr Vin Diwakar, medical director for the NHS in London, said two people injured in the attack remained in a stable condition in hospital, while one had been able to return home.Dr Vin Diwakar, medical director for the NHS in London, said two people injured in the attack remained in a stable condition in hospital, while one had been able to return home.
'Minimal risk'
Khan, who was released from prison in December 2018 after serving half of his sentence, was later shot dead by police on London Bridge.
The BBC understands Khan was placed in the second-to-bottom category of investigations by the security service as he left jail, consistent with the grading given to most other convicted terrorist offenders as they go back into the community under a release licence.
This low level of prioritisation is assigned to offenders such as Khan because their release comes with a strict set of licence conditions.
These conditions theoretically provide suitable monitoring and oversight, such as alerts if they contact other suspects or travel outside an approved area.
Khan, the BBC has learned, was on the highest-level of such community monitoring. The overall package, in theory, relives pressure on MI5 so the security service can focus on more immediate threats.
The initial risk Khan posed to the public was thought to be minimal.
Licence review
The prime minister said on Sunday that 74 people jailed for terror offences and released early will have their licence conditions reviewed.The prime minister said on Sunday that 74 people jailed for terror offences and released early will have their licence conditions reviewed.
Later that day, Staffordshire Police said a 34-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts - but added there was no information to suggest the man was involved in the London Bridge attack.Later that day, Staffordshire Police said a 34-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts - but added there was no information to suggest the man was involved in the London Bridge attack.
The man has been named as Nazam Hussain, who was jailed in 2012 alongside Usman Khan and received the same sentence - 16 years with half of that served in prison - after pleading guilty to preparing acts of terrorism.The man has been named as Nazam Hussain, who was jailed in 2012 alongside Usman Khan and received the same sentence - 16 years with half of that served in prison - after pleading guilty to preparing acts of terrorism.
Following his arrest, Hussain was recalled to prison due to a suspected breach of his licence conditions. Inquiries by detectives into the potential terrorism offences are continuing, police said.Following his arrest, Hussain was recalled to prison due to a suspected breach of his licence conditions. Inquiries by detectives into the potential terrorism offences are continuing, police said.
Friday's 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". Another man, Yayha Rashid, 23, of north London, has been charged following his arrest on Sunday on suspicion of breaching notification requirements.
The Metropolitan Police said Rashid's arrest was not connected with the London Bridge attack.
Friday's incident 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.
Eight people died and 48 were injured by three men who drove into pedestrians, then stabbed people in Borough Market, in London Bridge in 2017.Eight people died and 48 were injured by three men who drove into pedestrians, then stabbed people in Borough Market, in London Bridge in 2017.