[PICTURES] London Bridge: Two killed in stabbing attack

[Bewal Express]

Which are the mosques involved and where is your evidence ?

Pssstttt - unblock your messaging, I want to send you message daily too.

Why are you running? You have lost your nerve, you said provide evidence, I did, you said it didn't count, because its only what you say as evidence counts. So was there more than one or not, yes or no?

 

[barah_admi]

Why are you running? You have lost your nerve, you said provide evidence, I did, you said it didn't count, because its only what you say as evidence counts. So was there more than one or not, yes or no?

Which are the mosques involved and where is your evidence ?

Pssstttt - unblock your messaging, I want to send you message daily too.

 

[Bewal Express]

Which are the mosques involved and where is your evidence ?

Pssstttt - unblock your messaging, I want to send you message daily too.

Give the producers of the programme a ring and they will help.

 

[The Viper]

Usman Khan: London Bridge attacker's body buried in Pakistan

Officials at Islamabad International Airport in Pakistan confirmed to Sky News that the 28-year-old's body arrived on Friday.

Spoiler

The body of Usman Khan, who killed two people in a terrorist attack in London Bridge, has been released by the City of London coroner and has been flown to Pakistan.

Officials at Islamabad International Airport confirmed to Sky News that the 28-year-old's body had been flown out from the UK on a passenger plane on Thursday afternoon and arrived in Pakistan on Friday morning.

A cousin told Sky News that Khan's parents and other close family members would bury the convicted terrorist in their home village in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The cousin added that the parents wanted to keep the burial "low key" and that "they don't want to bury him in the UK" because they were "scared".

Sky News can confirm that a pre-burial ritual known as a Janaza took place in a Birmingham mosque before the body was flown to Pakistan

Members of the community in Cobridge, Stoke, who know the large Khan family were shocked to hear of Khan's attack in London Bridge a week ago. Many didn't want his burial to take place at the local Ghausia Masjid despite the close ties with Khan's family.

Members of Khan's family in Stoke told Sky News that he "was a nice guy and very gentle" but they said growing up "he got into the wrong crowds and was clearly radicalised

A close family friend said that after he was released from prison in December 2018 on license, Khan had no connection with the community in Stoke and very little contact with his family.

They said many of his friends and family "disowned" him because of the terror offences he was sentenced for in 2012.

A cousin said "he went on his own path" and the family were "genuinely shocked when this [the attack] happened".

In a statement released on Tuesday night through the Metropolitan Police, the Khan family said: "We are saddened and shocked by what Usman has done.

"We totally condemn his actions and we wish to express our condolences to the families of the victims that have died and wish a speedy recovery to all of the injured.

"We would like to request privacy for our family at this difficult time."

https://news.sky.com/story/usman-khan-london-bridge-attackers-body-to-be-buried-in-pakistan-11879397

 

[Buffet]

Usman Khan: London Bridge attacker's body buried in Pakistan

Officials at Islamabad International Airport in Pakistan confirmed to Sky News that the 28-year-old's body arrived on Friday.

The body of Usman Khan, who killed two people in a terrorist attack in London Bridge, has been released by the City of London coroner and has been flown to Pakistan.

Officials at Islamabad International Airport confirmed to Sky News that the 28-year-old's body had been flown out from the UK on a passenger plane on Thursday afternoon and arrived in Pakistan on Friday morning.

A cousin told Sky News that Khan's parents and other close family members would bury the convicted terrorist in their home village in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The cousin added that the parents wanted to keep the burial "low key" and that "they don't want to bury him in the UK" because they were "scared".

Sky News can confirm that a pre-burial ritual known as a Janaza took place in a Birmingham mosque before the body was flown to Pakistan

Members of the community in Cobridge, Stoke, who know the large Khan family were shocked to hear of Khan's attack in London Bridge a week ago. Many didn't want his burial to take place at the local Ghausia Masjid despite the close ties with Khan's family.

Members of Khan's family in Stoke told Sky News that he "was a nice guy and very gentle" but they said growing up "he got into the wrong crowds and was clearly radicalised

A close family friend said that after he was released from prison in December 2018 on license, Khan had no connection with the community in Stoke and very little contact with his family.

They said many of his friends and family "disowned" him because of the terror offences he was sentenced for in 2012.

A cousin said "he went on his own path" and the family were "genuinely shocked when this [the attack] happened".

In a statement released on Tuesday night through the Metropolitan Police, the Khan family said: "We are saddened and shocked by what Usman has done.

"We totally condemn his actions and we wish to express our condolences to the families of the victims that have died and wish a speedy recovery to all of the injured.

"We would like to request privacy for our family at this difficult time." [/spoiler]
https://news.sky.com/story/usman-khan-london-bridge-attackers-body-to-be-buried-in-pakistan-11879397

If I recall, he was born in UK.

 

[MenInG]

The father of one of the London Bridge terror victims has called Boris Johnson a fraud, accusing the prime minister of making political capital out of the attack.

Writing on Twitter after last night's television debate between Mr Johnson and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, David Merritt called for an inquiry into the attack, "not a witch hunt".

Spoiler

He wrote: "#LeadershipDebate points missed (or deliberately avoided by Johnson): we don't know all the facts about this case yet, and we won't know for some time - the inquest could take up to 2 years. We don't know why Khan killed, or what, if anything could have been done differently to prevent it.

"Let's have an enquiry, not a witch hunt."

His comments come after his son Jack, 25, died after being stabbed in the chest by Usman Khan during a terror attack on 29 November. Fellow University of Cambridge graduate Saskia Jones, 23, was also murdered.

Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt were killed in the London Bridge attack
Image:
Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt were killed in the London Bridge attack
The victims were both involved with a prisoner rehabilitation conference where convicted terrorist Khan launched his attack.

In comments shortly after the attack, David Merritt said his son would have been "livid" at how his death has been used to "perpetuate an agenda of hate", amid criticism of the prime minister for politicising the tragedy.

Mr Johnson was condemned for appearing to blame the incident on sentencing laws that allowed Khan to be released halfway through a 16-year jail term for plotting to blow up the London Stock Exchange.

Floral tributes for victims of the terrorist attack, including Jack Merritt, left on London Bridge in central London, after a terrorist wearing a fake suicide vest who went on a knife rampage killing two people, was shot dead by police on Friday.
Image:
Flowers for victims of the terrorist attack
Despite the criticism, Mr Johnson made similar comments during the Friday night debate.

He said it was "extraordinary and wrong" that Khan had been released halfway through his prison sentence.

Referencing the comments of one of the victim's family, Mr Corbyn said: "What happened on the streets of London was utterly appalling and I was very moved by what Jack Merritt's father said about what his son was trying to do.

"That he wanted a society where you did address the huge problems where somebody committed awful acts, of course... you must imprison them, of course you try and rehabilitate them if you can."

David Merritt's comments on Twitter after the debate showed his anger with the prime minister and he urged voters to support Mr Corbyn.

"Secondly, there is no justification AT ALL for cutting the early release tariff from a half to a third of sentences for all sentences over 4 years that carry a maximum life sentence; that's just trying to look tough on the backs of other prisoners' suffering; if prisoners have engaged with rehabilitation & turned their lives around, why should they be punished for what Khan did?

"How will keeping them in for another few years keep public safe if they get released then with the same lack of supervision and support?

"The prison education, probation and monitoring services have been cut to the bone, & overcrowding in prisons is inhumane - prisoners don't win votes unless politicians are promising to be tough on them - but that makes re-offending MORE likely, which makes the public LESS SAFE.

Leanne O'Brien, the girlfriend of Jack Merritt, is comforted by family members during a vigil
"Is that what we want?

"People are being released from prison with nowhere to live, given £47 & told to get on with it. Any guesses how people cope faced with that situation? No prizes. Corbyn spoke the truth last night. Johnson lied & used our son's death to make political capital.

"Wake up Britain: this man is a fraud. He's the worst of us, & he's taking you for a ride.

"You may think the options open to you in this election are not entirely to your liking. Me neither, but I'll be voting least worst option: anti-Tory.

"For all our sakes, and for the future of the country, please, please do the same."

Sky News has approached the Conservative Party for comment.

https://news.sky.com/story/london-b...ather-accuses-boris-johnson-of-lying-11880312

 

[MenInG]

The father of a London Bridge terror attack victim has accused Boris Johnson of exploiting the tragedy to "score some points in the election".

Dave Merritt, whose son Jack was stabbed to death in the chest on 29 November, condemned the prime minister for seeing "opportunity" not "tragedy" in an exclusive interview with Sky News.

He said Mr Johnson's call, in the wake of the attack by convicted terrorist Usman Khan, to end the early release of those guilty of extremism offences was a "knee-jerk reaction" and "an ill-considered intervention".

Spoiler

Jack Merritt was stabbed to death in the chest
Dave Merritt, father of London Bridge terror attack 2019 victim Jack Merritt, speaks to Sky News

Mr Merritt claimed he had received no contact from the prime minister or 10 Downing Street in the wake of his son's murder, and that of Saskia Jones.

Police officers looking after the family did pass on a message that Home Secretary Priti Patel wanted to meet to "express her condolences," he said, but the family declined.

A spokesperson for Mr Johnson said: "The prime minister has expressed his deepest condolences to Mr Merritt for his tragic loss - an experience no family should have to go through.

"The prime minister's view remains it is 'extraordinary and wrong' that Khan had been released halfway through his prison sentence and has long argued that sentencing should be tougher for violent and extremist offenders."

Jack Merritt, a 25-year-old University of Cambridge graduate, had been working at a prisoners rehabilitation conference called "Learning Together" and was "passionate" about "helping people to redeem themselves", his father told Sky News' Beth Rigby.

Speaking from his home in Cambridge, Dave Merritt said: "What was required was just a dignified approach, whereby the politicians would express their regrets, express their condolences to the people affected and would then get on with campaigning in the election - it wasn't an election issue."

He added: "Instead of seeing a tragedy, Boris Johnson saw an opportunity, and he went on the offensive and started talking about extending the tariff for prisoners serving sentences with a maximum of 25 years."

Jack Merritt. Pic: Instagram

Telling family was 'hardest thing I've ever had to do'
He continued: "I thought, This is totally irrelevant; this is nothing to do with this case.'

"You're talking about increasing the time that all prisoners have to spend in jail on the back of this one case and this person - Khan - was a convicted terrorist.

"Most of the people on the Learning Together course are not terrorists - yes, a lot of them are violent offenders, but why should they be punished even more for what this one individual has done?

"It was just such an ill-considered intervention, almost like a knee-jerk reaction.

"I think he saw an opportunity to score some points in the election.

"Immediately he said, 'This is Labour's fault, they allowed this to happen, they had this early release policy and so on,' and at that point I had to say something."

Mr Johnson penned a comment piece for the Mail on Sunday a day after the terror attack in which he criticised the "failed approaches of the past" to violent crime and security.

The prime minister blamed sentencing laws brought into force in 2008 under Labour and claimed his plans "would have prevented this attack".

He added in a statement to the media that "it is a mistake to allow serious and violent criminals to come out of prison early".

The prime minister says convicts should face tougher prison sentences for their crimes.

Boris Johnson calls for tougher sentences on convicts
Mr Merritt told Sky News he felt "the situation was being exploited".

"I felt it was unnecessary," he said.

"In the context of the general election - I know it's a very fevered atmosphere and news is moving fast and both sides are trying to score points off each other - but this wasn't really an election issue.

"The election issues are the NHS and Brexit and all these other things.

"It just struck me as being crass and insensitive and - as we've already said - Jack would have been extremely upset at the way things were developing."

Leanne O'Brien, the girlfriend of Jack Merritt at a vigil in Cambridge
Image:
Dave Merritt, pictured third from right, claimed he was only saying what his son would have said
Asked how he responds to claims he also politicised his son's death, Mr Merritt, who urged people on Twitter to "vote tactically to defeat the Tories", said he was just channelling what Jack would have wanted.

"If anybody has a right to say something about this situation then it's me and his family," he told Sky News.

"We have lost Jack - Jack can't speak for himself anymore. Some of the other people involved can't speak openly.

"Had there been no comment in the way that it was made, then I wouldn't have said anything, I would have just carried on grieving and helping to support my family.

"The way that it happened and the fact it was used in such a political way, and I could see the good work that Jack did and that his colleagues did starting to perhaps unravel - people pushing it back, talking about longer sentences.

"You can just see the way these things develop and I felt it was important that somebody said something.

"That just happened to be me. My son's been killed - people are going to listen to me."

"I know what he would have said so I basically just said what he would have said."

https://news.sky.com/story/london-b...n-of-trying-to-score-election-points-11882986

 

[MenInG]

Funeral services have taken place to remember the two victims of the London Bridge attack.

Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were stabbed to death by Usman Khan at a prisoner rehabilitation event on 29 November.

Family and friends celebrated Mr Merritt's life at his funeral at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge.

A memorial service for Miss Jones also took place at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Ms Jones' mother Michelle, her grandmother and other family members had earlier attended a private funeral earlier.

Mr Merritt and Miss Jones were at a University of Cambridge-linked conference at Fishmongers' Hall in central London when Khan attacked them with a knife.

Spoiler

Two women and a man were also injured before Khan was shot dead by armed officers on London Bridge.

Earlier this month, Leanne O'Brien said her boyfriend Mr Merritt was "phenomenal" and "opened so many doors for those that society turned their backs on".

Jack's father David Merritt also paid tribute to his son, who worked for a programme that links university students and prisoners.

"Jack believed in the inherent goodness of humanity, and felt a deep social responsibility to protect that," he wrote in the Guardian.

Miss Jones volunteered for the same programme, and on Friday her friends and family gathered at a private memorial service.

There were readings by both Ms Jones' uncle Phil Jones, who read Psalm 121, and her mother who recited Nicole Lyons' I Hope That Someday When I Am Gone.

The service concluded with the playing of the James Blunt track The Greatest.

A book of condolence has also been opened by the church and one message read: "I didn't know you but I felt I had to thank you for your kindness in what is sometimes a cruel world."

In his end-of-year message, Cambridge University vice-chancellor Stephen Toope said the "unspeakably tragic loss" of Mr Merritt and Miss Jones had "hurt us deeply".

"I ask that we do not let the manner of Saskia and Jack's deaths eclipse the manner in which they lived their lives and helped others to do so," he said.

"As we prepare for the holiday period, let us instead remember the values they embodied."

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-50854039

 

[Abdullah719]

Murderer who took on London Bridge terrorist: I had to help

A convicted murderer has told of the moment he helped tackle a terrorist on London Bridge late last year.

Steve Gallant took on Usman Khan as the latter went on a killing spree armed with two knives and a fake suicide vest on 29 November.

Gallant, a serving prisoner who had been let out on licence for the day, had been at a Learning Together rehabilitation project nearby.

He said he had heard noises and went to investigate, defying "orders to stay in the conference hall".

Spoiler

He said: "I could tell something was wrong and had to help.

"I saw injured people.

"Khan was stood in the foyer with two large knives in his hands.

"He was a clear danger to all, so I didn't hesitate."

Gallant used a chair and narwhal tusk handed to him by civil servant Darryn Frost, who also risked his life to take on the attacker.

He said: "Khan also showed us the bomb around his waist in an attempt to frighten us.

"We then chased him onto London Bridge and restrained him until the police arrived."

Khan was shot dead by police, but not before he had killed Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones, co-ordinators at the rehabilitation course.

Losing them that day had been an "unbearable blow", Gallant said, adding that the sense of loss was "immense".

Gallant met Mr Merritt in 2016, describing him as a "role model and friend", adding: "Jack didn't care who you were, he cared about you and your future, he saw who you could become and did not define you by your past.

"I will miss him badly."

Miss Jones was "highly respected and loved" by those involved with the course, he added.

Gallant, 42, was jailed for a minimum of 17 years after being one of two men convicted of killing former fireman Barrie Jackson in Hull in 2005.

Gallant and James Gilligan had waited for their victim outside a pub before bludgeoning him with a hammer, kicking and punching him to death after Mr Jackson attacked Gallant's girlfriend, according to reports at the time.

But Gallant, who is eligible for parole in 2022, says he will "never turn to violence again".

He spent his time in prison learning to read and write and is in his third year of a business studies degree.

He met the Learning Together team while behind bars and was inspired to take part, working with a team of Cambridge students producing legal advice guides and becoming a mentor.

He has also co-written plays, one of which was performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London.

Gallant said: "Nobody has the right to take another's life and I offer my sincere apologies to my victim's family for the hurt caused.

"I can never bring that life back, and it is right that I was handed a severe penalty for my actions.

"Once I'd accepted my punishment, I decided to seek help.

"When you go to prison, you lose control of your life.

"Your own future relies on the decisions of others.

"Bettering yourself becomes one of the few things you can do while reducing the existing burden on society."

Gallant said he was inspired to speak about what happened at London Bridge after Mr Frost, who works at the Ministry of Justice, talked publicly about his experience.

Mr Frost, a 38-year-old South African, has used the publicity to campaign for unity against terrorism and to raise money for the victims' families.

Gallant said: "I would like to say a special thanks to Darryn.

"Had he not passed me the narwhal tusk at that crucial moment, not only could I have been killed, the situation could have been even worse."

Gallant also thanked former prisoner John Crilly and the chef called Lukasz who also stepped in, describing them as "extremely brave".

He said: "I would like to say thank you to everyone who did their best on that tragic day and I hope that the injured recover as quickly as possible."

https://news.sky.com/story/murderer-who-took-on-london-bridge-terrorist-i-had-to-help-11902387

 

[MenInG]

A convicted murderer who helped to stop the London Bridge terror attack last November will have his sentence cut after the Queen intervened.

Steven Gallant, 42, was on day release at an event for reformed prisoners in Fishmongers' Hall when Usman Khan began his attack.

 

[Robert]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54588407

His minimum sentence has been commuted by ten months.

Of course if released he will be returned to jail on the murder charge if convicted of any other offence. Every British sentence for murder is whole-life.