TAKEN BY TERROR
London Bridge attack – Jack Merritt, 25, remembered as ‘beautiful spirit’ as dad names him as victim of terror attack
A HEARTBROKEN dad today revealed his son was one of the victims killed in the London Bridge terror attack.
Jack Merritt, 25, was remembered as a "beautiful spirit" after he and a woman were killed in the knife rampage on Friday afternoon.
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Jack was a course counsellor for Learning Together, which was hosting the event at Fishmongers' Hall in central London when terrorist Usman Khan, 28, unleashed his horror attack while wearing a fake suicide jacket.
The terrorist was out on licence following his release from prison in December last year after being convicted of terrorism offences when he carried out the attack.
Grieving dad David Merritt today paid tribute to his son as a "beautiful spirit" - and referenced his son's extensive work with inmates.
Writing on Twitter, he said: "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.
"R.I.P. Jack: you were a beautiful spirit who always took the side of the underdog.";
R.I.P. Jack: you were a beautiful spirit who always took the side of the underdog.
Jack Merritt's dad, David
He said his son had been a "champion" for those who had "dealt a losing hand by life, who ended up in the prison system".
His tribute came hours before the Ministry of Justice announced that the licence conditions of every terrorist offender would be reviewed going forward "to make sure conditions are as tough as they need to be".
A spokesman added that they would be "stepping up our already frequent meetings with these offenders".
Earlier today haunting pictures surfaced of the conference, where academics and inmates were seen in peaceful discussion moments before the tragedy unfolded.
David added that the Cambridge community was in "shock" after the attack, which has left another three people injured - two now stable and a third with less serious injuries.
He has since deleted the Tweets.
The Queen also paid tribute, saying she and Prince Philip sent their "thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones and who have been affected by yesterday's terrible violence".
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London Bridge attack victim Jack Merritt speaks to BBC Radio 4 about work with inmates
The Learning Together network pairs criminals with a law student to study.
Jack had spoken candidly about his work helping inmates at Warren Hill prison in Suffolk on BBC Radio 4's Law in Action podcast.
He told the programme: "Students in prison often have a first hand, very real, but also very nuanced idea of how the law works".
'IRREPLACEABLE'
Prison Radio UK also paid tribute to the 25-year-old for his help with a podcast explaining the law to inmates.
"He was generous with his time and all too happy to help others. His life should inspire us all," the radio station said.
In the wake of the tragic news, friends also shared tributes to Jack.
One wrote: "David, I knew your son through Learning Together & I loved him to pieces - he was the sweetest, most caring and selfless individual I’ve ever met.
"The warmest heart, always with time for anyone. Completely irreplaceable - I will mourn his loss greatly and honour his memory xxxx".
He was a very socially aware man who devoted his life to helping others less fortunate than himself
Jack Merritt's neighbour
Shocked neighbours remembered Jack as a selfless young man who “devoted his life to helping others less fortunate than himself”.
Neighbour Dawn Marr, 80, who used to babysit him and younger brother Joe, said: “This is tragic. I just can’t believe it and I’m totally shocked.
"He was such a fine young man and his father was very proud of him.
"He still lived at home and had a cat he loved called Bubbles."
Another neighbour in close knit Cottenham on the outskirts of Cambridge said: "It is devastating and the community will greatly feel his loss. He was a very socially aware man who devoted his life to helping others less fortunate than himself."
A vigil for the two victims was held at Great St Mary’s Church in Cambridge.
A note today was placed outside the Cambridge University Institute of Criminology, stating: "Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances the Institute of Department Library is closed today."
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Questions have now emerged around how the terrorist - who was wearing a monitoring tag during the attack yesterday - was released automatically on licence 11 months ago.
Khan was jailed for eight years in 2012 after police uncovered a plot by his nine-strong terror cell to bomb the London Stock Exchange and build a terrorist training camp.
Sentencing him, Judge Mr Justice Wilkie said Usman had been working on an "ambitious and serious" jihadist agenda.
He told the court: "In my judgement these offenders would remain, even after a lengthy term of imprisonment, of such a significant risk that the public could not be adequately protected by their being managed on licence in the community."
When police uncovered the 2012 plot, they found a list of targets drawn up by the cell that included the homes of Boris Johnson, as well as the US embassy and two rabbis.
The list was found on a folded piece of A4 paper on a computer desk at ring leader Mohammed Chowdhury’s flat in the Isle of Dogs.
In 2013, Khan's sentence was replaced with a 16-year-fixed term that saw him released after eight years without parole, after he agreed to wear a tag and have his movements monitored.
Met Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said last night: "Clearly a key line of enquiry now is to establish how he came to carry out this attack."
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The Parole Board said in a statement this morning they had "no involvement" in Khan's release.
It added it he appeared "to have been released automatically on licence (as required by law), without ever being referred to the Board".
In response to the revelations, Boris Johnson said it was a "mistake" to allow Khan out early.
Mr Johnson, who has pledged a crackdown on violent crime, said: "It is important we get out of that habit and enforce the appropriate sentences for dangerous criminals, especially for terrorists."
Khan yesterday unleashed the stabbing attack before making his way to London Bridge yesterday - the scene of the 2017 terror attack which killed eight - but was eventually pinned down by heroes who tackled him with a fire extinguisher and a whale tusk.
A plain clothes British Transport Police officer was among those who bravely ran towards danger - pictured with the knife he pulled from the killer.
Another of the men who helped stop Khan was convicted murderer James Ford who was out on day release.
Tour guides Thomas Gray and Stevie Hurst also sprinted over and stamped on his arms which forced him to drop his knives.
Armed police then shot Khan twice and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two homes, one in Stoke and another in Staffordshire, were today searched by police.
Chilling echoes of London Bridge terror attack two years ago
Three terrorists killed eight people and injured 48 as they sped over London Bridge in a van before attacking revellers with hunting knives in June 2017.
The gang, armed with 12-inch blades and knifing innocent bystanders at random, were shot dead after firearms officers arrived at the scene around nine minutes after the rampage began.
One attacker was just 60cm away from an armed officer when he was shot dead. Both PCs Tchorzewski and Balfour were later awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.
Xavier Thomas, 45, Christine Archibald, 30, Sara Zelenak, 21, Sebastien Belanger, 36, James McMullan, 32, Kirsty Boden, 28, Alexandre Pigeard, 26, and Ignacio Echeverria, 39, were all killed in the slaughter.
Brave onlookers fought back against the terrorists - launching chairs and bottles as business owners pulled down their shutters to protect customers inside.
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Mr Johnson, who today visited the scene of the attack with Home Secretary Priti Patel, pledged that "anybody involved in this crime and these attacks will be hunted down and will be brought to justice".
Specially trained officers were today searching Khan's Staffordshire home, looking for evidence of any support he may have had.
It also emerged today that Khan was taught by Islam4UK's leader Anjem Choudary.
Six of the nine plotters jailed with him in 2012 were personally taught by the notorious hate preacher.
New angle shows moment heroic cops take down London Bridge terrorist
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