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Her final text

American tourist stabbed to death in Russell Square loved London and wanted to stay

Darlene Horton planned to play tennis with best pal shortly before tragedy struck

Darlene Horton

AMERICAN Darlene Horton texted her best pal before she was killed saying, “I do love London”, and that she wanted to stay longer.

Tourist Darlene, 64, sent it to her hometown friend Liz Jordan while strolling around London on Wednesday.

 Last words ... before she lost her life, Darlene Horton had told her friend how much she loved London
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Last words ... before she lost her life, Darlene Horton had told her friend how much she loved LondonCredit: PA:Press Association

Later that evening she was stabbed to death as she walked through Russell Square with her husband Rick on what was the last night of their two-month stay.

Devastated Liz showed The Sun on Sunday Darlene’s last text, inset, in which she said she was looking forward to a tennis match on her return.

 Tragic end ... Darlene's body is removed from the scene in Russell Square after the fatal knife attack which left her dead and five others injured
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Tragic end ... Darlene's body is removed from the scene in Russell Square after the fatal knife attack which left her dead and five others injuredCredit: PA:Press Association
 Poignant ... Darlenes text to pal Liz
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Poignant ... Darlenes text to pal LizCredit: Daniel Crowley

Liz, a 56-year-old nurse from Tallahassee, Florida, said: “One minute we were arranging to play tennis, the next my best friend is dead. We have always texted a lot, we would have joke message exchanges. She always put a smile on my face.”

Liz, pals with Darlene for 20 years, added: “She loved life but said she’d die young because her mother died young. It’s unfortunate she was in that part of London at that very moment in time. Perhaps her premonitions were true.”

A British man is serious but stable in hospital after the attack. An American man, an Australian man and woman and Israeli Yovel Levkowski, 18, have been discharged.

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