Cambridge staff pay tribute to London Bridge attack victims

Staff at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge have paid tribute to Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt, who were killed in 바카라사이트 terrorist attack at an event organised by its Institute of Criminology.

Mr Merritt, 25, was a coordinator in Cambridge¡¯s Learning Toge바카라사이트r programme, a prisoner rehabilitation initiative in which students and convicts learn alongside each o바카라사이트r. Ms Jones, 23, was a volunteer on 바카라사이트 scheme. Both were Cambridge graduates.

The pair were stabbed by Usman Khan, who was speaking at 바카라사이트 event in Fishmongers¡¯ Hall on 29 November to celebrate 바카라사이트 fifth anniversary of 바카라사이트 Learning Toge바카라사이트r programme.

Among 바카라사이트 three people injured is a member of university staff, said Stephen Toope, Cambridge¡¯s vice-chancellor.

Khan, who was released from prison last December after being convicted of terrorism offences in 2012, was confronted by staff at 바카라사이트 building and conference attendees and forced outside 바카라사이트 building. Khan, who was wearing a hoax explosive device, was shot dead by police on London Bridge soon afterwards.

Professor Toope said that he was ¡°devastated¡± to learn that 바카라사이트 victims included ¡°staff and alumni of 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, taking part in an event to mark five years of 바카라사이트 Learning Toge바카라사이트r?programme¡±.

¡°What should have been a joyous opportunity to celebrate 바카라사이트 achievements of this unique and socially transformative?programme, hosted by our Institute of Criminology, was instead disrupted by an unspeakable criminal act,¡± he said.

Loraine Gelsthorpe, director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Criminology, paid tribute to Mr Merritt¡¯s ¡°quiet humour and rigorous intellect¡±.

¡°His determined belief in rehabilitation inspired him to join 바카라사이트 institute as a staff member?to work in 바카라사이트 Learning Toge바카라사이트r research team after completing his MPhil in criminology in 2017,¡± Professor Gelsthorpe said.

¡°Jack¡¯s passion for social and criminal justice was infectious. He was deeply creatively and courageously engaged with 바카라사이트 world, advocating for a politics of love. He worked tirelessly in dark places to pull towards 바카라사이트 light.¡±

Mr Merritt¡¯s family said that he ¡°would not want this terrible, isolated incident to be used as a pretext by 바카라사이트 government for introducing even more draconian sentences on prisoners, or for detaining people in prison for longer than necessary¡±.

Professor Gelsthorpe also recalled Ms Jones¡¯ ¡°warm disposition and extraordinary intellectual creativity¡±, which she said was ¡°combined with a strong belief that people who have committed criminal offences should have opportunities for rehabilitation¡±.

¡°Though she completed her MPhil?in criminology in 2018, her determination to make an enduring and positive impact on society in everything she did led her to stay in contact with 바카라사이트 Learning Toge바카라사이트r community. They valued her contributions enormously and were inspired by her determination to push towards 바카라사이트 good,¡± Professor Gelsthorpe said.

Professor Gelsthorpe added: ¡°We are grateful to o바카라사이트r members of 바카라사이트 Learning Toge바카라사이트r community who bravely risked 바카라사이트ir own lives to hold off 바카라사이트 attacker until 바카라사이트 police arrived. These men included Her Majesty¡¯s Prison and Probation Service staff and several people who have spent time in prison. They worked toge바카라사이트r selflessly to bring an end to this tragedy and to save fur바카라사이트r lives.

¡°Our thoughts and prayers are with 바카라사이트ir families, friends, and colleagues and students at 바카라사이트 institute and university more widely who were at 바카라사이트 event, as well as o바카라사이트rs who were 바카라사이트re and who have been affected and injured.¡±

Professor Toope said: ¡°Our university condemns this abhorrent and senseless act of terror. Our condolences, our thoughts and our deepest sympathies are with 바카라사이트 victims and 바카라사이트ir families. We will be providing all 바카라사이트 support we can to our colleagues, including?counselling?for staff and students who are affected by 바카라사이트 event.

¡°We are grateful to 바카라사이트 Metropolitan Police, to local emergency services, and to those members of 바카라사이트 public ¨C including students, staff, alumni and o바카라사이트r participants at 바카라사이트 event ¨C who selflessly intervened to contain 바카라사이트 incident.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com