Yahoo News London Bridge: Second terrorist returned to prison in wake of attack
Fishmongers' Hall staff fought terrorist unarmed
Cambridge vice chancellor defends prisoner rehabilitation scheme
A second convicted terrorist has been returned to police custody after dozens of criminals were vetted in the wake of Friday's London Bridge terror attack.
On Sunday night, West Midlands Police said a 34-year-old man arrested in Stoke-on-Trent on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts had been recalled to prison due to a suspected breach of his licence conditions.
He is Nazam Hussain, who was one of 74 convicted terrorists being screened in reaction to the deadly attack and sources have told The Telegraph "a number" are expected to be sent back to prison in the coming days.
On Monday afternoon, Scotland Yard said Yayha Rashid, 23, was charged with breaching notification requirements under the Counter Terrorism Act 2008.
He was given a five-year sentence in 2015 for attempting to travel to Syria to join Islamic State.
The Metropolitan Police said the arrest was not connected to the London Bridge attack, and added in a statement: "He was detained under PACE and taken to a south London police station where he was subsequently charged with two counts of failing, without reasonable excuse, to notify police of relevant contact details (namely a phone number and email address)."
Former Cambridge students Miss Jones, 23, and Mr Merritt, 25, were fatally stabbed by 28-year-old convicted terrorist Khan during an event organised by Learning Together - a programme associated with the university's Institute of Criminology - they were both supporting.
The chief executive of the event venue - Fishmongers' Hall - described how his staff confronted the terrorist, with one unarmed man taking him on in a one-on-one fight for more than a minute.
Cambridge University's vice chancellor has defended the "extraordinary" prisoner rehabilitation scheme attended by Khan on the day he killed the two alumni.
A vigil in Guildhall Yard in the City of London on Monday morning to pay tribute to the victims and to honour the emergency services and members of the public who responded to the incident was attended by the London Mayor Sadiq Khan was joined by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
In a separate vigil in Cambridge, Mr Merritt's girlfriend broke down in tears and was supported by family members.
'In their memory we must build a world of peace,' says Corbyn
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: "Today we gathered at Guildhall to remember the lives of Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt. My deepest sympathies are with their families.
"They were two wonderful young people who were taken from us in the awful attack on London Bridge. In their memory we must build a world of peace."
Saskia Jones' hometown rocked by grief
The riverside town of Stratford-upon-Avon was rocked by grief last night as the identity of the second victim of the terror attack at London Bridge was revealed.
23-year-old Saskia Jones, whose family described as "funny" and "kind", died on Friday following an attack at Fishmongers’ Hall.
Friends of Miss Jones said she was well known in the community, with floods of tributes being posted on social media.
Members of the community were about to begin an Advent Carol Service at Holy Trinity Church when they heard the news.
"The service began with the church in darkness, and as I said to the congregation, it’s a reminder to us that we live in a world which can be very dark, and the attack in London last week showed us the reality of what that darkness can be like," said Rev. Patrick Taylor, Vicar of Holy Trinity Church.
Rev. Taylor said he didn’t know Saskia personally but that it was "clear she was a wonderful person".
He went on to commend the bravery of those who risked their lives on Friday, saying that it gave the town "a glimpse of light".
"She died whilst giving her time for the benefit of others. She was a light in the lives of many people and that light still shines in the darkness.
"Our prayers are with her family and all who knew her. May she rest in peace," he added.
Holy Trinity Church held a minute's silence at 11am this morning and has opened its doors for people to sign a book of condolence and light a candle for Saskia and her family.
'We come together in condolence but also in defiance', Sadiq Khan says
Sadiq Khan called on Londoners to come together "in a spirit of defiance" against terrorism during a vigil for the victims of Friday night's attack.
The London Mayor was joined by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the memorial to Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones in Guildhall Yard in the City of London on Monday morning.
Also present were Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Liberal Democrat candidate Chuka Umunna.
After a minute's silence at 11am, Mr Khan said: "We come together this morning as Londoners to remember, to honour and to mourn the innocent lives lost as a result of this horrific terrorist attack on Friday.
"The best way to defeat this hatred is not by turning on one another but by focusing on the values that bind us."
The mayor thanked the public and members of the emergency services who "ran towards danger, risking their lives to help others they didn't even know".
Mr Khan called on Londoners to "draw inspiration from the lives of Jack and Saskia who, from a very early age, chose to dedicate themselves to helping others".
He added: "We come together in condolence but also in a spirit of defiance to say that London will never be cowed or intimidated by terrorism."
The ceremony was led by Bishop of London Sarah Mullally, and Mustafa Fields, director of multi-faith organisation Faith Forums for London, also spoke.
Mr Fields offered prayers for the victims and emergency services and "all the Muslims grieving at the attacks in the name of their faith".
After the vigil, those present entered the Guildhall to sign a book of condolences to the victims.
Fishmongers' Hall staff stabbed and fought terrorist one-on-one for a minute, boss reveals
The chief executive of Fishmongers' Hall has described, in great detail, the bravery of his staff.
He also revealed that two of the three people taken to hospital having been injured in the attack worked at the venue.
The Chief Executive of Fishmonger's Hall pays tribute to the bravery his staff showed during the London Bridge attack. #BBCBreakfastpic.twitter.com/OtAoKOggcw
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) December 2, 2019
His staff battled with Usman Khan and one worker - known to be Polish chef Lucazs - fought one-on-one with the terrorist for an entire minute, getting stabbed in the process.
Victim's girlfriend breaks down in tears at Cambridge vigil
The girlfriend of London Bridge terror victim Jack Merritt broke down in tears as she attended a vigil in his memory in Cambridge on Monday.
Leanne O'Brien wept and clutched a cuddly toy as she was supported by family and friends at the event, which also honoured fellow Cambridge graduate Saskia Jones.
Mr Merritt, 25, and Miss Jones, 23, were both stabbed by 28-year-old convicted terrorist Usman Khan during a prisoner rehabilitation event they were supporting in London on Friday.
The Cambridge vigil took place as Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn stood side-by-side to pay their respects at a separate event at Guildhall Yard in London, observing a minute's silence alongside members of the public.
Man, 23, arrested by counter-terror police in London
A 23-year-old man has been arrested in north London on suspicion of breaching notification conditions under the Counter Terrorism Act.
He was held on Sunday by officers from the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command.
The force said that the arrest "is not linked in any way to the London Bridge terror attack" and that the inquiry was under way before Friday's atrocity.
Under the Counter Terrorism Act, those convicted of certain offences must agree to notify the police of any change in details or plans to travel abroad.
Khan's closest associate arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts
Nazam Hussain, who was last night arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, was one of 74 convicted terrorists being vetted in the wake of Friday’s attack and sources have told The Telegraph "a number" are expected to be sent back to prison in the coming days.
The arrest was not linked to the London Bridge attack, police said.
Khan and Hussain's parents came from the same village in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, and despite Hussain being five years older than Khan, they were close friends growing up in Stoke-on-Trent.
A fellow disciple of the hate preacher Anjem Choudary and his al-Muhajiroun group, Hussain and Khan had been planning to travel to Kashmir in January 2011 to start establishing a school.
In 2010 they were arrested and in 2012 they were given indeterminate sentences for public protection. But in April 2013, they successfully appealed and were given 16-year sentences, which meant they were both eligible for release in December last year.
While Khan moved to Stafford, Hussain returned to his family home in Stoke. On Sunday night he was back in custody.
Security was 'rigorous', says Cambridge vice chancellor
There have been questions surrounding security at the event, given terrorists and murderers were free to mingle with members of the public.
Khan is understood to have taken part in workshops on Friday morning before going on a killing spree just before 2pm.
It is thought the hoax suicide vest he was wearing when he was shot dead was strapped to his torso all day and the knives he strapped to his hands are also thought to have been brought into Fishmongers' Hall unchecked.
Prof Toope said: "Whenever there is situation where students and staff are potentially at risk we have a very detailed risk evaluation process and in this case the process involved both the Ministry of Justice and the probation service.
"So it's a very rigorous process and was carried out in this case."
Three people were taken to hospital with injuries they suffered during the terror attack, one of whom has since been released.
The vice chancellor hinted that as well as a Polish chef who helped pacify Khan by using a 5ft whale's tusk, those hospitalised were also involved with Learning Together.
He told Today that the organisers were present at Fishmongers' Hall, and added: "Of course they [organisers] are absolutely devastated by what's happened.
"They're deeply sad, they knew both Jack and Saskia well, worked with them closely, admired them deeply, and there are also victims in hospital."
Cambridge University vice chancellor defends 'extraordinary' prisoner rehab scheme attended by Usman Khan
Cambridge University's vice chancellor has defended the "extraordinary" prisoner rehabilitation scheme attended by the terrorist Usman Khan on the day he killed two alumni.
Former Cambridge students Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, were fatally stabbed by 28-year-old convicted terrorist Khan during an event organised by Learning Together - a programme associated with the university's Institute of Criminology - they were both supporting.
A number of convicts were present at the event, some of whom helped tackle and disarm the terrorist on London Bridge before police shot him dead.
But in spite of Khan's deadly rampage, Cambridge's vice chancellor Professor Stephen Toope suggested there were no plans to end the scheme.
He told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme: "The plan is now to focus on the families of the victims. There's a lot of grieving, there's a lot of sadness and we're really not thinking about the future.
"But I will say that this is a programme that's been in existence for five years.
"It's done extraordinarily good work and in fact in a 2016 [government] review of prison education by Dame Sally Coates - she held it up as an example of best practice.
"Yes, this a dreadful, horrible, tragic situation, but we must put it in the context of five years of extraordinary work."
