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London Bridge victim’s parent denied memorial on spot he died

Battle: Simon and Mila McMullan want to remember their son James
Battle: Simon and Mila McMullan want to remember their son James

The parents of the only British victim of the London Bridge terror attack have been refused permission for a memorial plaque to their son.

Entrepreneur James McMullan, 32, was one of the first victims to die as he stood near the Barrowboy and Banker pub on London Bridge.

He was stabbed in the chest and died on steps leading down from the bridge to Green Dragon Court during the rampage which left seven others dead and 48 injured.

His parents, Simon, 62, and Mila, 65, have been battling for months to install a plaque at the spot which they want to unveil on June 3 to mark one year since the terrorist attack. They have now been denied permission and believe this is because the authorities “don’t want to put off tourists”.

Entrepreneur: James McMullan was killed in the attack (PA)
Entrepreneur: James McMullan was killed in the attack (PA)

Mr McMullan, a businessman, told the Standard: “We wanted to put the plaque up on the day but there are people behind the scenes stopping us. They need to back off and stop being a bunch of nimbys.

“The railway viaduct wall is owned by Network Rail, but Borough Market have been fighting us tooth and nail and seem to be winning. We are pariahs. Nobody wants to be involved.”

Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba drove a van into pedestrians at 50 miles per hour on London Bridge before attacking revellers around Borough Market with hunting knives. They were shot dead by police eight minutes into the attack.

Mr McMullan, from Hackney, had been celebrating with friends after securing investment for his education start-up the day before.

The plaque, which measures 18in by 12in, reads: “In loving memory of James Alexander McMullan. Murdered here on 3rd June 2017 by terrorists during the attack at London Bridge.”

His father accused the authorities of “continual and unwarranted interference” in an apparent attempt to block his family’s desire for a plaque to be installed. “They are objecting to ‘murdered’, and ‘terrorist attack’,” he added. “It is not up to anybody else to put the wording on the plaque. They are denying us our rights to remember our son in the way we deem fit.”

A spokesman for Network Rail said although they own the viaduct they had to be sensitive to other parties’ needs and therefore “any decision on memorials was not something Network Rail could agree in isolation”.

A spokesman for Borough Market Charitable Trust said that all planning for anniversary events and memorials was being co-ordinated by Southwark Council, but added: “As the anniversary of the London Bridge terror attack approaches, the thoughts of the Borough Market community are with the families of those affected.”

Peter John, leader of Southwark council, said: “The council refutes any suggestion we have interfered in this specific request.”