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BBC News
16 hours ago
- BBC News
Forbury Gardens fifth anniversary memorial service held
A service has been held to mark the fifth anniversary of a deadly attack in a park in which three men were killed. James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails were fatally stabbed by Khairi Saadallah in Forbury Gardens, Reading, Berkshire, in was given a whole-life jail term for their at a memorial service attended by about 200 people, the mayor of Reading Alice Mpofu-Coles said people were "still moved" by the events of five years ago. "The families are incredibly grateful for all the support."It's a very difficult time for them, but they know many people in Reading are with them," she added.A private memorial service for family, friends and invited guests was held at nearby St Laurence's Church before a public ceremony at the memorial stone to Mr Furlong, Mr Ritchie-Bennett and Mr Wails in Forbury 200 people attended the service including friends and families of the victims, along with local dignitaries, representatives of the emergency services and members of the of people laid flowers - sunflowers, yellow roses and carnations - all flowers that were special to the three men who lost their lives on a similar summer evening.A minute's silence was also held to remember those who died, were injured and Office minister Seema Malhotra attended the event while a wreath was also laid on behalf of Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper. Speaking earlier in the week, Mr Furlong's father Gary said he was attending to "remember and celebrate" his son."It's important we keep their memories and their names in people's minds. Forbury gardens did happen and it's important we learn the lessons from what happened," he Furlong said relatives of victims have had to "drag" governments to make meaningful an inquest into the three men's deaths, judge coroner Sir Adrian Fulford concluded their deaths were avoidable and found major problems with intelligence sharing between park had been busy on 20 June 2020 when Saadallah launched his attack as the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions had just been his sentencing, London's Old Bailey heard the 26-year-old "executed" the men as an "act of religious jihad".Saadallah, who admitted the murders, had also pleaded guilty to the attempted murders of three other men who were also in the had briefly come to the attention of MI5 in 2019, but the information provided did not meet the threshold of had been released from prison on 5 June, days before the attack, the court Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she remains "determined to ensure that all the lessons learned from this terrible incident are acted on". You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
14-06-2025
- BBC News
Forbury Gardens fifth anniversary memorial service
A remembrance service will take place on the fifth anniversary of a terrorist attack in a park that left three men Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails died after being stabbed by Khairi Saadallah in Forbury Gardens, Reading, Berkshire, in was given a whole-life jail term for their Terry, Labour councillor for Southcote, said the memorial on 20 June would be "particularly poignant" on the "five-year anniversary of a day nobody associated with Reading will ever forget". A private memorial service for family, friends and invited guests will take place at nearby St Laurence's Church from 18:00 19:00, a public service will take place at the permanent memorial stone to Mr Furlong, Mr Ritchie-Bennett and Mr Wails in Forbury will be led by the new mayor of Reading, Alice Mpofu-Coles, and Reverend Sonya Wratten, from Reading gospel singer Nichole Grace will perform, followed by a flower-laying ceremony and a minute's silence. Ms Terry said: "Five years may have passed but the painful memories of that day remain and Friday's service is an opportunity for Reading's community to come together once again."The thoughts and prayers of everybody in Reading remain with the families and friends who so needlessly lost loved ones that day and all those injured or affected."Forbury Gardens will be closed from 15:00 on the day, before reopening at gardens will shut to the public again from 20:00 and the Maiwand Lion will be lit up from 21:00, with three beams of light shining into the night sky in memory of the victims and all those affected. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
