THE girlfriend of London Bridge terror attack victim Jack Merritt has left a heartbreaking tribute to her "phenomenal" boyfriend.
Leanne O'Brien shared the emotional message on Facebook today and promised "together we will make a difference".
The veterinary science student wrote: "My love, you are phenomenal and have opened so many doors for those that society turned their backs on.
"Together, we will make a difference."
Jack, 25, was a course counsellor for Learning Together, which was hosting the event at Fishmongers' Hall in central London when terrorist Usman Khan, 28, unleashed his horror attack while wearing a fake suicide jacket.
Jack and fellow Cambridge University graduate Saskia Jones, 23, were both stabbed to death by the convicted terrorist on Friday.
Yesterday, Leanne and Jack's parents gathered to pay tributes to him and Saskia at a service in Cambridge.
Leanne was seen clutching two cuddly toys as she sobbed into father David Merritt's arms.
His heartbroken father on Saturday said he was one of victims and remembered him as a "beautiful spirit".
'BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT'
Grieving dad David paid tribute to his son as a "beautiful spirit" – and referenced his son's extensive work with inmates.
He said his son had been a "champion" for those who had "dealt a losing hand by life, who ended up in the prison system".
David yesterday penned a column in the Guardian saying his son would be "livid" if his death was used to "perpetuate an agenda of hate that he gave his everything fighting against".
Paying tribute on Sunday, Saskia's family said she "was a funny, kind, positive influence at the centre of many people's lives.
Saskia, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwicks, graduated in 2017 from Anglia Ruskin University with a degree in Psychology and Criminology. The following year she completed her Masters at Cambridge University.
She also volunteered at HMP Grendon, Bucks.
Khan, from Staffordshire, was freed last December and police said he was “known to authorities” after he was convicted in 2012 for terror offences.
He was banned from entering London but had a one-day exemption to attend the ex-convict event organised, it emerged last night.
Khan, who was wearing a monitoring tag during the attack, was attending an event on Friday afternoon at Fishmonger’s Hall called ‘Learning Together’.
The killer “hoodwinked” authorities by travelling to the prisoner rehabilitation conference at Fishmongers’ Hall where he launched his horror rampage on Friday.
One of the three people who were also injured in the attack has been allowed to return home while the other two remain in a stable condition in hospital.
The Sun on Sunday revealed Khan was given “special permission” to attend the Cambridge University-run event.
The Parole Board said in a statement on Saturday they had “no involvement” in Khan’s release.
It added it he appeared “to have been released automatically on licence (as required by law), without ever being referred to the Board”.
Source: Read Full Article