Second London Bridge terror attack victim named as Saskia Jones Cambridge University student

Saskia Jones, of Stratford-upon-Avon, was volunteering on the day she died
Other victim Jack Merritt was a coordinator at the prisoner rehab conference
Their families paid tribute to them in emotional statements released by police


The second victim of the London Bridge terror attack has been named as another young Cambridge University graduate.


Saskia Jones, 23, of Stratford-upon-Avon, died alongside Jack Merritt, 25, of Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, after Usman Khan, 28, went on a deadly knife frenzy in London on Friday.


Both graduates were taking part in a prisoner rehabilitation conference that was trying to rehabilitate the likes of the terrorist who went on to kill them. Miss Jones was working as a volunteer and Mr Merritt as a coordinator.


The 23-year-old's family paid tribute to her 'funny, kind, positive influence', saying she was 'intent on living life to the full'.

Saskia Jones, 23, (pictured) of Stratford-upon-Avon, died alongside Jack Merritt, 25, of Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, after Usman Khan went on a stabbing frenzy in London on Friday

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Pictured: Saskia Jones, 23, on the day she graduated from Cambridge University

Saskia Jones (pictured) was working as a volunteer at an event designed to help rehabilitate prisoners

The 23-year-old graduate is pictured before her tragic death in London on Frida

Khan was on licence and wearing an electronic monitoring tag when he attended the conference organised by Cambridge University scheme Learning Together at Fishmongers' Hall near London Bridge.


He was shot dead by police after members of the public bravely rushed to disarm him, one with a narwhal tusk taken from the venue.


The attack left three other people injured, one of whom was a member of staff, the university's vice-chancellor Stephen Toope has said.


Today one of the people injured in the horrific attack was allowed to return home, while two others remain in hospital.


Miss Jones's family's heart-breaking statement read: 'Saskia was a funny, kind, positive influence at the centre of many people's lives.


'She had a wonderful sense of mischievous fun and was generous to the point of always wanting to see the best in all people.


'She was intent on living life to the full and had a wonderful thirst for knowledge, enabling her to be the best she could be.

Her fellow Cambridge graduate Jack Merritt (pictured) was a coordinator at the event on Fridayack Merritt is pictured with his Cambridge degreHe died after being stabbed by Usman KhanA family photo shows Jack Merritt who died after being stabbed by terrorist Usman Khan




'Saskia had a great passion for providing invaluable support to victims of criminal injustice, which led her to the point of recently applying for the police graduate recruitment programme, wishing to specialise in victim support.


'This is an extremely painful time for the family. Saskia will leave a huge void in our lives and we would request that our privacy is fully respected.'


Miss Jones was a cadet during her time at Cambridge and also worked as a personal trainer.


She described herself on her LinkedIn page as: 'Passionate about people, education, and inspiring others.'


Her undergraduate and postgraduate research focused on violence against women and girls with additional voluntary work with inmates at HMP Grendon whilst at Cambridge University.


She was completing a two-year graduate programme with West Midlands Police and studied at Anglia Ruskin University before Cambridge.


Mr Merritt's family described their 25-year-old son a 'beautiful, talented boy', saying he died 'doing what he loved'.


'He lit up our lives and the lives of his many friends and colleagues, and we will miss him terribly,' it read.


His girlfriend, veterinary science student Leanne O'Brien, learned of her boyfriend's murder just weeks after they had enjoyed a romantic trip to Seville, Spain, to celebrate his 25th birthday.


Mr Merritt believed that Khan's apparent redemption was a powerful case study of how a life could be changed for the better, but it now appears his rehabilitation was a sham intended to hide his murderous intentions.


He was shot dead by police before ISIS claimed responsibility for his attack.

Victim Jack Merritt is pictured on a recent holiday to Seville with his girlfriend veterinary science student Leanne O'Brien




Cambridge University's vice-chancellor Stephen Toope called the news devastating, adding: 'I am devastated to learn that among the victims of the London Bridge attack were staff and alumni of the University of Cambridge, taking part in an event to mark five years of the Learning Together programme.


'What should have been a joyous opportunity to celebrate the achievements of this unique and socially transformative programme, hosted by our Institute of Criminology, was instead disrupted by an unspeakable criminal act.


'I am sad beyond words to report that course coordinator Jack Merritt and former student Saskia Jones were killed.


'Both were Cambridge graduates. Among the three people injured, whose identities have not been publicly released, is a member of University staff.


'Our University condemns this abhorrent and senseless act of terror. Our condolences, our thoughts and our deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families.'


Former Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi tweeted: 'Shocked & sickened to learn that the second victim of the terror attack on London Bridge is 23 year old Saskia Jones from Stratford upon Avon. My prayers are with her family and friends. A tragic loss of a young life.'


And The director of the Institute of Criminology, at the University of Cambridge, where both had studied has paid tribute to them.


Professor Loraine R Gelsthorpe said in a statement: 'Saskia's warm disposition and extraordinary intellectual creativity 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 the Learning Together community. They valued her contributions enormously and were inspired by her determination to push towards the good.


'All of us at the Institute will miss Jack's quiet humour and rigorous intellect. His determined belief in rehabilitation inspired him to join the Institute as a staff member to work in the Learning Together research team after completing his MPhil in Criminology in 2017.


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


The statement added: 'We are grateful to other members of the Learning Together community who bravely risked their own lives to hold off the attacker until the police arrived.


'These men included Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service staff and several people who have spent time in prison. They worked together selflessly to bring an end to this tragedy and to save further lives.


'Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends, and colleagues and students at the Institute and University more widely who were at the event, as well as others who were there and who have been affected and injured.'

Daily Mail