Counter-terrorism police accuse man of three murders after knife attack in English city

LONDON (Reuters) – A suspect has been charged with three counts of murder in a knife attack in the English city of Reading, described by police as a terrorist incident, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Saturday.

A man wielding a five-inch knife attacked people basking in the sun at Forbury Gardens, a Reading park, on the night of June 20, killing three people and injuring three others.

“The Crown Prosecution Service today authorized the Southeast Counter-Terrorism Police to charge Khairi Saadallah, 25, with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder,” CPS said.

Saadallah will appear at the Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday.

A security source had previously told Reuters that the suspect, a Reading resident, was a Libyan citizen.

Police named the victims as British James Furlong, 36, and David Wails, 49, and US citizen Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39.

Ritchie-Bennett’s family said in a statement Saturday: “We LOVE Joe so much and we are so sad.” We need all the prayers for Joe and the Ritchie and Bennett families. ”

Local authorities in Reading held a memorial Saturday night in which civic and religious leaders and a police chief paid tribute to the victims and members of the public who tried to help, some tearing their shirts to make bandages.

Although the speeches were televised, Reading residents were encouraged not to gather in large numbers due to social distancing measures, but to light candles at their doors.

Neil Basu, national chief of Terrorism Police, said that as the coronavirus blockade began to ease, members of the public should play their part in protecting themselves and others from what he called the scourge of terrorism.

“As we begin to return to normal, and public places become more crowded, we must be alert to the continuing threat. If you see any suspicious activity, don’t hesitate to act, report it, ”Basu said in a statement.