Cambridge grad Saskia Jones named as second victim in London Bridge attack
The second victim in the London Bridge stabbing rampage was a Cambridge University graduate volunteering to help ex-cons such as her killer — a convicted terrorist, police said Sunday.
Saskia Jones, 23, was identified as one of the fatalities Friday at the Fishmongers Hall, where her alma mater was hosting a prison rehabilitation conference, according to authorities.
She was killed alongside another Cambridge grad, 25-year-old Jack Merritt, during the event to connect graduate students with prisoners studying criminology, police said.
“Both were graduates of the University of Cambridge and were involved in Learning Together program — Jack as a coordinator and Saskia as a volunteer,” police said.
Jones’ family said she had a “great passion for providing invaluable support to victims of criminal injustice.”
“Saskia was a funny, kind, positive influence at the center of many people’s lives,” her family said in a statement. “She had a wonderful sense of mischievous fun and was generous to the point of always wanting to see the best in all people.”
Her family said she had recently applied for a police graduate recruitment program with the hopes of specializing in victim support.
“This is an extremely painful time for the family,” the family said. “Saskia will leave a huge void in our lives and we would request that our privacy is fully respected.”
Jones was fatally stabbed by 28-year-old Usman Khan, a convicted terrorist who had been granted early release from prison and was attending the conference, police said.
Khan, who was later shot dead by police, reportedly started his rampage just before 2 p.m. after returning for an afternoon session on storytelling and creative writing.
Cambridge University Vice Chancellor Stephen Toope said the gathering marked the five-year anniversary of the program.
“What should have been a joyous opportunity to celebrate the achievements of this unique and socially transformative program, hosted by our Institute of Criminology, was instead disrupted by an unspeakable criminal act,” Toope said.
With Post Wires