Survivors of an attack in which members of the public tackled a terrorist on London Bridge have called for stronger support from the UK government.
Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were killed and three others injured by Usman Khan during a prisoner rehabilitation event at Fishmongers' Hall in 2019.
Kahn was chased by members of the public on to London Bridge, where he was shot dead by police.
Darryn Frost, who grabbed a narwhal tusk from the wall of Fishmongers' Hall and chased the terrorist out of the building, said those who survived the attack were "now victims of government failings and delays”.
"The promises made three years ago have still not been fulfilled and what that means is survivors struggling to get mental health support, bereaved families left unsupported and public venues no safer than before,” he told ITV News.
"We keep hearing excuses but it's simply not good enough."
The attack happened during the 2019 general election, when both the Conservative and Labour parties said they would consult on a Survivors' Charter and introduce Martyn's Law to improve security at public venues. Neither have been introduced to date.
A Survivors' Charter would provide guarantees to those affected by terrorist attacks, with guaranteed mental health support, financial and legal assistance.
Brendan Cox, widower of the murdered MP Jo Cox and co-founder of the group Survivors Against Terror, has called for something similar.
He told The Guardian previously: “Whenever a terror attacks happens, ministers get up and talk about how we will look after the survivors but in reality that isn’t happening.”
'Feels like I'm being treated like a criminal'
Martyn’s Law was named after Martyn Hett, who died in an attack at Manchester Arena. Survivors of the attack have also called for better support.
Paul Price, who lost his partner Elaine in the suicide bomb blast which killed 22 people, said: "I was grieving because I lost my beloved partner that night. I then spent eight months in hospital and when I came out I had to move back in with my elderly parents to start to recover.
"Five years on — despite the severity of my injuries — I have yet to receive a penny from the government's compensation scheme. All I get are constant requests for more and more medical evidence. Instead of being supported, I feel like I'm being treated like a criminal."
Mohammed Kozbar, chairman of Finsbury Park Mosque, where a terrorist attack occurred in June 2017, killing one and injuring 11, said he also felt let down by the lack of support.
"We have been so disappointed by the lack of meaningful support given to survivors and their families,” he told ITV.
"As a community we have been there for them as best as we can but the government has let us down.
"Five years on and the survivors are really struggling with poor mental health, some are still living in housing unsuitable for their needs following life-changing injuries and they are struggling to get the financial assistance and guidance they deserve."
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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Price, base / as tested: Dh283,080 / Dh318,465
Engine: 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
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Torque: 400Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.2L / 100km
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Results
2pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: AF Sahwa, Nathan Crosse, Mohamed Ramadan.
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: AF Thobor, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mezmar, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
4pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup presented by Longines (TB) Dh 200,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Galvanize, Nathan Cross, Doug Watson.
4.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Ajaj, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mohamed Daggash.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
THE NEW BATCH'S FOCUS SECTORS
AiFlux – renewables, oil and gas
DevisionX – manufacturing
Event Gates – security and manufacturing
Farmdar – agriculture
Farmin – smart cities
Greener Crop – agriculture
Ipera.ai – space digitisation
Lune Technologies – fibre-optics
Monak – delivery
NutzenTech – environment
Nybl – machine learning
Occicor – shelf management
Olymon Solutions – smart automation
Pivony – user-generated data
PowerDev – energy big data
Sav – finance
Searover – renewables
Swftbox – delivery
Trade Capital Partners – FinTech
Valorafutbol – sports and entertainment
Workfam – employee engagement
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
