Second victim in London Bridge attack named
Saskia Jones, who was described as a “funny, kind and positive influence” has been named as the second victim of Friday’s London Bridge terror attack.
The 23-year-old former Cambridge University graduate had only just applied to the police’s graduate scheme, with the intention to specialise in victim support, when her life was brutally stolen from her.
In a heartbroken statement, her family said her loss would leave a huge void in the lives of everyone she had met.
“Saskia was a funny, kind, positive influence at the centre of many people’s lives,” they said.
“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.
“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."
Miss Jones had been attending a prisoner rehabilitation initiative, when convicted terrorist Usman Khan attacked volunteers and delegates with two larges knives.
She died alongside another Cambridge graduate, Jack Merritt, who was as equally committed to helping others specifically prisoners’ who wanted to turn their lives around.
Khan was released from prison last year after serving eight years of a 16-year sentence for plotting to blow up the London Stock Exchange and other targets.
He had been invited to attend the event to discuss his experiences, however, began stabbing at least five people and fatally wounding Miss Jones and Mr Merritt.
Director of the Institute of Criminology, at Cambridge Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe, shared a heartfelt statement about her former student.
"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,” she said.
"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."
She also made a heartfelt tribute to Mr Merritt: "All of us at the Institute will miss Jack's quiet humour and rigorous intellect. 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."
Just last month, Miss Jones shared a post onto her Facebook page which relayed a heartfelt sentiment about appreciating the little things in life.
“I hope I never get tired of the night sky, of thunderstorms, of watching cream make galaxies in my coffee,” the post read.
“This world is ugly. I hope I never grow to be someone who can no longer see the small beautiful things.”