American among dead in UK terrorist attack
LONDON — The family of an American citizen who died in a stabbing rampage in an English town has described him as a “fabulous guy” whose death has devastated his loved ones.
Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39, a native of northeast Philadelphia, was named by his family on Monday as one of three people killed in the attack in a park in Reading, about 40 miles west of London. Authorities are describing it as a terrorist incident.
“We’re mourning, and we’re trying to decide what we’re going to do,” Ritchie-Bennett’s father, Robert Ritchie, told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “It’s 3,500 miles away. They are still in lockdown over there with the coronavirus, and I don’t know what else to say.” He described his son as an “absolutely fabulous guy.”
Ritchie told CBS News that his family was “heartbroken” over the loss of its “brilliant and loving son,” adding: “This was senseless.”
Counterterrorism officers are continuing to question a 25-yearold suspect who was arrested after the attack in Forbury Gardens, a public park in the center of Reading, on Saturday evening. British media outlets said the suspect had arrived in Britain several years ago as a refugee from Libya’s civil war. Authorities said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
“It is clear the threat posed by lone attackers is growing,” Home Secretary Priti Patel told Parliament on Monday.
Patel said that on Saturday, around 7 p.m., an assailant “began to viciously attack several groups of people” who were enjoying a sunny evening in the park. She said a “young, unarmed” police officer tackled the attacker to the ground, while another officer performed emergency first aid on bloodied victims. “These officers are heroes. They showed courage, bravery and selflessness way beyond their years. They are the very best of us,” she said.
Ritchie-Bennett was reportedly a friend of history teacher James Furlong, 36, the first victim to be named. On Monday, students and staff gathered outside the school where Furlong taught to pay tribute to the “amazing teacher.”
The third victim has yet to be named publicly.
Residents in Reading observed two minutes of silence on Monday to honor those who lost their lives.
Ritchie-Bennett had moved to Britain about 15 years ago and most recently was working at a Dutch pharmaceutical company based in Reading.
His best friend since fourth grade, Danielle Gayda, 39, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that her friend had lost his husband, Ian Bennett, to cancer six years ago.
“And now they’re together, which is not really good for any of us down here,” Gayda said. “But I guess I’m happy for them that they’re back together.”
She described Ritchie-Bennett as a “funny, lighthearted person” who was looking forward to an annual summer trip to Greece.
U.S. Ambassador to Britain Woody Johnson confirmed that a U.S. citizen was killed in the attack and offered assistance to British investigators.
“I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the attack on June 20. To our great sorrow, this includes an American citizen,” Johnson wrote on Twitter. “We condemn the attack absolutely and have offered our assistance to British law enforcement.”
British media outlets said the suspect had been known to authorities but not perceived to be a threat. He was arrested under the Terrorism Act, meaning he can be held for up to 14 days without charge.
Mark Rowley, former head of British counterterrorism policing, told the BBC that about 40,000 people suspected of having sympathies with terrorist groups are known to authorities, and about 3,000 are under active investigation. He said that spotting who in the larger group will become a determined attacker is “the most wicked problem that the services face.”