Editorial Comment
sir – Friday’s attack was an assault on innocent people going about their business. We who have been injured, or who have lost loved ones in terror attacks, know what those families will be going through. Our thoughts and love are with them. We would also like to thank the heroes who stopped the attack from continuing on Friday.
As survivors, we know how important it is that we all learn lessons from such attacks.
The first request is for the public. Don’t give the terrorists what they want. Don’t share their videos and views, and don’t blame whole groups for their actions or give in to feelings of hate. Many of us have felt supported by public solidarity and kindness, and it helps more than you can know.
The second request is for the media. Let the victims grieve and recover in private, and refrain from constantly sharing the goriest stories or splashing the attackers’ pictures on the front pages. Not only does this play into the hands of terrorists, it compounds the survivors’ suffering.
The third request is for politicians. We are sick of promises to look after victims, who then face months of delay for mental health support or years of waiting for compensation. We ask all parties to consult on and implement a new “survivors’ charter” that would guarantee them basic rights and services.
Finally, we ask that you pass Martyn’s Law, which would mandate all owners of events spaces to have in place a basic security plan. Gina Van Dort
Survivor and wife of Chris Dyer, who died in the Tunisia attack in 2015 Jo Berry
Daughter of Sir Anthony Berry, who died in the IRA Brighton attack in 1984 Charlotte Dixon-sutcliffe
Partner of David Dixon, who died in the Brussels attack in 2016 Brendan Cox
Husband of Jo Cox MP, who died in 2016 Travis Frain
Survivor of the 2017 Westminster attack Figen Murray
Mother of Martyn Hett, who died in the
Manchester Arena attack in 2017 and 63 others; see telegraph.co.uk
sir – Initial praise for the security services following Friday’s London Bridge attack has moved on to criticism of their failure to track the terrorist involved and the reduction of their terror warning to “substantial”.
There does not, however, appear to be any suggestion that this known terrorist should have been detained for the protection of the public.
Usman Khan had previously plotted to bomb the Stock Exchange and was initially given an indeterminate sentence, with a minimum jail term of eight years. His appeal against this sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeal and replaced with a fixed-term sentence of 16 years, meaning that he was released after half his sentence.
Surely this policy should now be reviewed, so that terrorists who have been found guilty by our courts should be detained indefinitely.
John Stewart Terrick, Buckinghamshire