The two fatalities were identified as Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, who had already been named by his family as having died in the attack Friday near London Bridge.
"Both were graduates of the University of Cambridge and were involved in the Learning Together program — Jack as a co-ordinator and Saskia as a volunteer," police said.
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Started five years ago, the program was designed to bring Cambridge University graduate students together with prisoners to study criminology in an effort to reduce stigma and marginalization experienced by many inmates.
The three attack survivors were not named. Officials said one was released from hospital Sunday and the others are in stable condition.
Saskia Jones's family described her as having "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 program."
Merritt's family said: "Jack lived his principles; he believed in redemption and rehabilitation, not revenge, and he always took the side of the underdog."
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The gathering where the attack broke out had been meant to celebrate the fifth year of the program, said university vice-chancellor Stephen Toope.
Khan’s attack, which took place on London Bridge, stirred memories of the last election in 2017, when three militants killed eight people and injured at least 48 in the same part of the capital.
"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," he said.
The attacker, Usman Khan, was apparently attending the event and had returned for the afternoon session when he started stabbing people. Police believe he acted alone.
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Khan was a convicted terrorist who had secured early release from prison. He was shot dead by police after he was restrained by civilians. Police opened fire after he flashed what looked like a suicide vest, but it was a fake device.
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Dr. Vin Diwakar, medical director for the NHS in London, said doctors are dealing with the survivors' physical injuries, but that it may be weeks before the mental trauma can be assessed.
"The psychological impact of such events sometimes only comes to light in the days and weeks afterwards," he said.
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LONDON — Three of the five people who were killed or wounded in the London stabbing attack were former Cambridge University students or staff members who had gathered for an event designed to connect graduate students with prisoners, police and the university said Sunday.
The two fatalities were identified as Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, who had already been named by his family as having perished in the attack Friday near London Bridge.
“Either he’s incompetent and doesn’t know the law, or he’s deliberately misleading people when we’ve got a tragedy on our hands, and I’m afraid, either way, it does not look good for the prime minister,” Davey said.
"Both were graduates of the University of Cambridge and were involved in the Learning Together program — Jack as a co-ordinator and Saskia as a volunteer," police said.
Started five years ago, the program was designed to bring graduate students together with prisoners to study criminology in an effort to reduce stigma and marginalization experienced by many inmates.
Jones family described her as having "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 program."
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Merritts family said he "lived his principles" and "believed in redemption and rehabilitation, not revenge, and he always took the side of the underdog."
The attacker, Usman Khan, was apparently attending the event and had returned for the afternoon session when he started stabbing people. Police believe he acted alone.
Khan was a convicted terrorist who had secured early release from prison. He was shot dead by police after he was restrained by civilians. Officers opened fire after he flashed what looked like a suicide vest, but it was a fake device.
One of those who was wounded was a university staff member. The three survivors were not named. Officials said one was released from a hospital Sunday, and the others were in stable condition.
The gathering had been meant to celebrate the fifth year of the program, university Vice Chancellor Stephen Toope said.
“Jacks passion for social and criminal justice was infectious,” she wrote. “He was deeply creatively and courageously engaged with the world, advocating for a politics of love.”
"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.
Some people at the event, including prison staff and former prisoners, put their lives in danger to restrain the attacker until police arrived, officials said.
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Loraine Gelsthorpe, director of the universitys Institute of Criminology, said "they worked together selflessly to bring an end to this tragedy and to save further lives."
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British media reports indicate that the group included a convicted murderer who was on a day-release program at the time. Police and university officials have not confirmed the account.
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Doctors are dealing with the survivors physical injuries, but it may be weeks before mental trauma can be assessed, said Dr. Vin Diwakar, medical director for the NHS in London.
"The psychological impact of such events sometimes only comes to light in the days and weeks afterwards," he said.
In these undated family photos issued Sunday Dec. 1, 2019, by Londons Metropolitan Police, Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt, who have been formally identified by the police as the two people who died following a terror attack at London Bridge, are pictured. (Family photos / Londons Metropolitan Police via AP)
