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Christchurch attack victims' families reflect on tragedy five years on

It's been five years since 51 men, women and children, were murdered in a terror attack when a white supremacist opened fire at Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Now, the victims' families have reflected on the tragic day, and commemorated their loved ones on the five-year anniversary of the attacks. Dr Maysoon Salama, who lost her son Atta Elayyan, 33, relives the grief of losing her son every day. “The pain is still fresh,” she told 7NEWS. Five years on, the good memories she shared with her son still play back in her mind. “Atta was an amazing son,” she said. “He’s touched the lives of so many people.” Despite the tragedy, Dr Salama remains strong and finds herself healing through her granddaughter Aya. “I feel like I see her father when I see her,” she said. “It’s a really hard journey ... but she has always been my focus.” Aya was two when she lost her father, and Dr Salama was faced with the heartbreaking task of helping her granddaughter adjust to a life without her father. “When I look her in the eyes and she will ask, ‘Where is my dad?’, what am I going to tell her?” she recalled thinking. “How are we going to tell her when she’s so attached to her daddy? She loved him so much.” Dr Salama's husband, Mohammad Alayan, was among the dozens of people hospitalised following the attack, with doctors at the time saying he was “lucky to survive”. “He had been shot twice. One in his head and it affected his vision and one in his shoulder and she said it was just a few millimetres away from his heart,” Maysoon said. The couple run a Muslim childcare centre An-Nur, and have worked together to help children navigate New Zealand's darkest days. She recalled the sinking feeling when she first heard of the attacks while at work, and how her husband's first instinct was to tell her to protect herself and everyone at the childcare centre. “I got a call from my husband and he told me he was in hospital and that I have a big responsibility to protect the children and the teachers and lock down, close the doors because he was afraid the shooter would also come to our place because we are a Muslim childcare centre,” she said. “More families who were distressed started coming to pick up their children, and some of them even had blood on their shirts, some of them witnessed the thing. “It was really an awful situation.” Not long after, she learned that her own son had also been injured, but at the time had no idea of the reality of it all. Aya Al-Umari lost her brother, Hussein, on the fateful day. “It happened so suddenly, I had no time to grieve,” she said. Hussein spent the last moments of his life protecting other people, and even though Aya misses his hugs more than anything, she takes comfort in knowing that her brother's legacy will live on. “He had the opportunity to escape, but he didn’t,” she said. “He was running towards the terrorist. “It really goes to show, especially in his last moments, he was always a giver.” Both Aya and Dr Salama both take comfort in the belief that their loved ones died as as a Shahid – a true martyr who died in the name of their faith in Islam. Dr Salama hopes that the findings from last year’s coronial inquest, expected to be handed down this year, will provide a sense of closure to the victims' families. She also hopes that people will use the fifth anniversary of the shootings to reflect on the work that is yet to be done and call for more action in fighting Islamophobia and extremism. “We can fight Islamophobia by challenging the biases and educating ourselves also and intervening against discrimination. “See something, say something.” Canterbury's Muslim community will also gather today to honour the victims with a commemoration service at Masjid Annur in the evening, according to <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/511744/muslims-mark-5th-anniversary-of-christchurch-mosque-terror-attacks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RNZ</a>. Brenton Tarrant, who was behind the terror attacks, was sentenced to life in jail without parole – the first person in New Zealand's history to receive the sentence because his actions were deemed "so wicked". Images: 7News

Caring

9/11 victim’s remains identified nearly 23 years after terror attack

Almost 23 years on from the deadly attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York, a victim’s remains have been identified. John Ballantine Niven, 44, was an executive at Aon Risk Services, an insurance firm on the 105th floor of Tower Two of the Trade Centre complex in September 2001. Niven is the 1,650th victim identified from the deadliest act of terrorism on American soil, when hijackers crashed planes into the Twin Towers, killing 2,753 people on September 11th. At the time of his death, he left behind a wife and an 18-month-old son, with his body remaining unidentified until now. “While the pain from the enormous losses on September 11th never leaves us, the possibility of new identifications can offer solace to the families of victims,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the ongoing work from the Office of Chief Medical Examiner that honours the memory of John Ballantine Niven and all those we lost.” In recent years, the medical examiner’s office has been utilising modern advanced DNA technology to identify victims through their remains. “We will forever remember our heroes who perished on 9/11 and we appreciate the continuous efforts of forensic experts to help identify victims,” Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said in a separate statement. “We’re hopeful that this amazing advance in technology helps bring peace to Niven’s family and allows him to eternally rest in peace.” Roughly 40 percent of victims of the World Trade Centre attack have yet to have their remains identified, as few full bodies were recovered when the towers collapsed. Image credits: Getty Images / legacy.com

Caring

News of Bali bomb-maker's sentence cut short sparks fury

The bomb-maker behind the devastating 2002 Bali bombings has been released early from Indonesian prison only days after his sentence was reduced by a further five months. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared this decision will add trauma to the victims’ families and says his diplomats are lobbying the Indonesian government regarding the reduction. This decision means that Umar Patek, the man who made the explosives that killed 200 people, including 2 kiwis and 88 Aussies in 2002, will have served only half of his original 20-year sentence. Indonesian authorities insist he has been ‘deradicalised’ but Mr Abanese has described him as ‘abhorrent’. The sentence had already been reduced by 18 months on a previous occasion, meaning his total reduction is now one year and 11 months. He would have been eligible for parole in January 2023 after serving two thirds of his sentence. Patek admitted making the suicide vests that went off at Sari Club and Paddy's Pub in Kuta but claimed he did not know what they would be used for. After nine years on the run in the Philippines and Pakistan, he was caught in 2011 and spared the death sentence after co-operating with police and apologising to victims' families. This coming October marks the 20th anniversary of the bombings. Images: Australian National Museum / Getty

Legal

Investigations continue into hospital terror explosion

An explosion in a taxi has prompted British authorities to amp the country’s threat level up from substantial to severe, as the incident is treated as an act of terrorism. David Perry, a taxi cab driver, was injured after the cab he was driving exploded outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital just before 11am on Remembrance Sunday. Authorities are investigating the explosion and have since identified the passenger as 32-year-old Emad Al Swealmeen, who died at the scene. According to police, Mr Al Swealmeen brought a homemade explosive device into the cab and asked Mr Perry to drive him to the hospital. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845675/bus-explosion2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0c2d4a82a159482193623405ddd5b4a6" /> Carl Bessant was inside the hospital when the explosion occurred. Image: Carl Bessant CCTV footage shows the cab pulling into the drop-off section of the hospital car park at speed before the explosion occurred. The driver then got out of the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames, and has since been treated for injuries. Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson praised Mr Perry and suggested he had diverted the incident from occurring inside the hospital by locking the passenger in the cab. “The taxi driver in his heroic efforts has managed to divert what could have been an absolutely awful disaster,” she <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/liverpool-hospital-explosion-uk-terror-threat-level-raised-to-severe-after-men-arrested-under-terrorism-act/630e52b4-2135-4cdf-bad4-8ade94cb60f1" target="_blank">told</a> the BBC. “The taxi driver locked the doors. “Our thanks go to him.” However, authorities have not confirmed her account of the incident. Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the “sickening attack”, telling reporters that British people “will never be cowed by terrorism”. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWTKqG9sKvo/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWTKqG9sKvo/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ian Redpath & Jeremy Chopra (@allontheboard)</a> </div> </blockquote> “We will never give in to those who seek to divide us with senseless acts of violence,” he said. Three men believed to be “associates” of the deceased man were also arrested in other parts of Liverpool on Sunday under the Terrorism Act, with a fourth detained on Monday. They have since been <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59287001" target="_blank">released</a> without any charges laid. In the hours following the explosion, police raided two properties where Mr Al Swealmeen was believed to live, with both located within a mile of the hospital. Police also confirmed that a controlled explosion was carried out at one of the properties where they believe Mr Al Swealmeen constructed the explosive device he used in the cab. Assistant Chief Constable Jackson <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-16/heroic-cabbie-praised-for-actions-after-deadly-liverpool-blast/100622794" target="_blank">said</a> the explosion was declared a terrorism incident, but that the motive behind it was yet to be determined. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845676/bus-explosion3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/dcc90df5df7c4996bde4d00917e9c433" /> Forensic officers undertook a fingerprint search outside the hospital following the blast. Image: Getty Images “Our enquiries indicate that an improvised device has been manufactured and our assumption so far is that this was built by the passenger in the taxi,” he said. “The reason why he then took it to the Women’s Hospital is unknown, as is the reason for the sudden explosion.” Constable Jackson said the connection between the explosion and the time it occurred - shortly before Remembrance Day events were due to start - is a line of inquiry authorities are pursuing. Police also <a rel="noopener" href="https://newsnationusa.com/news/world/uk/controlled-explosion-near-liverpool-house-where-taxi-terrorist-made-bomb/" target="_blank">believe</a> the explosive may have failed to detonate properly or was set off prematurely. The explosion comes within a month of the UK’s first fatal incident, where British MP David Amess was stabbed to death during a constituency meeting. Image: The Guardian / YouTube

Travel Trouble

Close up: World War Z frames the terror of ‘loss of self’ and the threat of a mass pandemic

How do filmmakers communicate big ideas on screen? In this video series, film scholar Bruce Isaacs analyses pivotal film scenes in detail. (Warning: this video contains violence and may be upsetting for some viewers.) <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rTkFBg2gSRQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> There is perhaps no better time than now to appreciate the unique and subversive genre of <a href="https://theconversation.com/were-obsessed-with-zombies-which-says-a-lot-about-today-37552">zombie movies</a>. These films have always been great socio-cultural lenses. Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead were two classics of the genre. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816711/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt">World War Z</a> (2013), an adaptation of Max Brook’s 2006 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8908.World_War_Z">apocalyptic zombie novel</a> continues this tradition. In a pivotal scene set in Jerusalem, director <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0286975/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Marc Foster</a> encapsulates the greatest threat posed by zombies: the end of our individuality and loss of uniqueness. The casting of Hollywood star <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000093/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm">Brad Pitt</a> is crucial, as are the cuts between him as a figure and the invading mass. Written by Bruce Isaacs. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/close-up-world-war-z-frames-the-terror-of-loss-of-self-and-the-threat-of-a-mass-pandemic-145090">The Conversation.</a>

Movies

London terror attack: Man shot dead after stabbing rampage

The knifeman who strapped a fake bomb vest to his chest before stabbing two people in South London had been released from prison just a few days prior. Sudesh Amman was under the watchful eye of counter-terror cops before the “knife obsessed” jihadi went on a rampage on Streatham High Road early this morning. Terrified witnesses heard shots fire and saw the 19-year-old fall to the ground on Streatham High Road. Amman, from Harrow, North London, was sentenced to over three years in prison but was let-out on automatic release after serving half his sentence – despite concerns he still held extremist views. The man was just a teenager when he was arrested and was jailed for possessing and distributing terrorist documents. It was also revealed that Amman had shared an Al-Qaeda magazine in his family WhatsApp group and told his siblings “the Islamic State is here to stay”, the court heard. He owned bomb making manuals and also had plans to carry out acid attacks, his trial was told. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> *UPDATED STATEMENT* on our response to this afternoon's incident in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Streatham?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Streatham</a>. We treated three patients for injuries at the scene, and took all three people to hospital. <a href="https://t.co/oDCIO3sh6i">pic.twitter.com/oDCIO3sh6i</a> — London Ambulance Service (@Ldn_Ambulance) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ldn_Ambulance/status/1224027508695277569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2020</a></blockquote> A source said Amman was released early because there was nothing the authorities could do under existing laws to keep him behind bars. But he was put under the strictest licencing terms and that’s why the police were so quick to respond to the incident that occurred today. Scotland Yard is yet to confirm that Amman was known to counter-terror authorities, but it is believed he was on the watch-list due to the speed at which they responded. Witness Kiranjeet Singh told the Sun Online that Amman stole a 10-inch knife from his brother’s bargain shop before injuring multiple people who came in his way. He stabbed a woman in the back before she ran away screaming in pain said another witness, and then he followed that attack by slashing a young man in the chest with a “huge knife”. Armed forces rushed to the scene, where the knife-wielding man was wearing a suicide vest and shot him three times just after 2pm.

Travel Trouble

Expert weighs in: In this new world of bushfire terror, I question whether I want to have kids

As fires continue to burn along Australia’s south-east, it’s impossible to ignore how climate change can wreak devastation and disrupt lives. Australia has always experienced bushfires. However, climate change <a href="https://theconversation.com/weather-bureau-says-hottest-driest-year-on-record-led-to-extreme-bushfire-season-129447">means</a> this year’s bushfires were so extreme in their ferocity and spread they could be <a href="https://www.space.com/australia-wildfires-space-station-astronaut-photo.html">seen from space</a>. And this is just a taste of what’s to come. I’m a marine scientist, and research the effects of climate change on coral reefs. Aside from bushfires, coral bleaching is one of the most severe manifestations of climate change in Australia. Watching corals turn white and die is just another daily reminder of the disasters our children will be up against. Until now, my partner and I have both wanted to be parents one day. Now I’m not so sure. Here are the things I’m weighing up. The forces at play I am not alone in these family planning concerns. In September last year I hosted a Women in STEM seminar and photography <a href="https://www.emergingcreativesofscience.com/women-in-steam">exhibit</a> showcasing female scientists at the University of New South Wales. One of the major points of discussion was how to plan for a family, knowing how climate change will affect the quality of life of the next generation. Cases of “<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-eco-anxiety-climate-change-affects-our-mental-health-too-123002">eco-anxiety</a>” when it comes to family planning are on the rise. <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/it-doesn-t-feel-justifiable-the-couples-not-having-children-because-of-climate-change-20190913-p52qxu.html">Many couples</a> in my generation are rethinking what it means to start a family. Even Prince Harry and Meghan Markle <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/prince-harry-reveals-how-many-kids-he-and-meghan-will-have/news-story/1f6acaf856c50b6e613cd882aa0d9f74">said last year</a> they’ll have only two children at most, for the sake of the planet. But other factors also affect family planning decisions, such as religious, cultural and societal expectations. And of course there are the views of partners and spouses to take into account. In my case, I come from a large Italian-American, Catholic family. My family expects me to settle down and have babies as soon as possible. But my partner and I both agree the planet cannot sustain a growing population that results from these traditional religious expectations. Would going childless make a difference? Studies show having fewer children is one of the most effective ways an individual can mitigate climate change. Choosing to have one less child prevents <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa7541#erlaa7541f1">58.6 tonnes of carbon emissions</a> entering the atmosphere each year, according to a 2017 study. That’s like 25 Australians going car-free for the rest of their lives. In fact, even if you do your bit to reduce emissions in your lifetime, such as riding a bike and using energy-saving lightbulbs, having two children means your <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-family-planning-could-be-part-of-the-answer-to-climate-change-32667">“legacy” of carbon emissions could be 40 times greater</a> than that saved through lifestyle changes. But having one less child is not a quick fix for climate change. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4246304/">As research in 2014 pointed out</a>, even one-child policies imposed worldwide, coupled with events causing catastrophic numbers of deaths, would still leave the world population at 5–10 billion people by 2100 – enough to cause stress on future ecosystems. So it’s critical we, as consumers, start now in making our lifestyles more environmentally friendly if the world’s population continues to grow. The above research concluded the most immediate and effective way to keep the planet’s warming at bay is policies and technologies to reign in global emissions. The planet our children will inhabit On our current business-as-usual trajectory, we’re on track for at least a <a href="https://climateactiontracker.org/global/temperatures/">4℃</a>temperature increase by 2100. Even if the temperature increase was limited to 2.8℃ (now an optimistic scenario) major changes in <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/07/major-us-cities-will-face-unprecedente-climates-2050/">weather patterns would occur by 2050</a>. These changes would bring more <a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/climate-change-and-drought-factsheet/">severe droughts</a>, <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/updates/articles/a023.shtml">flooding</a>, <a href="https://time.com/5627355/climate-change-heat-waves/">heatwaves</a>, <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/sea-level-rise/">sea level rise</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/11/what-are-the-links-between-climate-change-and-bushfires-explainer">bushfires</a>. This is not a future I want for my children. Already, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0315-6">climate hazards have been implicated</a> in pre- and post-natal health problems for children. Children whose mothers were exposed to floods while pregnant exhibited increased bedwetting, aggression towards other children and below-average birth weight, juvenile height and academic performance. What’s more, exposure to smoke from fires during pregnancy may have affected brain development and resulted in premature birth, small head circumference, low birth weight and foetal death This season’s bushfires caused a <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/spike-in-ambulance-calls-for-help-before-smoke-haze-worsens-20200107-p53pea.html">51% spike</a> in people needing help for respiratory issues on one of the most extreme days in Melbourne. Children are among the most vulnerable to respiratory issues stemming from poor air quality. But it’s not just physical health in question – mental health is also at risk. Today’s children already know that without major change, the world they were born into will limit their quality of life. It’s not only affecting their <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/the-dread-and-worry-keeping-young-australians-up-at-night-20191115-p53aw5.html">mental health</a>, but also their process of identity formation, with children experiencing an “<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-terror-of-climate-change-is-transforming-young-peoples-identity-113355">existential whiplash</a>”. They’re caught between two forces: the belief held by previous generations that if you work hard you’ll have a high quality of life, and knowledge that climate change will make parts of the planet inhabitable. Weighing it all up Of course, improvements in family planning are not solely a matter for the developed world. As <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i2102">experts have stated</a>, family planning has the potential to empower women in developing nations, giving them the basic human right to choose whether to have children. Policies to support this – such as better access to contraception and giving more girls a quality education – <a href="https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/87/11/08-062562/en/">would be a “win-win”</a>, improving reproductive rights and slowing the population growth to combat climate change. As for my own situation, my mind isn’t yet made up. I am seriously considering not having kids altogether. Or perhaps my partner and I will have only one child, or adopt. But one thing is clear. Whether you want to create a healthier planet or you’re concerned about the Earth your children will inherit, climate change should weigh heavily on your family planning decisions. Written by Melissa Pappas. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/in-this-new-world-of-bushfire-terror-i-question-whether-i-want-to-have-kids-126752">The Conversation.</a>

Retirement Life

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. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5iw2h9lqCY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5iw2h9lqCY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Kushal Roy (@unapologetickushal)</a> on Dec 1, 2019 at 12:26pm PST </div> </blockquote> 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. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5gP5uKIzMD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5gP5uKIzMD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ideologiekritische Aktion (@ideologiekritische_aktion)</a> on Nov 30, 2019 at 1:00pm PST </div> </blockquote> 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." <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ilhR7Jft1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ilhR7Jft1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by JD dan (@janined62)</a> on Dec 1, 2019 at 10:47am PST </div> </blockquote> 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.”

Travel Trouble

Four injured after attempted terror attack in New York

Witnesses have described terrifying scene of people “running for their lives” after a man detonated a homemade bomb inside the New York subway system during Monday morning rush hour. Authorities called the explosion in the terminal at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue an "attempted terrorist attack" and police identified the suspect in custody as Akayed Ullah, 27. The suspect, a former cab driver believed to be from Bangladesh, strapped an improvised pipe bomb to his body with velcro and zip ties that exploded in an underground passageway. <img width="398" height="299" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/080b6834f11ec8649f756eb2d21b2398" alt="Akayed Ullah pictured on his 2011 driver’s licence shows. Picture: New York Department of Motor Vehicles via AP" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> The New York Post report he carried out the attack as revenge, saying from his hospital bed according to law enforcement sources the Post spoke to: “They’ve been bombing in my country and I wanted to do damage here.” New York governor Andrew Cuomo described the explosive as an unsophisticated “low-tech device” that the suspect learnt how to make on the internet. He told CNN the man “wound up hurting himself” when the device partially detonated in the passageway. The New York Police Department said Akayed was in custody at Bellevue Hospital in a serious condition suffering burns and lacerations to his hands and abdomen. Three people suffered minor, “non-life-threatening” injuries including ringing in their ears n, the New York Fire Department confirmed. One of the injured was a Port Authority police officer.

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BREAKING: Several people killed after truck plows into cyclists in New York

A man has been shot and taken into custody in New York after driving his Home Depot rental truck onto a busy bike path and firing at a crowd. At least six people have been killed and 15 more have been injured. The incident occurred on the West Side Highway in Lower Manhattan, nearby Stuyvesant High School and the site of the World Trade Center. It comes just hours before New York’s annual Halloween parade, which attracts thousands to the area. “What happened was there was a car crash… he came out of one of the cars. He had two guns. He was running around Chambers [Street] and somebody started to chase him,” 14-year-old Stuyvesant student Laith Bahlouli told reporters. “I heard four to six gunshots – everybody starts running.” US police have described the incident as a terror attack, with reports suggesting the FBI has taken over the investigation. UPDATE: The death toll has risen to eight, according to a statement from Mayor Bill de Blasio. "This was an act of terror and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea about what was about to hit them. We know of eight innocent people who have lost their lives and over a dozen more injured. "We know that this action was intended to break our spirit, but we also know New Yorkers are strong, New Yorkers are resilient and our spirit will never be moved by an act of violence." The suspect allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great" in Arabic) during the incident. More to come.

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Ariana Grande’s touching offer to families of Manchester attack victims

While the Manchester attacks undoubtedly showed the cruellest side of human nature, it’s also brought out some incredible acts of heroism, kindness and generosity. Now, it seems the pop star who unwittingly found herself at the centre of the attack has made a touching offer to the families of the 22 innocent victims. Ariana Grande, the 23-year-old US singer whose concert was targeted by terrorists on Monday night, has reportedly offered to pay for the victims’ funerals. A Twitter account dedicated to providing updates to Grande fans shared the news on Tuesday. “Ariana has reached out to the families whose loves ones died last night,” they wrote. “She is gonna pay for the funerals.” However, the tweet has since been deleted by the account for fear of spreading unsubstantiated news, given representatives for Grande are yet to confirm if she has made the offer. Grande was in the middle of her Dangerous Woman tour before the attack on Manchester Arena, which the singer admitted left her “broken”. She has since cancelled all shows until at least June 5. “Due to the tragic events in Manchester the Dangerous Woman tour with Ariana Grande has been suspended until we can further assess the situation and pay our proper respects to those lost,” her management revealed to <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/856276/ariana-grande-suspends-remainder-of-dangerous-woman-tour-after-deadly-manchester-arena-explosion" target="_blank">E! News</a> on Wednesday.

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World lights up to support Manchester

After yesterday’s tragedy left Manchester devastated, countless cities around the world have shown solidarity, lighting famous monuments with the colours of the Union Jack. From Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate to Abu Dhabi’s state of the art Adnoc Group HQ, there was no shortage of support from around the world for yesterday’s senseless tragedy. To see the buildings, scroll through the gallery above. Paris got in the act as well, with the lights of the Eiffel Tower turned off at midnight as a mark of respect for the victims of the tragedy. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Eiffel Tower goes dark in solidarity with victims of Manchester Arena attack. <a href="https://t.co/BCGCRh556U">https://t.co/BCGCRh556U</a> <a href="https://t.co/ywjU7BkTrz">pic.twitter.com/ywjU7BkTrz</a> — ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/867140770041544704">May 23, 2017</a></blockquote> Ordinary Mancurians have also shown courage in the face of terror, with residents offering concertgoers places to stay, taxi drivers giving free lifts across the city and blood donation centres inundated with people looking to donate. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Not just Gurudwaras in Manchester offering victims food & accommodation, this Sikh cab driver is offering free taxi service to the needy <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RT?src=hash">#RT</a> <a href="https://t.co/AJNXL6JurW">pic.twitter.com/AJNXL6JurW</a> — Harjinder S Kukreja (@SinghLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/SinghLions/status/866930974369632256">May 23, 2017</a></blockquote> Manchester’s health and social care chief Jon Rouse said it had been a “terrible night and morning” for the city but added: “We have also seen some of the best aspects of Greater Manchester and the people who live there as well”. Our thoughts are with the families of those affected. Hero image credit: Twitter / Breaking9news‏

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Queen responds to Manchester terror attack

The Queen has expressed her “deepest sympathies” to all those affected by the <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2017/05/manchester-rocked-by-suspected-terror-attack/">Manchester terror attack</a> at a music concert on Monday, which left 22 dead and 57 injured. Her Majesty released an official statement that read: “The whole nation has been shocked by the death and injury in Manchester last night of so many people, adults and children, who had just been enjoying a concert. I know I speak for everyone in expressing my deepest sympathy to all who have been affected by this dreadful event and especially to the families and friends of those who have died or were injured. I want to thank all the members of the emergency services, who have responded with such professionalism and care. And I would like to express my admiration for the way the people of Manchester have responded, with humanity and compassion, to this act of barbarity.” Today, the Queen held a minute’s silence at Buckingham Palace. As pictured above, the Queen and Prince Philip took a moment out of their annual garden party to lead guests in the tribute to all those killed and injured by the tragedy. Prince Charles also spoke out about the terror attack. “That such a large number of people, including so many young concert-goers, lost their lives or have suffered so much in this appalling atrocity is deeply distressing and fills us with intense sadness,” he said. “Words cannot adequately express what so many families must be feeling at this incredibly difficult time and our most heartfelt sympathy is with all those who have so tragically lost loved ones or who have been affected in some way.” Kensington Palace released a statement on behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. All three commended the people of Manchester for being “an example to the world”. “Hundreds of friends, parents, children, and partners are confronting unimaginable grief today, and we send our thoughts to them all,” they said. “We also send our thanks to the people of Manchester for their display of strength, decency, and community that is an example to the world.”

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William, Kate and Harry join victims at a Westminster terror attack service

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry attended a multi-faith service in London’s Westminster Abbey with victims of the March 22 terror attacks and victims’ families. Before the service, Prince William lay a wreath at the abbey’s Innocent Victims Memorial, a slate that remembers those who have been killed, tortured or oppressed. The service took place metres away from Westminster Bridge, where Khalid Masood ran down pedestrians in his car and then stabbed a police officer. Police, ambulance workers and fire fighters who helped victims after the terror attack attended the service with Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who was representing the prime minister and London mayor. Melissa Cochran attended the service whose husband Kurt died in the attack. The couple were from Utah in the United States and were in London celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. Other victims of the attack include police constable Keith Palmer, retiree Leslie Rhodes and Aysha Frade. Masood was shot dead by police after he fatally stabbed Keith Palmer in a Parliament courtyard. Image credit: Kensington Palace via Twitter

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Queen's touching statement following London attack

Queen Elizabeth II has delivered a stirring message in the wake of the <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2017/03/uk-terror-attack-brings-london-to-its-knees/">horrific terrorist attack in London</a> yesterday, that saw five people killed outside Westminster. Her Majesty sent the message to Acting Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service following yesterday’s events, which was then posted on the Royal Family’s Facebook account. In it she expressed sympathy for the victims, and gratitude to the Metropolitan Police Service, “who work so selflessly to help and protect others.” The message reads: <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheBritishMonarchy%2Fposts%2F1418430704845422&width=500" width="500" height="374" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe> Her Majesty’s response echoes that of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who posted on Twitter yesterday, “When Londoners face adversity we always pull together. We stand up for our values and our way of life. We stand together.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> When Londoners face adversity we always pull together. We stand up for our values and our way of life. We stand together. <a href="https://t.co/MOZ9aMRMDN">pic.twitter.com/MOZ9aMRMDN</a> — Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorofLondon/status/844999108171583488">March 23, 2017</a></blockquote> As is always the case in times of crisis, Her Majesty has been a figure of stoicism in her response to yesterday’s tragedy, as the city of still tries to make sense of the disaster. Our deepest sympathies go to those affected.

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UK terror attack brings London to its knees

London has been left reeling after a terrorist attack outside Westminster, in which a car ran over several pedestrians and a police officer was stabbed outside parliament. Four people have been confirmed as casualties, including the stabbed police officer and the attacker, and at least 20 other people are still being treated for injuries. While specific details on the incident remain hazy, reports can confirm that a large vehicle ran down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, before crashing into the railings surround the parliament. The suspected driver left the vehicle then walked into the parliamentary precinct where he attacked the officer before he was eventually shot. London's assistant police commissioner Mark Rowley said, "This is a day we planned for but hoped would never happen. Sadly it's now a reality. We will continue to do all we can to protect the people of London." Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed no Australians were caught up in the attack in a statement from Washington, “I extend the Australian's Government's deepest sympathies over the incident. I understand the British police are treating it as a terrorist incident until other information comes to hand. I can assure Australians that to this point no Australians have been identified.” Amongst the terror, moments of bravery and humanity have shone through. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, released a stoic statement on Twitter with the message Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism. <a href="https://t.co/SidIuIztvu">pic.twitter.com/SidIuIztvu</a> — Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorofLondon/status/844631399713947648">March 22, 2017</a></blockquote> Writing for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, Jonathan Freedland shared the story of a brave MP who had tried to save the officer who was stabbed, “On any other day, Tobias Ellwood might be seen as just another Tory MP. But then came word that he had given CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a policeman who lay wounded – and with it a reminder that the MP, a former army officer, had lost a brother in the Bali bombings of 2002.” The attack comes on the one year anniversary of last year’s terror attack in Brussels, where suicide bombers killed more than 30 people at an airport and metro station. Our deepest sympathies go to those affected. Video credit: Facebook/Aaron Tsang via Storyful Hero image Credit: Twitter/James West via Storyful

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10 people arrested over suspected terror plot at Rio Olympics

Brazilian police have reportedly arrested 10 people suspected of planning a terror attack during this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Two more suspects are still on the run. All 10 suspects are of Brazilian nationality, but all have pledged their allegiance to the so-called Islamic State terror group on social media. Despite discussing the use of weapons and guerrilla warfare on the unsuspecting public, Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes claims the group were “complete amateurs and ill-prepared”. “A few days ago they said they should start practicing martial arts, for example.” None of the accused have actually travelled to Syria or Iraq, where ISIL is based, but several had been attempting to secure funds for their planned attacks. The group was caught after one of the suspects emailed a store in Paraguay, trying to purchase an AK-47 assault rifle. The communication was intercepted by police, who seized computers and phones but no weapons. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/06/zika-vaccine-tests-a-major-success/">Zika vaccine tests a major success</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/05/experts-warn-postpone-or-move-rio-olympics-to-prevent-zika-catastrophe/">Postpone or move Rio Olympics to prevent Zika catastrophe, warn experts</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/04/olympic-flame-officially-lit-for-rio-games/">Olympic flame officially lit for Rio games</a>

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Christchurch attack victims' families reflect on tragedy five years on

9/11 victim’s remains identified nearly 23 years after terror attack

News of Bali bomb-maker's sentence cut short sparks fury

Investigations continue into hospital terror explosion

Close up: World War Z frames the terror of ‘loss of self’ and the threat of a mass pandemic

London terror attack: Man shot dead after stabbing rampage

Expert weighs in: In this new world of bushfire terror, I question whether I want to have kids

Second victim in London Bridge attack named

Four injured after attempted terror attack in New York

BREAKING: Several people killed after truck plows into cyclists in New York

Ariana Grande’s touching offer to families of Manchester attack victims

World lights up to support Manchester

Queen responds to Manchester terror attack

William, Kate and Harry join victims at a Westminster terror attack service

Queen's touching statement following London attack

UK terror attack brings London to its knees

10 people arrested over suspected terror plot at Rio Olympics

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Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

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Keep up to date

Search

Christchurch attack victims' families reflect on tragedy five years on

9/11 victim’s remains identified nearly 23 years after terror attack

News of Bali bomb-maker's sentence cut short sparks fury

Investigations continue into hospital terror explosion

Close up: World War Z frames the terror of ‘loss of self’ and the threat of a mass pandemic

London terror attack: Man shot dead after stabbing rampage

Expert weighs in: In this new world of bushfire terror, I question whether I want to have kids

Second victim in London Bridge attack named

Four injured after attempted terror attack in New York

BREAKING: Several people killed after truck plows into cyclists in New York

Ariana Grande’s touching offer to families of Manchester attack victims

World lights up to support Manchester

Queen responds to Manchester terror attack

William, Kate and Harry join victims at a Westminster terror attack service

Queen's touching statement following London attack

UK terror attack brings London to its knees

10 people arrested over suspected terror plot at Rio Olympics

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