Joe Ritchie-Bennett has been named as the second victim of the stabbings
An American man is the second victim of the Reading stabbings to be named.
Joe Ritchie-Bennett had lived in the UK for 15 years, his father confirmed to US TV network CBS. His friend James Furlong and one other person also died.
Meanwhile, police continue to question the suspect in Saturday’s attack, Khairi Saadallah, who has been arrested under the Terrorism Act.
Sources told the BBC he was originally from Libya and came to the attention of MI5 in 2019.
A two-minute silence was held at 10:00 BST for the three victims.
Robert Ritchie told CBS the family was “heartbroken” and described his 39-year-old son, who was originally from Philadelphia, as “brilliant and loving”.
US ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson confirmed that an American citizen was killed and condemned the attack.
He said: “I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those killed. To our great sorrow, this includes an American citizen. Our thoughts are with all those affected.”
Reading Borough Council leader Jason Brock said the town was “an incredibly strong community” where “people will come together and they won’t allow themselves to be divided”.
Mr Furlong, 36, was a teacher and head of history, government and politics at The Holt School in Wokingham.
His parents Gary and Janet described their son as “beautiful, intelligent, honest and fun”.
“He was the best son, brother, uncle and partner you could wish for. We are thankful for the memories he gave us all,” they said in a statement. “We will never forget him and he will live in our hearts forever.”
More than 100 students, some holding hands, gathered at the gates as a bell rang out to mark the start of the silence at the school where Mr Furlong taught, while a flag in the courtyard was lowered to half-mast.
One former pupil, Molly Collins, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he was a “passionate and enthusiastic” teacher who dedicated extra time to helping students progress.
“I wouldn’t have gone to university, I don’t think, had I not spoken about it with him. He just really took the time to support me and make me more confident,” she said.
In an open letter, former pupils and parents have asked for the school’s humanities block to be renamed in Mr Furlong’s memory.
Katya Beaver, 24, who was taught by Mr Furlong in his hometown of Liverpool, described him as a friend as well as a teacher. “He let us call him Jimmy,” she said.
Current pupils have also expressed their sadness at the news.
Sophie McEwan wrote on Instagram that Mr Furlong was “an inspirational teacher, [who] genuinely cared for all of us students”.
While Ella Banbury, 17, said: “He was just a really kind teacher. You would always see him smile – there wouldn’t be a time where you wouldn’t see him smiling.
“He wasn’t just there to teach the subject, he wanted to make sure everyone was OK.”(BBC)
