AS THE town comes to terms with the recent tragic events, the head of Counter Terrorism (CT) policing has praised the heroic efforts of emergency servies and the solidarity of Reading.
Neil Basu, head of CT, described Saturday's events as "horrifying".
He said: "Once again families are grieving and a community is in mourning.
"For this to have happened after all we have gone through with coronavirus is especially devastating.
"But sadly, as one disease retreats, we need to stop another re-emerging."
He explained that the investigation was moving quickly, and that teams are doing all they can to ensure justice is done for the victims and their loved ones.
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"Saturday’s events can leave us feeling helpless," he added.
"But you can play your part to protect yourself and others from the scourge of terrorism.
"As we begin to return to normal, and public places become more crowded, we must be vigilant to the ongoing threat.
"If you see any suspicious activity, don’t hesitate to ACT – report it.
"You can do that online, in confidence, via our Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) website at gov.uk/ACT.
"Please do not worry you may be wasting our time. We would much rather hear from you than miss an opportunity to step in before it’s too late."
Mr Basu said people can learn what suspicious behaviour looks like by doing CT Policing’s online course.
He said it takes 45 minutes to complete the course and be in a stronger position to help save lives.
"Over half a million people have already taken part and I thank you all," he said.
"If you’re at work and you want more help to protect your colleagues and customers you can download our ACT app.
"There is also lots of free business advice from us online."
He ended the statement by paying tribute to the heroes of Saturday, adding: "While what happened in Reading on Saturday night was horrific, I am proud of the heroes who rushed forward to help.
"I know these will be life changing events for you too, but your actions were an example to us all to step forward and play our part."
He concluded: "Terrorists aim to divide and break society through fear. We can all help to stop them by working together."
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