THE terrorist who brutally murdered three men in Reading's Forbury Gardens and injured three others has today been sentenced.

Khairi Saadallah has been handed a whole life sentence for the triple murder of James Furlong, aged 36, David Wails, aged 49, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, aged 39, during the meticulously planned knife attack on June 20.

The 26-year-old of Basingstoke Road, Reading, also attacked three other men Stephen Young, 51, Patrick Edwards, 29, and Nishit Nisudan, 34.

ALSO READ: Forbury Gardens terror attacker sentenced for triple murder

Superintendent Nick John, local area policing commander for Reading, said: “Whatever the outcome of today’s sentencing hearing, nothing will bring back James, David and Joe to those who loved them. Our thoughts remain with them during this incredibly traumatic process

“Saadallah’s actions on that day caused utter devastation to so many lives. His crimes were unspeakably violent and resulted in the deaths of three men who were simply out spending a summer’s evening in a place where they should have been safe. He also seriously injured three other men.

“I also know how much of an impact these attacks had on the town of Reading, and the surrounding area. No one expects the place where they live to be the scene of such a brutal crime, but for Reading, this was the case in June.

“These tragic events will live long in the memory for people in this town, but I am so proud of the way people have come together, supported each other and the community spirit shown ever since.

“Saadallah set out that day to incite fear and to divide people. Everyone in Reading has made sure that he has failed.

“Because of Saadallah’s callous and violent actions, three innocent men lost their lives. Reading will never forget them. They will forever be a part of our town.”

ALSO READ: Timeline: How the Reading park knife attack unfolded

Detective chief superintendent Kath Barnes, QPM, head of CTPSE, said Saadallah is a 'committed jihadist' and 'planned this attack in meticulous detail'.

She said: "The men he killed were not just murdered, they were executed at such a speed, they had very little chance to react or defend themselves.

“The horrors of this incident took just a single minute to unfold. It took him less than 10 seconds to kill three innocent men, and he then went on to attack and tried to kill another three men before running off towards the town centre.

“In that tiny timeframe, he changed the lives of all those involved forever."

Reading Chronicle:

Detective chief superintendent Kath Barnes makes a statement outside the Old Bailey, London. Pic: PA/Kirsty O'Connor

The Detective chief superintendent also paid tribute to the people who assissted with giving first aid in Forbury Gardens that day in such 'horrendous' circumstances.

She also paid tribute to the families of the victims and survivors for their 'unwavering support' throughout the investigation.

ALSO READ: Remembering the victims of Forbury Gardens horror attack as killer is sentenced

Jenny Hopkins, from the Crown Prosecution Service, added: “Khairi Saadallah carried out a brutal, pre-planned attack on groups of friends enjoying an evening in the park where they would have felt completely safe.

“As such, we were not prepared to accept his guilty pleas without a full acceptance of his motives to ensure the true nature of his actions were exposed, and the sentence reflected the seriousness of his actions and the level of danger he poses to the public.

“I would like to pay great tribute to the families of James, Joseph and David. They have suffered the most unimaginable loss and have conducted themselves with the utmost dignity throughout”.