Forbury Gardens terror attack: what has happened since 2020

Khairi Saadallah entered Forbury Gardens with a knife and fatally stabbed three friends enjoying a warm summer’s day.

Their names were James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails.

The Libyan national also attacked Nishit Nisudan, Patrick Edwards and Stephen Young.

Two years on, the shock and horror of that day has not gone away.

READ MORE: Ceremony to remember Forbury victims to take place 

However, since this fateful afternoon, a lot has happened in the past 12 months. Here is a reminder of the events from the past year. 

On June 20, 2021, the trio of victims were remembered at a moving memorial service in Forbury Gardens.

A crowd of hundreds of family members, friends, and community figures gathered to listen to the victims’ loved ones speak lovingly of James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails.

A flower-laying procession at the park’s bandstand also took place shortly afterwards.

In September 2021, the four police officers who chased down Khairi Saadallah minutes after his knife rampage were honoured with a Thames Valley Police Federation Bravery Award.

The heroic efforts of the quartet -- PC James Packman, Sgt Iain Watkinson, PC Liam Steele and PC Liam King -- were finally recognised more than a year on from the attack.

READ MORE: Crowdfunder launched for permanent memorial to terror victims

They were able to prevent further fatalities after PC James Packman, who was off duty when the attack unfolded, alerted his colleagues to Saadallah’s whereabouts.

After the attacker ran off, PC Packman kept his eyes on him while calling the police to alert them of the incident.

His instructions allowed nearby officers Sgt Iain Watkinson, PC Liam Steele and PC Liam King to make their way by car to the top of Friar Street where they saw Saadallah running towards them.

Despite not knowing if he was armed, the officers got out of their cars and rugby tackled him to the floor, restraining him and arresting him.

The foursome were also named local heroes at Reading’s Pride of Reading award in December 2021.

In October 2021, Khairi Saadallah’s appeal to reduce his prison sentence was refused.

The terrorist was handed a whole-life sentence for three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder in January 2021.

However, he launched an appeal in the hope his sentence would be reduced to a minimum of 30 years instead.

READ MORE: Timeline of how terror attack unfolded

But Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett threw out the appeal and denied Saadallah’s original sentence was “wrong” or “excessive”.

Reacting to the decision, the families of the three victims said in a joint statement: “We are pleased that the Court of Appeal has upheld the whole life sentence imposed on Saadallah, anything less would be a disgrace.

“While nothing can bring back James, David and Joseph it gives us some comfort to know that Saadallah will spend the whole of the rest of his life behind bars and that the public will be protected from this dangerous man.

“The loss of James, Joseph and David has left a vast hole in all of our lives and not a day goes by that we don’t miss them tremendously.”