#American from Philadelphia cop family dead in UK ‘terror-related’ stabbings
“#American from Philadelphia cop family dead in UK ‘terror-related’ stabbings”
June 22, 2020 | 10:02am
Joe Ritchie-Bennett — who moved to England about 15 years ago — was killed Saturday as a crazed knifeman suddenly attacked picnickers in a park in Reading.
“I absolutely love my son with all of my heart and all of my soul,” his father, retired chief inspector Robert Ritchie, told The Philadelphia Inquirer of the 39-year-old pharmaceutical company employee.
“We’re mourning, and we’re trying to decide what we’re going to do,” he said, with the UK “3,500 miles away” and “still in lockdown.”
Ritchie-Bennett’s mother is a retired police officer, and his brother, also Robert Ritchie, is a 24-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department and the city’s 7th District Police Captain.
The captain, whose wife is also a cop, said his brother was fatally stabbed in his neck and armpits.
“We used to play together every day. We rode bikes together every day. Our family is heartbroken and beside ourselves,” he said. “He did not deserve to go out like this,” he said.
He added, “No alleged act of terror will ever take away my brother, his memory, or the American spirit. That, no one can take away.”
Ritchie-Bennett had lost his husband of eight years, Ian Bennett, to colon cancer in 2014, according to friends.
“And now they’re together, which is not really good for any of us down here,” Ritchie-Bennett’s best friend since fourth grade, Danielle Gayda, 39, told the Inquirer.
“But I guess I’m happy for them that they’re back together.”
British police declared Saturday’s attack a “terror-related” incident and arrested Khairi Saadallah, a 25-year-old refugee from Libya who had just been released from prison, according to reports.
The other identified victim was a teacher, James Furlong, while the third person killed had yet to be identified Monday morning. Three others were taken to a hospital in critical condition, officials have said.
Britain’s official terrorism threat level remains at “substantial” after the attack.
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