LA CATORCENA ES ALGO MÁGICO

Antonio Parra

Yo te di una espada(I gave you a sword). Gracias por eso, Señor. The word and the sword. Palabras y espadas y en ese empeño seguimos lansquenetes de la palabra retornando al Alma Mater. Vientos de profecía. Entierrate grano. Mañana serás espiga. El viento de la historia a veces huracán otras brisa pasa página ¿Los ves? En un pocillo les estás dando de comer. Cuando ellos van tú ya regresas. Ponen el grito en el cielo. Nietos de los fariseos se rasgan la camisa, hacen trizas las filacterias. Se proclaman demócratas y abanderados del contraste de pareceres pero la fortuna te guarde de pisarles un callo. Dices que recurres a la descalificación y el insulto cuando son precisamente ellos que carecen del sentido del humor los que te están insultando.

Otros porque les cantas las verdades del Barquero y tú se las dices al lucero del alba, sin ir más lejos al propio Fraga cuando te vedó prohibir sobre Gibraltar están dispuestos a tirar de navaja. O lo que sea. Insidiosos e instalados. Bueyes duendos de ojos romos más falsos que los denarios de Judas que sirven, están sirviendo, para comprar campos de Haceldama. Don Tarariri que te vi ese que gusta de enfocar el problema vasco y el catalán a su manera, ese don Cómodo de la triste figura y que pluma en ristre la moja no en tinta sino en vesania mejor estaba vendiendo libros en Moyano porque escribir no es lo suyo. Se cree Shakespeare o Dickens pero no es Zola ni Flaubert ni Cervantes ni Palacio Valdés. Es sólo la hermana San Sulpicio. Corniveleto ya digo y mucha leña por la cabeza. Le dicen el buey suelto y es un manso. Sus derrotes son peligrosos. ¿Qué dijo? Dijo:

- Ha blasfemado. Es un energúmeno. ¿Por qué? Por defender la unidad de España.

·         Yo voy a lo mío.

·         Ellos a lo suyo. Y nosotros a lo nuestro.

·         Son los de la estirpe tornadiza. Mala raza y peor baba. Se entienden con el bereber bajo cuerda, pero con sus carros de combate arrasan Gaza; pasan mensajes a los gudaris asesinos, sufragan el convite de catalanas vendettas de la Campana de Huesca y tú, Verum, que siempre viste crecer la hierba, tiras de la manta y les coges en renuncio, sus improperios se escuchan en San Pedro Abanto, pasada la Fuencisla.

·         ¿Dónde estaba el ventorro?

·         Allí mismo. Donde invocábamos a Fray Jarro cuando éramos guajes y después de la novena entrábamos a tomar unos chatos y allí encontrábamos al Tío Loco con su mandil verde a rayas y cara de palo. En ese lugar bajo la parra que da sombra nos “mojábamos” a gusto viendo nadar a los peces del río creo que fui feliz si es que la felicidad existe en este perro mundo.

·         Pues había un letrero que a mí me hizo mucha gracia: más vale aquí dentro mojarse que enfrente ahogarse. Y enfrente pasaba el Eresma. No es que llevase mucha corriente pero sí la suficiente para dar la última aguadilla y máxime estando pedo.

·         Mucho os gusta el traguillo a los de Segovia.

·         Sanguis Christi inébriame. Sangre de Cristo. Laus tibi Deo que hace un mes que no te veo.

·         ¿Y el corpus?

·         Eso es otra historia. El Corpus es un monasterio de Claras donde ocurrió el milagro de la Catorcena. Allí estaba la sinagoga y allí fue el sacristán de San Facundo a entenderse con el rabí y le vendió a Cristo por treinta maravedíes de moneda forera.

·         Volver a empezar. Estamos en las mismas.

·         Psé. Bueno pues echaron la hostia a un caldero de aceite hirviendo en son de mofa y de cachondeo sacrílega tenida. Al freír será el reír y algunos se les heló en plena boca la carcajada. Como era Jueves Santo querían hacer torrijas pero de repente entre el espanto de los presentes la sagrada forma empezó a subir y subir hasta el techo, abrió un boquete en la bóveda y cruzando los cielos las torres los puentes y los acueductos de mi querida ciudad fue a descender por la Costanilla de los Desamparados hasta el convento de Santa Cruz. En una celda estaban sacramentando a un novicio dominico. La hostia se posó sobre los labios del moribundo y le sirvió de viático y tanto le sirvió que a los pocos días aquel enfermito desahuciado estaba como una rosa escribiendo latines y haciendo silogismos.

·         No me venga usted con historias morunas, Verumtamen. El convento de Santa Cruz era el mismo del que fue prior Torquemada. Deberían quemarlo.

·         Tiene un retablo muy bonito y allí han levantando una universidad privada. Cela fue el testaferro pero los dineros eran de la mafia. La misma que reconvierte nuestras viejas basílicas en discotecas, los conventos en campus y asfalta la costa al grito de “I ll buy you out” y con una buena mentalidad para los negocios. Jesús Gil cabalga de nuevo. Tiene muchos émulos el uxamense que así se llamaba en la edad media a los de Burgo de Osma y donde como en Hervás judíos los más.

·         A este paso las fiestas de Catorcena – el milagro del sacristán traidor y de la hostia por los aires – habrán de ser suprimidas por políticamente incorrectas. Incitan al odio étnico.

·         Ni mucho menos. Exalta el misterio de la Eucaristía. Cristo se quedó a morar con nosotros. ¿Eso les molesta?

·         No sé pero lo que sí está claro es que harán lo posible por quitarla. Debíamos organizar una rogativa o un acto de desagravio.

·         Ah como recuerdo aquellas verbenas, los bailes de candil bajo los almeces de la Plaza de Muerte y Vida o en los Corrales del Cristo del Mercado. La fiesta iba por barrios y a cada parroquia le tocaba organizarla una vez cada dos septenados. O plazo para renovar las células. A mi que soy bautizado en San Millán me tocó una vez llevar los ciriales. Era un niño cumplidos los catorce. Cuando volvió a pasar la ronda y el pasacalles tachin tacha chundara rá abandonaba la mocedad y emprendía la madurez. Estas fiestas eran el reloj biológico del pulso milenario de una ciudad que siempre se caracterizó por poner los paños al púlpito en loor a Jesús Sacramentado y aquí a la tarasca el Dia de la Minerva que es la octava del corpus la molemos a palos.

·         Bueno pues de hoy en un año.

·         Eso. Corpus Christi salva me. Ya sabes la bella oración que compuso san Ignacio verdaderamente un santo eucarístico para después de comulgar. Y sanguis Christi inébriame. Emborráchame con tu sangre, Señor. Pues la verdad que yo pecador de mí la tomé demasiado ad pedem literae. Y a lo largo de mi existencia he atrapado algunas curdas. No me las doy de santo.

·         ¿Conoces la parábola del santo bebedor?

·         No. Ni falta que hace.

·         Y tanto pero quod scripsi scripsi que dijo don Poncio Pilatos. Aquí de lo que se trata es de borrar la memoria o manipularla.

·         Ya.

No hay quien pueda con ellos. Son como gorriones o como trapenses disipados duro cacarear en el coro y picotear en el refectorio. Luego cencerrear por la Misa de Gallo. Han pasado dos generaciones. Seis papas descendieron al sepulcro. La estema de los años arrancó unos cabellos de tu frente y apenas ya te puedes peinar a raya. Eres ya talludito y troncal, la curva de la felicidad hasta convertirse en la peligrosa protuberancia de la ptosis, doble barbilla y tres papadas, enuncian tu llegada a la linde del carcamal por más que tu espíritu se proclame joven talmente como el de un misacantano.

Ibas para canónigo y mira tú cómo todos estos te bieldan tu parva. Pero poco más. Te dieron una espada y quince talentos. ¿Los has empleado como dios manda? No sé, Señor. Aquí llego con mi barba cana y mi barriga. Algo atolondrado y gozoso pero impasible el ademán. Trato de guardar tus mandamientos. Te sigo en la distancia.

Cuarenta y tantos años después y la vida sigue igual. Regreso a mi Alma Mater. La puerta verde está cerrada pero por encima del dintel hay un letrero en mármol gris y con caracteres desleídos que dice: “En esta Casa de la Compañía vivió el P. Lainez”. Era el hombre de confianza del Padre General que no se fiaba mucho de Ribadeneira el gallego que le hacía momos por detrás.

-Había otro en el grupo de los primeros discípulos de San Ignacio: Polanco.

-A ese que ni mentarlo. ¿Vale?

El gran hastial de piedra gris. Por entre las socarrenas del muro de sillares alzan su melena desangelada matas de parietaria y el cardenillo se ceba sobre los tres bolinches que orlan la base y los lados del triangulo de la fachada. Se trata de una iglesia jesuítica no hay más que verla. Tan angular y biselada verdadera roca de Israel. Todas imitan al Giesú de Roma en una de cuyas capillas nuestro padre general decía misas de tres horas y arrobadizo pues Dios le concediera el don de lágrimas se anegaba en llanto y en devoción. ¿Por qué lloras, Ignacio? ¿Por los pecados de la vida pasada: caballero de Olmedo y por cortejar en Arévalo a la reina Germana? No. Lloro porque en este cuerpo pecador se ha manifestado la gracia. Cristo será el campeón. Y este mensaje de esperanza que plasma en piedra el monumento del Jesús romano transmigra a todos los templos que edificara la Orden desde su creación. La acrotera impresionante promontorio tiene una disposición triangular en función de la espadaña que señala la recoleta plaza tiene una disposición triangular en función de la cruz de la espadaña - estilo herreriano neto y granito escurialense- que señala el cielo de la recoleta Plaza del Seminario que desemboca a través de un callejón frío y batido por todos los vientos en la de los Espejos. Más allá la de San Martín que tiene delante del ábside un impresionante rincón medieval.

Segovia ciudad mística y guerrera. Al fondo de la exedra se alza la estatua del Comunero Bravo dando sombra al escaparate de la tienda de Blas Carpintero el alfayate que me cosió la primer sotana. Me retrotraigo a las tardes solaneras del otoño: becas rojas y esclavinas al viento y un chusco bajo la hopalanda que teníamos hambre y cuando nos daban ganas de comer le pedíamos pan en los paseos a uno que llamaban Pénjamo y en lo alto la cabeza el bonete terceronado o juniorado según el curso académico del alumno. Este gorro en determinadas testas era bisunto. ¿Y tú qué me das, Nicolás? Te echarán del seminario y te darán la carta de despido en el trabajo pues no eres archivero colegiado ni tienes oposiciones ganadas ¡Siempre igual! Mucha democracia y muchos derechos humanos para los de fuera naturalmente pero laboralmente he sido siempre un apestado. ¡Dios las que me hicieron pasar! Siempre me he sentido un ciudadano de segunda mano.

En este país de carnés lo que importa es tener un título. Es clasista como la madre que lo parió. Se iba a estudiar para ser no para saber y mi equivocación máxima que yo me comía los libros con este segundo propósito teniendo en cuenta de que la sangre si no entra con sangre al mismo sirve de purificación. Aprendíamos música coral y canciones viejas al compás de compasillo. No sé si éramos felices pero nos enseñaban el concepto de la disciplina desde un primer momento. El bonete se alzaba a compás manos arriba cuando nos cruzábamos con algún sacerdote. Los canónigos que acompañaban al deán don Fernando Revuelta o el cura de Santa Eulalia que deambulaba solo y era algo zambo quiero decir que andaba con los pies para adentro.

·         Aparca aquí.

·         No me da la gana. Buena la hiciste. Llenaste el tanque de diesel con gasolina y el auto se te quedó en medio de la autopista. Has jodido el coche.

·         De todas formas purgamos el motor y pude llegar a mi pueblo. Cuando vi desde Juarrillos la excelsa mole de la “aceitera” que así llamamos a la torre de la catedral mi alma se iluminó. Al ver esta escalera del cielo. La piedra se hace llama.

·         El cura de Santa Eulalia (y no me entretengas) se llamaba don Benito y caminaba escoltado por su madre, una tía y el ama que era una moza de buenas partes a la cual los coadjutores miraban de reojo y más de un cura la haría un favor por soñar que no quede ¿De pensamiento también se peca? Pues sí parece que sí.

El ama de llaves del cura de Santa Eulalia se llamaba Cirila y unos carnavales la cantaron la parrala bajo el alfeizar de su ventana. Sin embargo, pelillos a la mar. Recordemos que la iglesia siempre fue tolerante con todas estas flaquezas de la condición humana. Todos estos pensamientos se arremolinan tarde de julio polvareda del tiempo cuando salí a dar un paseo vera de ailantos y bajo la sombra relamida de una sofora bastante escuálida que adorna mi jardín. La mujer me arrancó una zarzamora pretextando ser un arto pero a mí me pone muy nervioso esto de que me arranquen mis flores.

Que en España por dicho de eso nadie puede decir que este cura no es mi padre. Había llegado hasta mi alma mater en una de las muchas peregrinaciones que dan impulso a mis días. No sabía qué hacer en mi urbanización. Tengo la patria dolorida y el alma en vilo. Volvamos a Segovia, me dije.

En verdad toda mi existencia ha sido un largo retornar hacia el pueblo en qué nací pero no me llevaba ningún propósito ni hoja de ruta. Sólo los mal trenzados recuerdos y el deseo del vino. No había perdido la fe en mi dios pero sí en cuanto me rodeaba. El presente y el ayer en mi memoria factual juegan al escondite. Por ejemplo, ahora estoy en Brennen Steinen pero quería retornar a Bridgehead. Más tarde en la oficina sentí el taedium vitae pero sigo teniendo ese amor al estudio, ese entusiasmo por la verdad y por todo lo bello, bueno y santo del mundo que se me inculcó en estas aulas complutenses. Felices se apiadan den la memoria los Hijos de San Ignacio. Unos recuerdos fueron buenos. Otros, malos. A ellos les debo mi vida y mi muerte. El guaje es “ansí”. Para lo bueno y para lo malo. Per intellectum ad Deum. No hay más cáscaras. Para mí Dios está encerrado en las páginas de un libro.

Han puesto tras las cristaleras una verja de hierro verde que disuade a los del botellón y un poco más tarde me transfiguro al adolescente que fui. Al curilla retorno que fui. Mediados de los cincuenta cuando el día de San Frutos el sastre carpintero me trajo la primera sotana. La mía me aguardaba en un banco de madera de los tránsitos. Ponerme aquella prenda por primera vez me hizo mucha ilusión creo que no dormí aquella noche y me tiré de un brinco ilusionado al primer toque de campana. Yo me sentía alguien importante. Crecí en medio de una sociedad que consideraba a los obispos y a los generales como el Súmmum bonum. Todo un ideal de vida: o la milicia o la cruz.

Aquella sotana recién confeccionada por Blas Carpintero, aquel sastre judío que tenía una gran nariz un sello de oro y una manera de tocar que no te molestaba cuando te tomaba medidas por la pernera apunta nene y una mujer gordísima que abultaba por tres de él no sé como se las apañarían en la cama, me puso en el camino de las estrellas. Per aspera ad astra. Un dicho muy cierto porque en aquel caserón del siglo XVII las pasé canutas. Me había propuesto ser santo. En el bolsique del guardapolvos llevaba un cuentapecados una especie de rosario que servía para contar las faltas o las transgresiones al Reglamento. O las jaculatorias que decías en voz baja por el camino. No resistir a la tentación de beber un vaso de agua cuando se tenía sed por ejemplo era una falta.

Por la Cuesta La Fuencisla bajo los alamos centenarios y cerca del convento de Santa domingo de bella y juvenil labra neogótica nos cruzábamos en aquellos deambulatorios de los jueves por el invierno con el arcipreste de Zamarramala. Parece que le estoy viendo algo miracielos tieso como un palo y morando por lejanías. Le hacíamos el hilo y bonetes arriba haciendo honor a las prescripciones del código de urbanidad eclesiástica que era libro de texto bajo el lema de ad educandos discípulos le saludamos desbocándonos. Algunas de estas prescripciones eran algo rancias pero otras me han servido para demostrar a muchos cafres mi buena crianza. Hoy este convento que yo conocí hospicio es una importante universidad de pago y de mucho tronío. Que Fr. Tomás de Torquemada fuese prior de este convento de dominicos y de que Domingo de soto fuese padre maestro de novicios ya es un tanto. Torquemada no tiene estatua. Domingo Soto, el martillo de herejes de Trento, sí. Pero la han decapitado varias veces. Se conocen que quieren mandarlo a la toza en efigie.

·         Una gamberrada.

·         Ni mucho menos, una judiada. En mi pueblo nos conocemos todos y aquí donde se dijo del judío la maula queda bastante memoria histórica. Así que juntos pero no revueltos. Cada uno en su casa y Dios en la de todos. ¿Me entiendes?

·         No me digas más.

El bueno de don Jesús que debía de tener lo menos ochenta años pero que se movía con el garbo de un misacantano se fatigaba algo y acostumbraba a descansar en el berrueco que le sirvió de almohada a sus beatas posaderas a san Juan de la Cruz cuando subía a confesar a la Santa en el convento de San José justo por detrás de los Jardinillos de San Roque. Y ésta decía porque les criticaban y había murmuraciones en la ciudad por tan largo tiempo en el confesionario: “ De Segovia ni el polvo de los zapatos” y se sacudía el calzado al abandonar la ciudad por la Puerta del Sol.

·         Buenas tardes tenga usted.

·         Vayan en paz de buen quiete los seminaristas.

El cura de Zamarramala hablaba bien y predicaba mejor. Tenía el mirar huido tras los lupos de concha y a veces apestaba a aguardiente que echaba para atrás pero no las cogía lloronas ni era hombre que tuviera mal vino. Sus cogorzas eran hieráticas y solemnes por lo general. No daba escándalos aunque algunas veces lo vieron acometer la subida a La Lastrilla haciendo eses. Creo que era de un pueblo que llaman San Pedro De Gaillos que guarda entre sus costumbres una danza ancestral ibera que llaman el paloteo. Como el tío Tocino.

·         ¡Cómo atacaba la caja aquel buen hombre! ¡Qué dedos!

·         ¿Y al Agapito Marazuela lo conociste?

·         Sí, precisamente bajo la sombra de un chaparro que había en la puerta del ventorro de San Pedro Abanto. Estaba tomándose un jarrillo con el padre de Julián un amigo mío.

·         Pues conociste al último juglar de Castilla la Vieja.

·         Ya lo creo

Tengo grabado el sonar limpio de la dulzaina mora en las mañanas claras de primeros de verano por las fiestas de San Pedro. La arrebolada. Era como un canto sagrado. Algo mágico como las fiestas de la Catorcena que nos arrebataron.

·         El buen tintorro no nos lo quitarán.

·         No sé que quieres que te diga. Esto está cambiando mucho y me parece que para mal.

Pues al querido don Jesús que todos los días se andaba veinte kilómetros asi estaba él delgado como un palo y derecho igual que un huso y se bebía media cantara le abultaba algo siempre debajo de los manteos. Era la botella. Cuando llegaba al Columba a tomar café con unos canónigos ya se había metido un litro entre pecho y espalda y en el viaje de regreso otro tanto. ¡Pobrecillo! Era un alcohólico. Más. Otro sombrerazo.

·         ¿Qué va a ser, señor arcipreste preguntaba el pincerna del Columba el que estaba en los reales de lo que fue iglesia del mismo nombre a la sombra de los arcos del Azoguejo.

·         Ponme un sol y sombra, hijo.

·         In vino veritas.

Pero ya digo el cura de Zamarramala era un borracho muy digno. Bajaba por la pendiente con la teja de cachemira en su sitio aunque a veces buscase la querencia de las tapias de la Casa de la Moneda para exonerar su vejiga. O lo otro que como dijo el otro el buen morapio te hará cagar y por eso diz que el Vega Sicilia cura todas las enfermedades al llevarse los malos humores para allá. Así y todo era la comidilla de toda la ciudad y en una ocasión cuando su empinar el codo fue a más el obispo don Daniel Llorente de Federico me acuerdo del nombre de mi obispo con el mismo orgullo con que algunos veteranos recuerdan el nombre del coronel de su regimiento cuando eran sorches le retiró las letras dimisorias. Suspensión a divinis y el bueno de don Jesús no podía decir misa ni consagrar a Dios. Se trataba de medidas cautelares que duraban menos de una cuaresma pues don Daniel que era recto pero de muy buen corazón siempre le amnistiaba llegada la Pascua de Flores. Tampoco habrá que echar en el olvido que don Jesús era un hombre muy caritativo. Todo lo daba. No vivía con manceba ni ama ni dios que lo fundó y durante los aciagos días de la guerra civil fue el pararrayos de muchos furores. A muchos rogelios les sacó de la cárcel o de la tapia del mismo paredón. ¿Creen que se lo agradecieron? Pues no. Vivimos en un país de rencores decía Unamuno. Era un cura muy servicial pero tenía ese defecto o esa debilidad por el traguillo. Y eso aquí no se perdona.

Su sombra se me aparece cuando doblo la esquina de la Plaza El Seminario. Es un fantasma eucarístico que me recuerda las catorcenas de aquellos días. Verbena y parranda y en la sacristía buen jerez rosquillas de palo y algún soplillos. Entonces al acabar de aquella terrible guerra los españoles éramos como más fraternos y bienquistos. Nos sentíamos perteneciendo a un grupo o dentro de un redil. Verdaderamente aquellas catorcenas de la solidaridad y del paloteo eran algo mágico. Me traen a la memoria tiempos de perdón. ¿Cómo se explica ese trastorno?

Yo me explico y yo me entiendo y dios me entiende.. Nos hemos vuelto adoradores de Baal. Y hemos cambiado de religión, hemos renegado de nuestra patria, de nuestros valores, de nuestra fe, del amor al hermano y allí donde antes se leía Caridad hemos puesto filantropía o solidaridad. Estamos instalados en la cultura de la queja y en el sofá de don Comodón. Y ahí nos las den todas. Y nos las van a dar y en un carrillo no tardando mucho. Hemos sacado a Jesús del sagrario como a un príncipe destronado y en su lugar hemos puesto grandes carteles de palabras vacías: Derechos Humanos, Solidaridad, Memoria Histórica. La iglesia está vacía y el ara sin los huesos santos y los púlpitos mediáticos se nos han llenado de demagogos. a eso es lo que nos conduce reemplazar el dogma de la crucifixión por el supuesto contendible del holocausto. Y estos demócratas de pacotilla se cabrean y te lanzan anatemas cuando les sacas los colores y les coges en un renuncio. Si no haces nada por defender tu patria y tu nación entonces no tienes derecho a quejarte mamón de que te la invadan los forasteros aunque en Segovia ya digo todos nos conocemos y llamamos a las cosas por su nombre y sabemos por dónde van los tiros y de dónde viene la cosa.

Tarari que te vi. Continuará la historia. Por favor, no se sulfuren.

05/07/2006

EL ZURREO DE LA PALOMA

  ESCUCHO EL ZUREO DE LA PALOMA MIENTRAS SE ARRULLAN LOS PALOMOS Y LOS TERTULIANAS LARGAN Y GARLAN SUS ESPICHES. ¿gozas, vida? nada, pues entonces algo huele a podrido en Dinamarca a. la chica del autobús iba con un cartapacio en el autobús y dentro de los apuntes en un cuaderno como un marca paginas llevaba un condón. La vida no es seria no demasiado serio y ahí estaba el obispo Camino con su pectoral de arrastre barbilampiño que a mi me recordaba al gran inquisidor de Dostoyevski cuyo mensaje es apriorístico ni más ni menos que si cristo bajase a la tierra lo detendrían los obispos.

Yo no sabía mucho de los engaños del mundo pero me dejé engañar por aquellos clérigos con chafarinones de sopa en la sotana y los bonetes torcidos de la orden del domine Cabra arrastrando sus manteos y lobas por las calles congeladas camino del coro a cantar el oficio. Luego supe de los engaños del mundo y de las mentiras de las mujeres. Yo no era más que un hijo de la piedra que en el devenir de mis días me juntaría con las hijas del arroyo. Esta noche de San Martin acabamos de pasar la novena de las animas y medio pueblo anda borracho como en el cuadro de Grügel para festejar al santo del caballo blanco "Panonius" y la buena capa. Una buena capa todo lo tapa y un día es un dia, padres conscriptos, mercaderes que han vendido la patria. era san Martin un manipulario de la caballería romana que un dia se le apareció Cristo en forma de pobre y a la caridad toda Europa se consagra. Un manipularius era un soldado raso pero él llegó a general y luego lo hicieron obispo de las Galias. De mozo sabía utilizar el harpagon o gancho con que las acies disparaban contra las murallas y decía adelante y adsumus y al combate le seguían las mesnadas. Los pilorius haciendo uso de sus arcos lanzaban los dardos o tragula que portaban en la aljaba. detraes la infantería con la emsis o espada cortaban las gargantas, golas y golillas de enemigos. Bien podía san Martin un soldado de Cesar combatiendo con los aquitanos en la guerra de las Galias. Llevando el pecho constelado de medallas y de signa militaria. y como zapador abría zanjas et ad fodiendos puteos. No me lo tomen a mal, puteos no es puta en latin pero fodiendo es casi la misma cosa por la que todo la entendemos: excavar, meter la pala y sacar, porque fodere vale tanto como joder mocosuena mocosuenae. Np hay polisemia que valga que el latín es lengua expresiva. Pozxhivaete... Kak diela? Xarashó. Pero España es un solejar donde toman el sol los jubilatas. ¿Adonde vamos los licenciados de la existencia? A un banco del parque. Mejor a la taberna. Hay en Madrid buenas casas de conversación. Si te quedas quieto viene un guindilla y te manda a limpiar las cuadras de Augias. Tántalo habita entre nosotros y nuestras zozobras no tienen fin. Que de un tiempo acá andamos entre la cruz y el agua bendita y nos llaman carcas y meapilas. El Valle de los Caídos lo cerrarán y echarán a los frailes pero no los fusilarán. España es laica laica judaica. Una más de ZP? No gracias que hoy tengo el hígado un poco revuelto

BOLAS DEL MUNDO

La acrotera impresionante paramento tiene una disposición triangular en función de la cruz de la espadaña - estilo herreriano neto y granito escurialense- que señala el cielo de la recoleta Plaza del Seminario que desemboca a través de un callejón frío y batido por todos los vientos en la de los Espejos.

Más allá la de San Martín que tiene delante del ábside un impresionante rincón medieval. Segovia ciudad mística y guerrera.

Al fondo de la exedra se alza la estatua del comunero dando sombra al escaparate de la tienda de Blas Carpintero el alfayate que me cosió la primer sotana.

Me retrotraigo a las tardes solaneras del otoño: becas rojas y esclavinas al viento y un chusco bajo la hopalanda que teníamos hambre y cuando nos daban ganas de comer le pedíamos pan en los paseos a uno que llamaban Penjamo y en lo alto la cabeza el bonete terceronado o juniorado según el curso académico del alumno. Este gorro en determinadas testas era bisunto. ¿Y tú qué me das, Nicolás? Te echarán del seminario y te darán la carta de despido en el trabajo pues no eres archivero. En este país de carnés lo que importa es tener un título. Es clasista como la madre que lo parió.

Se iba a estudiar para ser no para saber y mi equivocación máxima fue que yo me comía los libros con este segundo propósito teniendo en cuenta de que la sangre si no entra con sangre al mismo sirve de purificación.

Aprendíamos música coral y canciones viejas al compás de compasillo.

No sé si éramos felices pero nos enseñaban el concepto de la disciplina desde un primer momento. El bonete se alzaba a compás manos arriba cuando nos cruzábamos con algun sacerdote. los canónigos que acompañaban al dean don Fernando Revuelta o el cura de Santa Eulalia que deambulaba solo y era algo zampo quiero decir que andaba con los pies para adentro.

Aparca aquí.

No me da la gana.

Buena la hiciste. llenaste el tanque de diesel con gasolina y el auto se te quedó en medio de la autopista.

El cura de Santa Eulalia se llamaba don Benito y caminaba escoltado por su madre, una tía y el ama que era una moza de buenas partes a la cual los coadjutores lascivos miraban de reojo y más de un cura la haría un favor por soñar que no quede ¿De pensamiento también se peca? Pues sí parece que sí. El ama de llaves del cura de Santa Eulalia se llamaba Cirila y unos carnavales la cantaron la parrala bajo el alfeizar de su ventana. Sin embargo, pelillos a la mar. Recordemos que la iglesia siempre fue tolerante con todas estas flaquezas de la condición humana.

Vida milenaria la del tejo

Crece una tejo en el Bierzo que tiene cuatro mil años de edad. Es el árbol de la muerte y de la eternidad. Antes de plantarse cipreses a las puertas de los cementerios (costumbre tomada del pueblo romano para el cual el culto a los muertos era un religión) se sembraba esta conífera de lento crecimiento.

Adornaban su entrada los tejos, solemnes, misteriosos, enhiestos. Una costumbre arraigada en Asturias donde vive un "texus baccata" milenario famoso por sus bayas que son tosigas. Es lo que dice el Dioscorides y corrobora otro gran entendido en hierbas el doctor Andrés Laguna medico del emperador y del papa Paulo III, quien a su vez escribió el Lazarillo de Tormes. Su sombra es más dañina que la del nogal. Ambos matan con sus sombra. Los Apócrifos aseveran que el árbol de cuyas ramas se ahorcó Judas era un texus baccata

pelayo neofito un nuevo soldado de xto

la iglesia cuenta con un nuevo cristiano fotos de la intima ceremonia en los tiempos de la peste y del morbo asiatico que llaman Coranvirus

TIEMBLA INGLATERRA NUEVO ATAQUE DE LA BESTIA. (magnifica información del Daily Mail)

Revealed: Reading terror attack victims were three friends as police continue to quiz suspect Khairi Saadallah - who was freed early from jail after judge reduced his sentence in March

• Scientist David Wails, pharmaceutical worker Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39, and teacher James Furlong, 36, all died
• Khairi Saadallah, 25, is accused of carrying out frenzied knife attack that killed three in Reading on Saturday
• Security guard revealed he saw the attacker being detained - including the moment he was rugby tackled 
• Saadallah, a Libyan refugee, is reported to have come to the UK to escape from 'Islamists' in his homeland 
• Minute's silence was held in Reading at 10am today, while students of Mr Furlong have been laying flowers 
• ** Do you know Khairi Saadallah? Please email: tips@dailymail.com ** 

By MARK DUELL and DANYAL HUSSAIN and JAMES FIELDING and VIVEK CHAUDHARY and JAMES ROBINSON FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 08:23 BST, 22 June 2020 | UPDATED: 17:03 BST, 22 June 2020

 
 
 
 
 
• e-mail
 

2.5kshares

The third victim of the Reading terror attack was today named as a senior scientist at a chemicals firm as it emerged Libyan suspect Khairi Saadallah was freed early from jail after a judge reduced his sentence in March.

David Wails was killed on Saturday evening at Forbury Gardens in Reading, along with two of his friends - 'brilliant and loving' pharmaceutical worker Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39, from Philadelphia in the US, who had been living in Britain for 15 years; and James Furlong, 36, a local history teacher.

Mr Wails was identified hours after it was revealed suspect Saadallah, 25, had his jail term for non-terror-related offences cut from 25 months and 20 days to 17 months and 20 days at the Court of Appeal in March

The sentencing reduction meant he was freed early from prison, and on Saturday night he allegedly went on the rampage in Reading, murdering three people. Two others who were injured remain in hospital and one has now been discharged, while police including counter-terrorism detectives continue to question Saadallah.

It comes amid fears among locals that it may have been a homophobic attack, with one saying: 'Two of the confirmed deaths are gay men. A friend told me the third is also a gay man. I knew one of them, who was an acquaintance. A homophobic attack can still be a terrorist incident.'

Detectives have not ruled out homophobia as a motive. Saadallah - who was jailed last year for offences including racially aggravated common assault, carrying a bladed article and assaulting an emergency worker - came to the attention of MI5 last year, after they suspected he was planning to travel to Syria for 'extremist reasons'. 

The 25-year-old, who lived a mile away from the scene and was said to enjoy smoking cannabis and drinking whisky, allegedly claimed to have fought both for and against Islamic State - although officials assessing him found he did not subscribe to any ideology or belief system and instead had mental health issues.

It raises further questions over the monitoring of suspects after they get out of prison. Laws brought in earlier this year ended the automatic early release from jail of terror offenders, after two attacks by men convicted of terror offences - in Streatham by Sudesh Amman in February and on London Bridge by Usman Khan last November. However, Saadallah did not fall under this category because he had not been convicted of any terror offences.

In Reading today, a minute's silence was held at 10am, while students of Mr Furlong, head of history at the Holt Community School in Wokingham, flocked to a church to remember him by lighting candles and laying flowers.

Meanwhile a Sainsbury's security guard has revealed how he saw the suspect get rugby tackled by a police officer in the park, adding that his hands were so covered in blood it looked like he had put them in 'a bucket of red paint'.

Another onlooker said he saw the man stab three men 'in the neck and under the arms' before turning around and running towards him. He and his group fled and the attacker then tried to stab another group sitting down.

Witness Lawrence Wort, 20, saw the attack from around 30ft away and said it appeared 'completely random'. The personal trainer said he heard the knifeman shout incoherently just moments before he lunged for his first victim.

He said: 'One lone person walked through, suddenly shouted some unintelligible words and went around a large group of around ten, trying to stab them. He stabbed three of them, severely in the neck, and under the arms.' 

'The man was carrying a 'massive knife... probably at least five inches minimum', Mr Wort said, and 'darted' between victims. Then he turned and started looking towards us and that's when I just started shouting 'run'.'  

It also emerged that Saadallah arrived in the UK from Libya as a tourist in 2012 and three years ago started dating a British woman who was 'very religious' and started going to church, eventually converting to Christianity. 

In other developments in the shocking terror attack which left Prime Minister Boris Johnson feeling 'sickened':

• Former counter-terror chief Sir Mark Rowley warned police and security services face a 'wicked problem' deciding which of the 40,000 people known to them could launch a terror attack;
• Home Secretary Priti Patel said it was important to 'prevent anything like this from happening again'; 
• The parents of James Furlong, a teacher and the first confirmed victim of the rampage, paid tribute to him;
• It emerged that Saadallah was released from HMP Bullingdon 17 days ago after less than half of his sentence;
• Sources say Saadallah required medication for post-traumatic stress disorder and a form of schizophrenia; 
• Anti-terror police believe that the suspect stopped taking his medication in the run-up to the knife rampage;
• His cousin said Saadallah fled Libya to escape Islamists before later converting to Christianity in Britain;
• He was flagged to MI5 as potentially wanting to travel to Syria for ISIS, but he was dismissed him as a threat.

Court documents show Saadallah had a history of mental health issues, debt and homelessness. He also had six previous convictions for 11 crimes between June 2015 and January last year.  

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The third victim of the Reading terror attack was today named as David Wails (above), a senior scientist at a chemicals firm

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Joe Ritchie-Bennett (left), 39, from Philadelphia in the US, had been sitting in Forbury Gardens in Reading with his friends, including fellow victim James Furlong (right), 36, when they were attacked

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Khairi Saadallah, 25, has been accused of carrying out the knife rampage in Reading on Saturday that left three people dead. He is pictured here smoking a cannabis joint

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One onlooker, Lawrence Wort (in blue), said he saw the man stab three men 'in the neck and under the arms' before turning around and running towards him. He and his group fled and the attacker then tried to stab another group sitting down. Two of the three victims, Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39, and James Furlong, 36, are also pictured above (in green)

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Mr Ritchie-Bennett (left) is pictured with his late husband Ian Bennett (right), whom he married in England in November 2006. Mr Bennett died in December 2014 aged 32 after a short battle with colon cancer

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Speaking at Forbury Gardens in Reading today, Home Secretary Priti Patel said it was important to 'prevent anything like this from happening again'

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Colleagues and pupils of victim James Furlong take part in a silence at his school, the Holt School, in Wokingham today

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Wokingham Town Mayor Tony Lack and wife Claire light a candle in St Paul's Parish Church, Wokingham, for Mr Furlong today

Saadallah was originally jailed for 25 months and 20 days in October for a string of crimes and the sentence was later reduced, a Court of Appeal judgment shows. Offences included racially aggravated assault, knife offences and criminal damage.

In November 2018 he called a police officer a 'slave' and spat in her face while being detained under the Mental Health Act after reports he was attempting suicide.

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The police officer described the act as 'being the vilest thing she had been subjected to as a police officer', according to the court documents.

He admitted possessing a bladed article and criminal damage after being found 'apparently very drunk' by police officers in December 2018 with a butter knife in his waistband, claiming he was 'out for revenge', the judgment said, having 'been attacked' and left with a head injury that required stitches. 

How Khairi Saadallah had a history of mental health issues and homelessness

Mr Justice Goss was among the Court of Appeal judges who reduced his sentence

Reading terror suspect Khairi Saadallah had a history of mental health issues, debt and homelessness, court documents show. 

Saadallah was jailed for 25 months and 20 days in October for various non-terror-related offences dating back to November 2018.

The offences included racially aggravated common assault - after he called a police officer a 'slave' and spat in her face - carrying a bladed article and assaulting an emergency worker.

A month earlier in September 2019 he was jailed for 10 weeks after he admitted spitting at District Judge Sophie Toms as she sentenced him at Reading Magistrates' Court in March for two previous convictions.

In January 2019 he was also involved in an altercation with a security guard, during which he struck the man in the face with his belt, court documents show.

He was convicted of affray and assault by beating an emergency worker, and sentenced to seven months' imprisonment in October.

Security guard Sydney McDonald, 65, said yesterday that he had been assaulted by the suspect last year when he stopped him from shoplifting from the Sainsbury's store where he works in Friar Street in Reading town centre.

Mr McDonald said he recognised the man from when he was attacked with the belt by a man brandishing a broken wine bottle.

Saadallah, who had lived at Basingstoke Road in Reading, had his overall sentence reduced to 17 months and 20 days' imprisonment through the Court of Appeal in March this year.

One of the appeal judges who gave the judgment, Mr Justice Goss, noted Saadallah's various mental health issues in reducing the sentence.

Court documents showed he had a history of debt and homelessness, and previously suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and a personality disorder.

In that judgment, Mr Justice Goss said the judge in his case had 'observed that numerous outside agencies had attempted to help him'.

Saadallah was released from prison earlier this month, it is understood, and the Covid-19 pandemic played no part in the decision to free him. He left HMP Bullingdon, Oxfordshire, 17 days ago after serving less than half of his sentence.

While in custody he defaced a copy of the police code of practice 'with his own excrement'.In January 2019 he was also involved in an altercation with a security guard, during which he struck the man in the face with his belt, court documents show.

He was convicted of affray and assault by beating an emergency worker.

Security guard Sydney McDonald, 65, said he was assaulted by the suspect last year when he stopped him from shoplifting from the Sainsbury's store where he works in Friar Street in Reading town centre.

Mr McDonald said he recognised him from when he was attacked with a belt by a man brandishing a broken wine bottle.

In September 2019 Saadallah was jailed for 10 weeks after admitting spitting at District Judge Sophie Toms as she sentenced him six months earlier at Reading Magistrates' Court for two previous convictions.

He had also breached an earlier suspended sentenced for carrying a knife in a plastic bag at a supermarket, according to the court papers.

Saadallah, who had lived in Basingstoke Road in Reading, had his overall sentence reduced to 17 months and 20 days behind bars at the Court of Appeal in March this year.

His mental health problems were noted by Mr Justice Goss, one of the appeal judges who handed down the judgment.

According to the court papers, he had a history of debt and homelessness, alcohol and substance misuse, and 'suffered from the effects of' post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and a personality disorder.

In the document he was also described as being 'aggressive and unpredictable'.

In the judgment Mr Justice Goss said the sentencing judge had 'observed that numerous outside agencies had attempted to help him, but he kept on committing deeply unpleasant violent offences'.

It is understood Saadallah was released from prison earlier this month and the Covid-19 pandemic played no part in the decision to free him.

He left HMP Bullingdon, Oxfordshire, 17 days ago after serving less than half of his sentence. 

Meanwhile a woman called Libya Jamal, who claims to be Saadalla's youngest sister, wrote on Facebook today that he has a 'history of mental illness from the revolution, the death of relatives and the difficult country situation'.

She added that he was not a terrorist because he enjoys tattoos, wears casual clothes, has had girlfriends and lives a 'normal Western life'.

She continued: 'We can all see the video of his arrest. He did not defend or fight back. The officers, they arrested him, and he was completely guided the van by the authorities [sic].'

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Boris Johnson was getting regular updates from security officials. He could not confirm whether the Prime Minister planned to visit Reading.

He added: 'The Prime Minister has said that if there are any lessons to be learned, or if there are any changes that need to be made to stop such events from happening again, we will not hesitate to act to take that action as we have before.'

He added: 'In February, following the Streatham attack, we brought forward legislation, the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act, which ended the automatic release of terrorists offenders at the halfway point of their sentence, This applied to all serving prisoners.

'So we have shown that where there are lessons to be learned we will act, but in terms of this case, I can't discuss it any further given it is a life investigation.'

Victim Mr Ritchie-Bennett had been working for a Dutch pharmaceutical firm in the Berkshire town for about a decade having previously been employed by a London law firm when he first moved to England. 

He comes from a family of police, with his brother Richard having been in the Philadelphia force for 24 years; his father - also Richard - a retired chief inspector; and his mother Charlene and sister-in law both retired officers. 

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Police forensics officers carry out a search near Forbury Gardens in Reading town centre this afternoon

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Police forensics officers dressed in Tyvek PPE suits and wearing masks prepare to conduct a search in Reading today

Colleagues and pupils of victim James Furlong pay tribute

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 Witnesses said the suspect, Libyan-born Khairi Saadallah, first targeted a group of men who were sitting together and drinking in the early evening sunshine at Forbury Gardens in Reading on Saturday evening

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Religious leaders prepare to lay flowers near Forbury Gardens in Reading town centre this afternoon following the attack

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Students and parents queue to enter St. Paul's Church as they pay their respects to murdered Mr Furlong this afternoon

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People observe a period of silence outside A B Walker and Son funerals in Reading, Berkshire, in memory of the victims today

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Flowers are placed at the entrance to the Holt School in Wokingham this morning in memory of teacher James Furlong

His grandfather was in the Navy and fought in the Second World War and Korean War before being killed aged 38 in 1958 just several days before he was due to be honourably discharged.

Mr Ritchie-Bennett's father Robert told the Philadelphia Inquirer: 'I absolutely love my son with all of my heart and all of my soul. We're mourning, and we're trying to decide what we're going to do. It's 3,500 miles away. 

'They are still in lockdown over there with the coronavirus, and I don't know what else to say.' He also told CBS News: 'The family is heartbroken they have lost their brilliant and loving son. This was senseless.'

His brother Robert added: 'I love him. I always have. I always will. He was a great guy. He was four years younger than me. Our family is heartbroken and beside ourselves. He did not deserve to go out like this.'

Mr Ritchie-Bennett also suffered his own tragedy after his husband Ian Bennett, whom he married in England in November 2006, died in December 2014 aged 32 after a short battle with colon cancer.

US ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson said: 'I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the attack on June 20. To our great sorrow, this includes an American citizen. Our thoughts are with all those affected. We condemn the attack absolutely and have offered our assistance to British law enforcement.' 

A mobile hairdresser who was best friends with both Mr Ritchie-Bennett and Mr Furlong told how he was saddened that he never got to tell the two how much they meant to him.

Colleagues give speech on victim James Furlong outside school

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Emily, 18, and her mother Sally hold flowers as they observe a minute's silence near Forbury Gardens in Reading this morning

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A woman cries during a period of silence at the Holt School in Wokingham today in memory of teacher James Furlong

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A Police Community Support Officer observes a minutes silence in honour of murdered school teacher James Furlong today

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Co-headteacher Anne Kennedy (centre) speaks to the media after a period of silence at the Holt School in Wokingham today

Priti Patel on 'tragic' Reading terror attack which left three dead

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Hairdresser Dee Scheepers said on social media: 'We were a bit of an odd group. Joe Ritchie-Bennett, I'm totally gutted. You were the best friend anyone could ask for. Thank you for being in contact almost daily during the last few months, you have no idea how much I am going to miss you, I don't even know how to put it into words...

Terror attack timeline: How a lone attacker left three people dead 

Here is a timeline of the terror attack in Reading which led to the deaths of three people.

Saturday

• Around 6.45pm: Witnesses say a lone attacker with a knife targeted a group of people in Forbury Gardens near Reading town centre.
• 6.56pm: First emergency call is made to Thames Valley Police. Chief Constable John Campbell said officers arrested a man within five minutes of the call.
• Just before 10pm: Police ask members of the public not to share the graphic images or videos of the incident that are circulating on social media during the evening.
• 10.38pm: A security source tells the PA news agency that the incident is suspected to be terror-related and that the man arrested is Libyan.
• 10.56pm: Thames Valley Police says there is 'no indication' the incident is linked to the Black Lives Matter protest that took place earlier in the day.
• After 11pm: Several armed police officers are seen going into a block of flats off Basingstoke Road in Reading.

Sunday

• Around 1.30am: Thames Valley Police confirms three people have died and another three are seriously injured. The force confirms a 25-year-old man is under arrest on suspicion of murder.
• 8.30am The incident is declared as terrorism, the head of counter terrorism policing, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu says, this is not made public until after 11am when Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) says it has taken over the incident.
• 9am: Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds meeting with security officials, police and senior ministers in Downing Street.
• 11.45am: Security source tells PA the suspect is a Libyan asylum seeker and mental health is being considered a major factor.
• Just after 12pm: Mr Basu says there is nothing to suggest anyone else was involved in the attack and confirms it was not associated in any way with the Black Lives Matter protest in Reading earlier on Saturday.
• After 1pm: Suspect is understood by PA to be named Khairi Saadallah.
• Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is 'appalled and sickened' and pledges 'we will not hesitate to take action' if there are lessons to be learned.
• 4: 55pm: One of the victims in the Reading terror attack is named by The Holt School in Wokingham as James Furlong, its head of history and government and politics.
• Just before 6pm: Security sources reveal Saadallah briefly came to the attention of the security services in 2019, but the information provided did not meet the threshold for investigation.
• 6pm: It is understood MI5 had received intelligence the suspect planned to travel abroad, possibly for terrorism purposes, but the threat was found to be insubstantial and no case file was opened.
• 7.06pm: The suspect is re-arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, Counter Terrorism Policing South East announce.
• 7.28pm: It emerges the suspect was jailed in October for a complex series of non-terror offences for a period of two years, one month and 20 days - his sentence was reduced to one of 17 months and 20 days' imprisonment in the Court of Appeal on March 19 of this year.
• 8.25pm: Mr Furlong's family releases a statement through Thames Valley Police in which his parents describe him as 'the best son, brother, uncle and partner you could wish for'. They add: 'We are thankful for the memories he gave us all. We will never forget him and he will live in our hearts forever.' They request privacy to grieve in peace. 

Monday

• 8am: The second victim is named as 'brilliant and loving' American pharmaceutical worker Joe Ritchie-Bennett, who had lived in Britain for 15 years
• 10am: A minute's silence is held across Reading to remember the victims of the attack 

'You knew more about me than almost anyone I know, I will miss our walks and chats... and of course our nights out. So many nights I didn't want to go out but you somehow always managed to get me to go...

'Thank you for that, you dragged me kicking and screaming out of so many bad times over the last few years and helped me more that you can ever know. Thank you for being you, always happy, always loud, always a smile on your face... I'll have a Bacardi and diet coke on you ASAP... I will miss you immensely. Love you my friend.'

Speaking of Mr Furlong, South African-born Mr Scheepers said: 'James Furlong, we were a bit of an odd group weren't we? Thank you for always being there, you always had a word of encouragement and a sometimes mind-bending perspective on life and just things in general... I appreciate everything you two meant for me and you have both changed my life...

'Thank you for always being unapologetically you... You taught me a lot and I wish you could see how many people's lives you have touched... Sorry I wasn't able to say goodbye in the flesh, sorry I couldn't tell you how much you meant to me. Love you boys, rest in peace.'

Three people were killed and another three were injured in the frenzied knife attack in Forbury Gardens on Saturday evening, with suspect Mr Saadallah, 25, who was previously known to MI5, arrested for the rampage. 

He was detained under the Terrorism Act, though police are thought to be looking at mental health reasons for the attack.

Saadallah's brother Mo slammed the terror arrest and wrote on Facebook: 'This is not true. Khairi defended himself... racist countries. Freedom for my brother!'

Meanwhile, security guard Sydney McDonald, 65, has revealed how he saw the suspect being detained by police. 

He said: 'I had just finished work at about 7.10pm and as soon as I came out of the shop, there were about four police cars, they turned around in the middle of the road, they were driving pretty fast.

'There was a guy and I saw him pointing to a man and saying ''There he is, there he is''. If he hadn't, they would have missed him. He was running really fast, properly fast. 

'They put the emergency brakes on, jumped out of the car and rugby-tackled him to the floor. He was on his stomach and the blood on his hands looked like he had put his hand in a big bucket of red paint.

'They put the handcuffs on, he wasn't putting up a fight or anything like that, they picked him up and put him in the van, he just sat there all quiet, he wasn't saying nothing.'  

As well as witnessing the arrest on Saturday, Mr McDonald says he had previously been assaulted by the suspect last year when he stopped him from shoplifting from the Sainsbury's store where he works in Reading town centre.

A former head of UK counter terrorism said police and security services face a 'wicked problem' deciding which of the 40,000 people known to them could launch a terror attack.

Sir Mark Rowley, former assistant commissioner for specialist operations in the Metropolitan Police, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme 'What you end up with operationally is about, I think, about 3,000 people under investigation at one stage.

'But there is 40,000 people... whose names have touched the system.

'And in that 40,000 are lots of volatile people who dip in and out of interests in extreme ideology, and to spot one of those who is going to go from a casual interest into a determined attacker, which can happen in a matter of days, is the most wicked problem that the services face.' 

Asked whether Labour would push for more resources for the security services, shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Resources are of course an issue across the piece here.'

Referring to deradicalisation programmes in prison and risk assessment, he said: 'The Ministry of Justice was an unprotected department which meant that it suffered around 40 per cent cuts over 10 years.

'Clearly that issue of resources is something that has to be considered very seriously now, alongside other measures that may need to be taken.' 

Students pay tribute to victim of Reading terror attack

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Police outside the home of Khairi Saadallah in Reading today as the investigation continues into what happened on Saturday

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Police stand outside the home of Khairi Saadallah in Reading. He lived in a £81-a-week council-owned studio flat

Home Secretary Priti Patel told Sky News: 'This is a tragic, tragic event, it really is. We've seen three people die, so there is extensive work that is taking place.

'Yes, with the police, but obviously now with CT (counter-terror) police as well and the intelligence community and all aspects of policing. And we've got a lot of information to gather.

'We have to look at all aspects as to what happened on Saturday, the individual that's in custody as well, to ensure that, yes, justice is served, but also we make sure that learn the lessons from what has happened over the weekend to prevent anything like this from happening again.' 

Asked about concerns among the public, she said she was 'very restricted and constrained' in what she was able to answer due to the ongoing investigation but said security services 'work intensively' to look at risks posed by individuals.

'The security services have records on thousands of people, and rightly so, subjects of interest, people of concern,' she told reporters.

'There is very little I can say, but at the end of the day when it comes to MI5 and our intelligence and security services, they work intensively to look at the backgrounds of individuals to see what kind of risk they pose to society, to our communities.

'And they act accordingly in terms of what kind of protective measures are put in place around those individuals, and what kind of protections are needed.'

On the current terror threat level, Ms Patel said that police had been 'clear' they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack, but added that the public should 'always be vigilant' and 'always remain alert'.

Later, she said she has sent her 'heartfelt condolences' to those involved in the Forbury Gardens attack.

Ms Patel told MPs in the Commons: 'Police have confirmed that the threat is contained but that sadly three innocent members of the public were killed, murdered by a sudden and savage knife attacker as they enjoyed a summer evening with friends.

'Another three victims were injured and received hospital treatment. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of everyone who was hurt or killed as a result of this sickening attack.

'The Victim of Terrorism Unit at the Home Office and family liaison officers are supporting them and I know honourable members across the House will join me in sending our heartfelt condolences.'

Priti Patel added that it was 'truly humbling' to visit Thames Valley Police earlier today.

She told MPs: 'I had the privilege of meeting the officers who first responded to the incident and who were responsible for apprehending the suspect as well as trying to prevent the further loss of life.

'These officers, a few of whom were student officers, ran towards danger to help those in need without a second thought. A young, unarmed police officer took down the suspect without hesitation while another performed emergency first aid to those who were injured.

'These officers are heroes. They showed courage, bravery and selflessness way beyond their years. They are the very best of us.

'I would also like to pay tribute to the response of every emergency service that attended the scene as well as members of the public who stepped in to prevent further loss of life.'

Priti Patel added that it is 'clear that the threat posed by lone actors is growing'.

She said: 'The United Kingdom has the best security service and police in the world. Since 2017 they have foiled 25 terrorist plots including eight driven by right-wing ideologies.

'They serve the country with professionalism and courage, embodying what the British public rightfully expect from those on the front line of the battle against violent extremists and terrorists. The UK's counter-terrorism strategy remains one of the most comprehensive approaches to countering terrorism in the world.

'But we have all too often seen the results of poisonous extremist ideology. The terrorist threat that we face is complex, diverse and rapidly changing. It is clear that the threat posed by lone actors is growing.'

Ms Patel said through the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill 'we are introducing much tougher penalties for terrorists to keep the public safe'.

She told MPs: 'This is the biggest overhaul of terrorist sentencing and monitoring in decades. Strengthening every stage of the process from introducing a 14-year minimum jail term for the most dangerous offenders to stricter monitoring measures.'

She added: 'We continue to pursue every option available to tackle the terrorist threat and to take dangerous people off our streets. As the Prime Minister reiterated yesterday, the police and security services will continue in their investigations to better understand the circumstances of this tragic incident and if further action is needed we will not hesitate.

'Our world-class CT, police and security services have my unequivocal backing as they hunt down hate-fuelled terrorists and extremists. So my message today is clear, simple and strong: swift justice will be done, victims will be supported and if further action is needed to stop terrorists in their tracks, this Government will not hesitate to act.'

Former head of counter terrorism at MI6 Richard Barrett told the BBC: 'As security service chiefs have said in the past, it is impossible to protect society from all terrorism. It wouldn't even be possible, I think, in a really totalitarian state.

'So, the fact that there are now, what, 800 or so active investigations going on by the security services into terrorist, or possible terrorist plots, is an indication of the scale of the problem.

'But, at the same time, if you like, it's only 800, and if one of those gets through, then it will be a low percentage of success.'

Security Minister James Brokenshire has paid tribute to first responders and members of the public after Saturday's attack.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'I want to pay tribute to the work of our emergency services, the police, all of those first responders who dealt with this appalling evil and callous act, but also those members of the public as well who supported the police, bravely dealt with those issues on the ground.

'Our thoughts, our hearts go out to all of those this morning who have lost loved ones, who are mourning or have been affected by this appalling incident.'

When asked what he would say to people in Reading who are concerned, Mr Brokenshire added: 'People should be alert, not alarmed.

'People must remain vigilant, our terrorist threat level is at substantial - the third level which means an attack is likely.

'But we need to go about our lives, we need to be able to ensure that those who would seek to intimidate, those who would seek to use terror to try and change our way of life, that they do not succeed but we remain vigilant.'

Mr Brokenshire told BBC Breakfast that there was no indication of a change to the UK's threat level.

The Security Minister said: 'The police have indicated they're not looking for anyone else at the moment in terms of this particular incident and I think the point is we must allow them to get on with their investigation. 

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Khairi Saadallah, 25, has been arrested for the knife rampage in Reading that left three dead and another three injured

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Sainsbury's security guard Sydney McDonald saw the Reading terror suspect being rugby-tackled to the ground by police

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Onlooker Lawrence Wort, 20, saw the man stab three men 'in the neck and under the arms' before turning around and running towards him

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A relative of Khairi Saadallah (pictured), 25, says the terror suspect arrived in the UK as a tourist in 2012 before claiming asylum because he was at risk from Islamic extremists due to him not leading a 'strict religious life' in Libya

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Saadallah, pictured smoking cannabis, is also believed to have come to the attention of MI5 last year

'This is very live, there are devices in terms of the phones and all those sorts of things, they'll be interrogating, following through on the different statements, the searches that continue and it is absolutely right that they do follow it through in that way.'

Reading terror suspect is 25-year-old Libyan refugee who 'came out of jail two weeks ago', had mental health problems and was known to MI5 

Traumatised by the civil war in Libya, Khairi Saadallah fled to the UK in 2012. He claimed his moderate views put him at risk of Islamist extremists back home and he was eventually granted asylum in 2018.

He settled in Reading where his older brother Aymen had married a British woman and had two children.

One of eight siblings, whose wealthy father back in Libya is said to have been an antiques dealer, Saadallah was remembered as a 'sweet, kind' teenager by a family source.

But the 25-year-old – who calls himself 'Khairi Thug' on social media – quickly became 'very troubled' and started getting into fights.

Last night a close family member, who did not want to be named, told the Mail that Saadallah had been seeing mental health experts at a local hospital.

The relative said he had gone to Prospect Park Hospital as recently as last week.

'He's very well known to the team at Prospect Park,' they added, saying of the community: 'We are very shocked and shaken up by it, it's a very peaceful place and we all know each other. We just don't know why this has happened.'

A cousin of Saadallah's in Libya said he had converted to Christianity in recent years, adding: 'He started going to church and had tattoos all over his body including a cross on his arm. I haven't had contact with him since that time.'

Friends said Saadallah and his brother Aymen had been left scarred after fighting against former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

A former neighbour of Aymen's in Reading said: 'Aymen got to a point where he couldn't deal with his brother.

'Khairi stayed with him a lot. Aymen said you need to go home [back to Libya]. Both had fought there apparently. They were the ones against Gaddafi as I understand it. They always said bad things about him. Aymen was suffering from PTSD because of the war.

'Khairi was very troubled. It was like Aymen had become the dad. They were chalk and cheese. One day Khairi came out of his brother's flat with a cricket bat threatening a group of guys that were bullying him. They'd shouted things at him like 'terrorist' and I had to pull him off them.'

They said the Libyan was often seen wearing a blue Kappa tracksuit and cap near his £81-a-week council-owned studio flat. A friend, Keiron Vernon, 26, said Saadallah – whom he called 'K' – was a 'normal' man he would spend time with in the park drinking whiskey.

He said he last saw him at around 12.30am on Friday, adding: 'There was no hint that anything was amiss then. I'm totally shocked at what he has been accused of doing because he seemed so normal.'

Neighbours said Saadallah moved into the flat, on the outskirts of Reading town centre, about a year ago. One added: 'The majority of the time he hasn't been here. There was always lots of banging and stuff like that. He even chucked a TV off the balcony. I had to tell him to keep his noise down. I believe he has mental health problems. He used to have a key worker who would come and do his shopping for him.'

The suspect's next-door neighbour Mohamed Seliman, 29, said the Libyan appeared 'troubled' hours before the attack. Mr Seliman said he went out on Friday evening and returned three hours later, at midnight, and saw Saadallah on the landing.

He added: 'He was on the stairs, his eyes were closed and his head was leaning on the handrail. He looked deep in thought, but he answered normally when I spoke to him, so I wasn't concerned [about him]. I asked him what he was thinking about but he did not tell me. He was there for three hours, until I came home and went to sleep.'

Saadallah had been staying at another temporary accommodation block run by Reading Borough Council in Coronation Square. A woman who gave her name only as Donna remembered him living in one of the top-floor flats, where he once 'screamed abuse and threatened' her for drinking cider on the footpath outside. She added: 'He told me to 'F off' and became very upset at me drinking in the street. He told me to put the drink away.'

Faraj Ali, a trustee at the Reading Refugee Support Group, said Saadallah had turned up there one day last year and been abusive to staff. He had been seeking help, according to Mr Ali, but began shouting at them.

He said: 'People in the Libyan community knew him because of this. His behaviour was scary and we were very scared by him. Sometimes we would find people at the centre who came to us were angry because of their experiences, but Khairi was much more troubled.'   

Mr Brokenshire said he was unable to go into detail about the suspect and what was known about him due to the ongoing investigation.

He added: 'What I would say is that the police and security services obviously deal with thousands of leads, that they have difficult challenges that they have in terms of prioritisation of resource, but I can assure that if there are lessons to be learned, there are policies that needs to be changed, if we need to do things differently, absolutely that is what we will do.'

When asked what type of terrorism currently poses the greatest threat, James Brokenshire told BBC Breakfast: 'Threats obviously manifest themselves in a number of different ways.

'Over the last three years, the police and security services have disrupted, prevented, 25 attempted terrorist attacks.

'We've seen this, the shape has changed and this shift between the growth of right-wing terrorism as well as Islamist-related terrorism.

'We obviously do guard against what are called these lone-actor isolated individuals, some of the issues that relate there in terms of radicalisation.

'So I think it's difficult to make generalities but we guard against all of these different types of risk and threats.'

Saadallah allegedly claimed to have fought both for and against Islamic State, although officials assessing him previously found he did not subscribe to any ideology or belief system and instead had mental health issues.  

An investigation revealed no immediate risk or threat and he was not under surveillance at the time of his alleged rampage. 

Saadallah is thought to have come to the UK from Libya as a tourist in 2012 before claiming asylum as he was at risk from Islamic extremists in his homeland because he 'liked to drink' and didn't lead a 'strict religious life'.

Last October, Saadallah was sentenced to 28 months for breaching a suspended jail term, racially aggravated assault, criminal damage and affray.

He is said to have threatened a Sainsbury's guard with a broken bottle of wine when he was challenged for stealing it.

He was released from HMP Bullingdon, Oxfordshire, 17 days ago after less than half of his sentence. 

Saadallah was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and delusional and paranoid schizophrenia, requiring medication before his release, a source told the Sun. 

Anti-terror police believe he stopped using his medication in the lead-up to Saturday's horrific rampage. 

He is thought to have come to the UK from Libya as a tourist in 2012 before claiming asylum as he was at risk from Islamic extremists in his homeland because he 'liked to drink' and didn't lead a 'strict religious life'. 

However, once in the UK, he ended up in prison after committing several violent, non-terror offences. He is even thought to have converted to Christianity and has a tattoo of a cross on his arm.

Despite his violent convictions, he is thought to have avoided deportation because of the UK policy not to deport foreign nationals to 'failed states' like Libya. 

Saadallah boasted to friends in the UK that he had fought as a child soldier against the forces of former Libya leader Colonel Gaddafi - which he said had forced him to flee the country.

However, his cousin disputed these claims and said Saadallah had fled to avoid conflict. 

She added that he heard voices and had psychotic episodes which left him thinking he was being followed.     

The cousin, speaking to the Daily Telegraph, added that, three years ago, Saadallah started dating a British woman who was 'very religious' and he started going to church, eventually converting to Christianity. 

Though the couple have since split, Saadallah maintained his faith, even have a tattoo of a cross etched onto his arm. 

His cousin added: 'He's not Muslim any more. It's like he's always been in the UK.' 

In 2018, Saadallah was granted leave to remain in the UK for five years despite the convictions for violence. 

A source told the Sun: 'Saadallah was on MI5's radar for a few months last year over his aspirations to travel to Syria.

'He had a history of violence and serious mental health problems so why was he granted leave to remain at all? There are major questions to be answered.' 

His cousin in Libya said: 'I can't believe he'd do anything like this or be involved in anything to do with terrorism. 

'He was at risk of extremists in Libya because he liked to drink and socialise and didn't lead a strict religious life at all.

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Forensic officers work near Forbury Gardens in Reading town centre yesterday following the fatal stabbing on Saturday

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Forensic officers work near Forbury Gardens yesterday, the scene of a multiple stabbing attack which took place on Saturday

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On Saturday, three people were killed and another three were injured in a frenzied knife attack in Forbury Gardens, Reading

'He started going to church and had tattoos all over his body including one of a cross on his arm. He did get in trouble in England and could be aggressive but I can't ever imagine him getting drawn into something as serious as this.'    

Security guard tells how terror attack suspect was held by police 

Sainsbury's Security guard Sydney McDonald, 65

A security guard who saw the Reading terror suspect being rugby-tackled to the ground by police has described how it looked as if he had put his hands 'in a big bucket of red paint'.

Sydney McDonald, 65, said: 'I had just finished work at about 7.10pm and as soon as I came out of the shop, there were about four police cars, they turned around in the middle of the road, they were driving pretty fast.

'There was a guy and I saw him pointing to a man and saying 'There he is, there he is'. If he hadn't, they would have missed him.

'He was running really fast, properly fast.

'They put the emergency brakes on, jumped out of the car and rugby-tackled him to the floor.

'He was on his stomach and the blood on his hands looked like he had put his hand in a big bucket of red paint.

'They put the handcuffs on, he wasn't putting up a fight or anything like that, they picked him up and put him in the van, he just sat there all quiet, he wasn't saying nothing.'

As well as witnessing the arrest on Saturday, Mr McDonald says he had previously been assaulted by the suspect last year when he stopped him from shoplifting from the Sainsbury's store where he works in Friar Street in Reading town centre.

Mr McDonald said he recognised the man from when he had attacked him in January 2019 by rushing at him with a broken wine bottle and whipping him with a belt.

He said: 'I am sure he is the same bloke, he's grown a beard but he's the same height, same build, same age, same everything.'

Describing the previous incident, Mr McDonald said: 'When he attacked me outside the shop he broke a bottle and threatened to stab me and I defended myself. I put him to the floor, held him there ... and he couldn't get away from me and I held him until the police came.'

He added: 'If I couldn't have defended myself he probably would have killed me. But I knew how to handle it.

'He pulled the bottle of alcohol out that he had nicked from Sainsbury's then he smashed the bottle and came at me. He punched me in my face and I hit him back, his nose was bleeding. I kept him down on the floor until the police came.

'I thought he had a knife because of the way he was behaving.'

Last October, terror suspect Khairi Saadallah was sentenced to 28 months for breaching a suspended jail term, racially aggravated assault, criminal damage and affray, following the incident involving Mr McDonald.

Reading Crown Court was told in August 2019 that he had punched Mr McDonald in the face, rushed at him with the broken bottle and whipped his face with a belt. 

Among his other offences, in March 2019 Saadallah spat at Judge Sophie Toms at Reading magistrates court as she sentenced him for previous offences.

He has also been convicted of possession of a bladed weapon and assaulting a police officer, which landed him an eight-month jail term.

He also threatened Sainsbury's guard Mr McDonald with a broken bottle of wine when challenged for stealing it.

After witnessing Saturday's arrest, Mr McDonald recalled: 'When he attacked me outside the shop he broke a bottle and threatened to stab me and I defended myself. I put him to the floor, held him there ... and he couldn't get away from me and I held him until the police came.'

He added: 'If I couldn't have defended myself he probably would have killed me. But I knew how to handle it.

'He pulled the bottle of alcohol out that he had nicked from Sainsbury's then he smashed the bottle and came at me. He punched me in my face and I hit him back, his nose was bleeding. I kept him down on the floor until the police came.

'I thought he had a knife because of the way he was behaving.'

The suspect was charged with affray, assault by beating and two counts of having an offensive weapon, according to a report of the case in the Reading Chronicle. 

Saadallah was given tough licence conditions after his release from prison, but lockdown-hit probation and social services struggled to monitor him. 

A source said: 'The motivation remains unclear. His issues mean any trigger could have been very quick.' 

Speaking about his conversion to Christianity, the cousin said: 'It might have been why about two or three years ago, he converted from Islam to Christianity.

'He started going to church and had tattoos all over his body including one of a cross on his arm. I haven't had contact with him since that time.

'He lived in Manchester first and now lives in Reading. I think the authorities in Britain have tried to send him back to Libya but he doesn't want to go back. He's been in the UK for about seven years so is practically British now.'    

Police are thought to be looking at mental health as a reason for the attack. 

It comes as the heartbroken parents of a 'kind and inspiring' history teacher have paid tribute to him this evening after he was named as one of the three people killed in the frenzied terror attack in Reading yesterday.

James Furlong, head of history at the Holt Community School in Wokingham, was stabbed to death along with two other victims in Forbury Gardens on Saturday evening.

Another three people were seriously injured during the horrific attack, with suspect Khairi Saadallah, 25, arrested for the rampage. 

Students have rushed to express their grief at his death and described Liverpool-born Mr Furlong as someone who 'inspired them' and 'went the extra mile' to support them through school.

Former student Molly Collins told Radio 4's Today Programme: 'He was such a loved teacher I can't find anyone who had a bad word to say about him. He was so passionate and enthusiastic about history and learning. 

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James Furlong, who is head of history at the Holt Community School in Wokingham, was stabbed to death during the attack

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Mr Furlong was described as 'very kind and a gentleman', with 'a real sense of duty' in his role as a school's head of history

'Anything you found boring he would make interesting - he would spend time with you and get to know people individually. He always went the extra mile with everyone'.

Molly and her friends will be heading to church in Wokingham today and said: 'Most of my year group are going down today to light candles and lay flowers. We're putting together a memorial book with old photos and memories of him for his family.

Asked what she will write, she said: 'I will say just thank you for everything he did when I was at school, for helping me with history and with A-Levels. I wouldn't have gone to university if I hadn't spoken to him about it - he really took the time to support me and make me more confident'.

Parents of teacher James Furlong pay tribute to their 'wonderful' son

The parents of teacher James Furlong have paid tribute to him after he was named as one of the three victims of the Reading terror attack.

Mr Furlong, 36, was head of history, government and politics at The Holt School in Wokingham, and died during the incident, which took place at 7pm on Saturday in Forbury Gardens, in the town centre.

His parents Gary and Janet, released a statement through Thames Valley Police which said: 'James was a wonderful man. He was 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. We will never forget him and he will live in our hearts forever.'

They asked for their privacy to be respected and said they will not comment further at this time.

Co-headteachers Anne Kennedy and Katie Pearce also paid tribute to Mr Furlong, and described him as a 'kind and gentle man' who had a 'real sense of duty and cared for each and every one of our students'.

In a statement, they said: 'He truly inspired everyone he taught through his passion for his subject and his dedication. He was determined that our students would develop a critical awareness of global issues and in doing so become active citizens and have a voice.

'As a Holt community, we all now need to absorb this sad news. Counsellors will be available for students and staff.

'Words cannot describe our shock and sadness at this time. Our thoughts are with his mum, dad, brother and family, and his friends and colleagues.

'He was a cherished colleague and he will be sadly missed.'

Lessons for Monday have been cancelled for all year groups, and counsellors will be onsite for students wishing to come to school and talk.

The local church will also be opened from 9am for people to go and light a candle in his memory.

Former pupils have praised the 'inspirational' teacher, describing him as 'the best'.

Jade Sirmon, a pupil at The Holt from 2012-2017, said: 'He really was an incredible teacher.

'He was funny and kind and always made history fun and entertaining. History was always one of my favourite subjects and Mr Furlong always encouraged it.'

Keith Power, whose daughter attends the school, said: 'He was a wonderful man. He was so helpful and supportive of my daughter. He had a real passion for history and teaching and was so caring of his pupils.

'It's so senseless. So much hatred in the world right now. I fear for my kid's futures.'

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson paid tribute to Mr Furlong.

He tweeted: 'My thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed and injured in Reading. Very sad to hear that a teacher, James Furlong, was among the victims. Tributes paid by his colleagues reflect how much he will be missed.'

Responding to the news, Wokingham Labour tweeted: 'Devastated to discover that James Furlong, one of the victims of the Reading stabbings, was a teacher at the Holt.

'His loss is a devastating blow to his family, colleagues, students, the wider Holt family and our whole community. Our thoughts are with them all.'

Another former student, who went to Cambridge after leaving the Holt School said: 'James Furlong was one of the most influential and exceptional people in my life. He fostered my love of history, nurtured me, and taught me resilience and kindness. The four years I spent with him were precious, and deeply treasured. I am absolutely devastated'. 

Grieving parents and children were seen arriving at the school in Wokingham today clutching bunches of flowers and.

One student, who was in the sixth form, said of Mr Furlong: 'He was a past teacher of mine. He was very involved with my education and my A-levels and he was an amazing person.

'He won't be forgotten. For my GCSE open evenings and open evenings. He would dress up in historical outfits to promote the subjects. He wore one that was a King. He really promoted history as a subject.

'When I found out what had happened to him, I just couldn't stop crying. It was a state of shock, disbelief - it was overwhelming.'

A two-minute silence has been held at the Holt School today. More than 100 students, some holding hands, gathered at the school's gates as a bell rang out to mark the start of the silence. A flag in the school's courtyard had been lowered to half-mast.

Following the two-minute silence, co-head-teachers Anne Kennedy and Katie Pearce read out a statement about Mr Furlong.

'James was a very kind and gentle man. He had a real sense of duty and cared for each and every one of our students,' Ms Kennedy said.

'He truly inspired everyone he taught through his passion for his subject and his dedication.'

Ms Pearce said counsellors would be available for students, adding: 'Words cannot describe our shock and sadness at this time. He was a cherished colleague and he will be very sadly missed.'

The students clapped at the end of statement, while many laid flowers at the school gates.

Charis Waller, 18, a former student of the Holt School in Wokingham, remembered Mr Furlong as having a 'lovely manner'.

'I was never personally taught by him but he always had a lovely, lovely manner,' she said. 'Always happy. You could just tell from a mile off he was lovely. It's just so tragic.'

Her mother Jacqui Waller, 56, also a former pupil of the school, said: 'As soon as it was on the news I said to her don't worry, it won't be anyone you know, but lo and behold. It's tragic.

'It's the same old anecdote, you don't believe it's going to happen so close to home.'

She added: 'I've got Holt friends all over the country and they're all devastated, even in their 50s and 60s they're devastated, because it's such a close school community.'

Martin Cooper said he had known Mr Richie-Bennett for four years and Mr Furlong for at least two, having met them at the Blagrave Arms in Reading - a pub where they were regulars.

Mr Cooper, who is chief executive of LGBT+ charity Reading Pride, added that Mr Richie-Bennett and Mr Furlong were 'great supporters' and members of the community.

'Their loss is a tragedy to so many people,' the 36-year-old from Reading said. 'It was always a pleasure drinking and socialising and just being in their company.

'They should be remembered as extremely friendly gentleman who were always fun, engaging and a pleasure to be around. They were their own little support network for anybody to offload their troubles and concerns and gave great advice. 

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Tributes have flooded in for Mr Furlong, whose students took to social media to praise him and will go to the church next to the school to remember him 

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Footage shows a man being detained by officers in the middle of a street following a frenzied stabbing attack in Forbury Gardens, in the centre of the Berkshire town.

'They will be sorely missed by myself personally and many in the community. Their loss is a tragedy to so many people.'

On Saturday's attack, Mr Cooper added: 'It was a horrific attack, an absolute atrocity to take unsuspecting people like that - it's such a tragic loss of life. 

'We need to ensure a thorough investigation is done to understand why and how this happened and to ensure it never happens to anyone else again.'

A Blagrave Arms pub spokesman said: 'The Blagrave Arms Management and staff are devastated that the three people who died in the Forbury Gardens attack on Saturday were regular customers and very dear friends of ours.'

Mr Furlong's parents Gary and Janet released a statement through Thames Valley Police last night which said: 'James was a wonderful man. He was 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. We will never forget him and he will live in our hearts forever.'

They asked for their privacy to be respected and said they will not comment further at this time. 

Other tributes have also flooded in for Mr Furlong, with bosses from his school and parents of his pupils sharing their shock. 

In a statement, Anne Kennedy and Katie Pearce, the co-headteachers at the Holt School, said: 'James was very kind and a gentleman. He had a real sense of duty and cared for each and everyone of our students.

'He truly inspired everyone he taught through his passion for his subject and his dedication.'

Local councillor James Box, who lives in Wokingham and whose daughter was taught by Mr Furlong, described him as an 'excellent teacher'.

He said: 'He was one of the teachers who taught my daughter Ellie. This has come as a real shock to us all. The school put out a message to parents to say he was one of these who died.'

Councillor Box added: 'He was a very good teacher - excellent. I did not know him very well though. He was very popular at The Holt.'

Witnesses to the attack said a man with a 'five inch knife' targeted and stabbed people 'at random' before being 'rugby-tackled' to the ground by one unarmed police officer.

One witness said the attacker pulled a knife and 'shouted some unintelligible words' before trying to stab people in the packed park, which was said to be filled with families and young children at the time. 

Onlooker Lawrence Wort, 20, saw the man stab three men 'in the neck and under the arms' before turning around and running towards him.

He and his group fled and, when he realised he couldn't catch up with them, the attacker tried to stab another group sitting down.

On Saturday night, counter-terrorism police carried out a controlled explosion at the suspect's home address. 

Meanwhile, head of counter terrorism policing, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, Neil Basu, said on Sunday there is 'nothing to suggest anyone else was involved' and that police are not currently seeking anyone else as part of the investigation.

Police are considering mental health to be a major factor, according to security sources.

Met Police says no other suspects sought in Reading investigation

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Counter-terrorism police searched a property on Basingstoke Road in Reading (pictured yesterday) following the attack

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Police outside a property on Basingstoke Road in Reading yesterday following a search after Saturday's attack

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Police collect floral tributes left at the Abbey gateway of Forbury Gardens in Reading yesterday after three people died

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A police officer places floral tributes yesterday near to the scene of the attack, which also left three people seriously injured

Prime Minister Boris Johnson meanwhile said he was 'appalled and sickened' by the suspected terror attack and promised the government will 'not hesitate to take action where necessary' if lessons needed to be learnt. 

It come as today footage emerged which shows a man being detained by officers in the middle of a street following the frenzied stabbing attack in the park, which took place around 7pm yesterday.

** Do you know Khairi Saadallah? Please email: tips@dailymail.com ** 

Witnesses said the attacker targeted a group of middle-aged men 'sitting drinking beer' and systematically stabbed them 'in the neck and under the arms'.

The suspect was arrested at the scene by a hero lone police sergeant who rugby-tackled him to the floor.  

The attack is believed to have taken place as people enjoyed the last of the day's sunshine at the popular park.  

Personal trainer Mr Wort watched the terrifying scenes unfold in the park, which is popular with families and used as a venue for open air concerts and plays.

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Thames Valley police chiefs say the cordon (pictured yesterday) near the incident will likely remain up for 'some time'

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Police tents in Forbury Gardens in Reading at the scene of a multiple stabbing attack which took place at 7pm on Saturday

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Police were standing guard on Sunday outside the corridor of a top-floor flat on Basingstoke Road in Reading yesterday

Mr Wort said: 'The park was pretty full. One group of friends were sitting drinking when one lone person walked through, suddenly shouted some unintelligible words and went around, trying to stab them.

Hero lone officer who rugby-tackled knifeman is praised by police union chiefs 

By Bhvishya Patel for MailOnline

The hero officer who rugby-tackled a Libyan knifeman who had only moments earlier stabbed three people to death has been praised by police chiefs.

The lone police sergeant was able to tackle the 25-year-old knife suspect to the ground, as he tried to flee the scene of the attack in Forbury Gardens, Reading, at around 7pm yesterday, according to witnesses.

Today police union chiefs praised the brave unarmed officer, who was one of the first to arrive at the scene after the alarm was raised, along with other members of staff for 'running towards danger with the sole thought of protecting the public'.  

Today Thames Valley Police Federation chairman Craig O'Leary said: 'First and foremost our thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones in the horrific incident last night and we wish our very best to those still injured.

'There can be no doubt that the swift response of our Thames Valley Police colleagues saved further harm from being caused and potentially more lives from being lost.

'There are barely words to describe their bravery – officers who ran towards danger with the sole thought of protecting the public we serve. Other colleagues valiantly rushed to the scene to try and save and preserve life.

'While the investigation into this incident continues, what we can say is the public can rightly be proud of their emergency services today.'

'He stabbed three of them, severely in the neck, and under the arms, and then turned and started running towards me.

'I saw a knife in his hand. Probably at least five inches minimum. And then he turned and started looking towards us and that's when I just started shouting 'run'.

'When he realised that he couldn't catch us, he tried to stab another group sitting down. He got one person in the back of the neck and then, when he realised everyone was starting to run, he ran out of the park.' 

And speaking of the moment the suspect was arrested, a police source told the Sunday Mirror: 'A man pulled a knife and started attacking people at random in Reading, near the Crown Court.

'It is thought there was one attacker who has surrendered to police.

'It appears the attack was stopped when a lone sergeant, who responded when the alarm was raised, ran to the scene, saw the attacker running away with a knife and rugby tackled him to the ground.'

Gruesome footage on social media revealed the attack's appalling aftermath – three men lying a few feet apart on blood-soaked grass. Police arrived within minutes and frantically tried to keep them alive. 

Today the Thames Valley Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers in the area, praised the bravery of officers who responded to the attack.

Chairman Craig O'Leary said: 'First and foremost our thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones in the horrific incident last night and we wish our very best to those still injured.

'There can be no doubt that the swift response of our Thames Valley Police colleagues saved further harm from being caused and potentially more lives from being lost.

'There are barely words to describe their bravery – officers who ran towards danger with the sole thought of protecting the public we serve. Other colleagues valiantly rushed to the scene to try and save and preserve life.

'While the investigation into this incident continues, what we can say is the public can rightly be proud of their emergency services today.'   

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Counter-terrorism police raided a block of flats in Reading yesterday following the frenzied stabbing attack

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Counter-terror offices raiding a flat around a mile from the park yesterday

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Around 20 officers swarmed into the four-storey block of flats about a mile from the park on Saturday night

Counter Terror police on scene at an address in Reading

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'My heart, prayers and thoughts are with all of those affected and to the people of Reading who will be deeply shocked and concerned by this terrible incident.

Reading stabbing attack: What we know so far 

Three people have died following a knife attack in Reading's town centre on Saturday night.

Here is what we know so far about the incident:

- A number of people were stabbed by a man in Forbury Gardens in Reading's town centre around 7pm on Saturday night, leaving three dead.

- Three others were taken to hospital, although one has now been discharged.

- One of the dead has been named as teacher James Furlong - head of history, government and Politics at the Holt School in Wokingham.

- A second victim has been named locally as American citizen Joe Ritchie-Bennett. The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper reported that he was 39 and had moved to England from the US around 15 years ago.

- A 25-year-old man, understood to be named Khairi Saadallah, was arrested at the scene and taken into police custody.

- The attack is being treated as terrorism and counter-terror police have since taken over the investigation from Thames Valley Police.

- The suspect, who was initially arrested on Saturday on suspicion of murder, was rearrested on Sunday under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

- The suspect is a Libyan refugee understood to have been granted asylum in the UK.

- Mental health is being considered a major factor in the incident, a security source said.

- Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with Saturday's attack.

- Saadallah briefly came to the attention of the security services in 2019, but the information provided did not meet the threshold for investigation, PA understands.

- It is understood M15 had received intelligence he planned to travel abroad, possibly for terrorism purposes, but the threat was found to be insubstantial.

- The suspect was jailed in October for a complex series of non-terror offences for a period of two years, one month and 20 days.

- His sentence was reduced to one of 17 months and 20 days' imprisonment in the Court of Appeal on March 19 of this year.

- One of the appeal judges who gave the judgment in March, Mr Justice Goss, noted Saadallah's various mental health issues in reducing the sentence.

- Saadallah was 'silent and staring' as he was arrested, covered in blood, a short distance from the scene, a witness said, and 'wasn't even blinking'.

- The attack was not in any way associated with the Black Lives Matter protest which took place peacefully earlier on in the day, police have confirmed.

- Police forces have urged social media users not to post any footage out of respect for the victims' families after a graphic clip circulated online.

- Lawrence Wort, 20, who said he was around 10 metres from the attack, said the attacker 'shouted unintelligible words' before attacking multiple groups of people, adding: 'When he realised everyone was starting to run, he ran out the park.'

- Five ambulance crews as well as two air ambulance services were among the resources sent to treat the casualties, South Central Ambulance Service said.

- The Prime Minister has held a meeting with security officials, police and senior ministers over the incident.

'I am in contact with the police and will ensure they have all the support they need. I would like to thank Thames Valley Police and the emergency services for their response.' 

Speaking today at Downing Street Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 'I'm appalled and sickened that people should lose their lives in this way and our thoughts are very much with the family and the friends of the victims today.

'I've obviously talked to the chief constable at Thames Valley Police, thanked him and his officers for their bravery in tackling the suspect.

'We now have someone in custody. The police must get on with their job, get to the bottom of exactly what happened, and so it would be difficult really to comment in detail.

'Except to say this, if there are lessons we need to learn about how we handle such cases, how we handle the events leading up to such cases, then we will learn those lessons and we will not hesitate to take action where necessary.'

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer described the stabbing as 'horrific' and said this is 'not a time for party politics'.

He said: 'It's horrific that it happened at all wherever it happened, and across Reading, across the country there will be communities really upset and worried about this, united in their grief.

'And all of our thoughts are with those who have lost someone in this.'

He added: 'It's very important that the investigation runs its course but I will want to work with the Government in response to this, to look at whether there's lessons that can be learned, whether there need to be changes to the law.

'But I think as a constructive opposition, I will want to speak to the Prime Minister to discuss how together, we can improve the response, learn from this. The investigation must be completed, but of course, this is not a time for party politics.'

Thames Valley Police Chief Constable John Campbell described the scene of the attack as 'horrific'.

At a short press briefing, he said: 'As you can imagine the scene we came across was pretty horrific.

'We had a number of officers that were in the community because they were patrolling around Reading and they were there very quickly.

'We also had a number of people in the park that were witnesses to this incident and they saw the terrible tragedy unfold.

'So you can imagine both for my officers but also for those that were involved it was very distressing and we are doing all that we can to make sure we are supporting them as well as progressing the criminal inquiry.'  

A witness, named Dan, told the Sunday Mirror that the group of people who were attacked were 'just in a circle chatting.' 

He said how he thought the people were playing, 'duck duck goose', a children's game which sees participants sit in a circle while someone taps them on the head. 

'He [the attacker] was tapping them on the head. Then I thought someone had been sick. But it was blood spraying out,' he said. 

The man said he and his friends then got up and began to run away when the attacker began running toward Reading Station.  

Another witness told Mirror Online he saw blood spurting from victims, who dropped to the ground 'like a weight'. 

A fourth described how they saw CPR being performed on at least three people. 

Minister for Security describes Reading attack as 'evil'

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The mass stabbing led to at least two victims being taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital following the 'serious incident' in Forbury Gardens in Reading's town centre. Pictured: Paramedics and investigators in forensic suits at the scene

Home Secretary Priti Patel, who is s