An American man named Joe Ritchie-Bennett was among the three victims stabbed to death in a park in the English town of Reading that is being treated as a terror attack, the U.S. ambassador to Britain confirmed Monday.
Ambassador Woody Johnson offered his "deepest condolences'' to the families of those killed in the attack on June 20. A 25-year-old man who is believed to be the lone attacker is in custody but officials said the motive for the carnage was unclear.
"Our thoughts are with all those affected,'' Johnson said. "We condemn the attack absolutely and have offered our assistance to British law enforcement."
Three people were killed and three others seriously wounded in the stabbing attack Saturday evening in Forbury Gardens park in Reading, a town of 200,000 people 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of London.
Britain's official terrorism threat level hasn't been raised from "substantial."
A Libyan refugee, Khairi Saadallah, 25, has been named by the British police as the main suspect in Saturday's random knife attack on people in the Forbury Gardens Park, in Reading town centre.
He was arrested shortly after the incident.
British police said 3 people were killed and 3 others were seriously wounded during the incident, which they treat as a "terrorist" attack.
An investigation has been launched into the incident and the suspect's background and motives.
Local media reported he was on the radar of British intelligence services last year.
British police on Sunday declared the incident a terrorist incident.
"Counter Terrorism Policing can now confirm that the stabbing incident that happened in Reading last night (20/6), has now been declared a terrorist incident," Thames Valley Police said in a statement.
"I'm appalled and sickened that people should lose their lives in this way. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter.
One minute's silence will be held later today for the three victims.
