A service to mark the fifth anniversary of the London Bridge terrorist attack took place at Southwark Cathedral on Friday.
The service remembered the eight victims who died on 3 June 2017 when three attackers drove a van into pedestrians before going on a stabbing frenzy through Borough Market.
PC Wayne Marques, a British Transport Police officer who was stabbed while fighting off the attackers, read from the Wisdom of Solomon.
Image: PC Wayne Marques gave the opening reading during the ceremony
He was awarded the George Medal for bravery and told Sky News: “I was asked to do the first and opening reading of the ceremony, which I was honoured to do.
“It was a heartfelt chance for me to pay my respects, as I do every year. There were other readings done today that were just as poignant and powerful and I was just glad to be able to take part.
“In some stages that five years is quite slow and in other times it feels like the five years have gone in the blink of an eye.
“I feel conflicted, it’s a day of remembering those that didn’t make it as well as being grateful that you are one of the survivors that did make it.
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“When I look back today and the people that have come to remember those that were injured and those that didn’t make it, it gives me a sense of pride and joy that people aren’t forgotten, that night hasn’t been forgotten.”
Image: The Very Revd Andrew Nunn paid tribute to those who lost their lives
A ‘defilement of our neighbourhood’
The dean of Southwark Cathedral used the service to pay tribute to the victims, reading out their names.
“Eight people lost their lives,” The Very Revd Andrew Nunn said. “Eight people working here, enjoying this place, relaxing in its inclusive atmosphere.”
“They were eight people from around the world, as were the 48 people whose injuries we know about and the many people who were mentally and emotionally scarred that night.”
Image: Amir Eden described the attack as a ‘defilement of our neighbourhood’
He also mentioned Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones, who were murdered in the attack at Fishmongers’ Hall in November 2019.
Local resident Amir Eden witnessed the attack in 2017.
He told Sky News it was a “defilement of our neighbourhood”.
“It was Ramadan and I had broken my fast and I was on my way home through Borough Market and all I remember was screaming and shouting and a white van came screeching and smashed into the bridge,” he said.
“I never thought something like this would happen to our community. It felt like an attack on everything that we stand for, everything that we believe in.”
Image: Prayers were also held at the Baitul Aziz Islamic Cultural Centre
Read more: Stories from the day terror struck
“I felt these people had taken my religion, Islam, and manipulated it and turned it into something that it isn’t.”
Mr Eden and the Dean of Southwark attended both the service at Southwark Cathedral and Friday prayers at the Baitul Aziz Islamic Cultural Centre together, devoted to a shared belief that terrorism will not divide their community.
