I Prayed It Wasn't True My Pals Died In Park Atrocity

The three men killed in the Reading terror atrocity were good friends who regularly socialised together, a pal has revealed.

- Michael Knowles

James Furlong, Joe Ritchie Bennett and David Wails met up for a picnic on Saturday afternoon in their local Forbury Gardens.

The three were killed when a suspected terrorist began randomly attacking them in a knife rampage that left three other people injured.

The friend of the trio told how he narrowly avoided the carnage as he had received a text from Mr Ritchie-Bennett informing him of the picnic plans earlier that day.

Martin Cooper, 36, CEO of Reading Pride, said: “They were all lovely, lovely people who didn’t deserve any of this and they are going to be sorely missed.

“They were just there as friends. Often, we’d be there with them as well. Three weeks ago, I was with Joe and we just relaxed.

“That’s what they did this weekend. I received a message from Joe but I didn’t respond until the evening because I was in West London.

“Knowing him, he would have said we’re down in Forbury Gardens, do you want to join? And if I was available, I probably would have.

“I had people calling me wondering what was going on.

“You hear rumours and hope it is not true, you pray it is not true.

“And when you can’t get hold of friends you believe were there, you have just got to hope they have lost their phones or something. I have known Joe for just over four years, James for two years, and Dave, I knew very little of.

“He was a very quiet person who came out with these one-liners, but he always said hello.”

Mr Cooper, added: “It was a pleasure drinking and socialising and just being in their company.