London Bridge attack victims confronted terrorist, ran to help
Londoners were out enjoying a balmy Saturday evening when terror struck. Three men in a white van plowed into pedestrians on London Bridge, then exited their car and began stabbing people in nearby Borough Market. Eight were killed and dozens injured. Below are the known victims of the attack.
Ignacio Echeverría
Thirty-nine-year-old Ignacio Echeverría, who was from Madrid and worked at HSBC in London, was confirmed killed in the London attacks by his family on Wednesday.
"Ignacio didn't survive the attacks," his sister, Ana, wrote on her Facebook page. "Thank you to all those who love and cared about him. We know we are not the only ones saddened," she said.
He was thought to have been skateboarding in a park when he stopped to help a woman who had been hurt by one of the attackers. Friends who were with him said they saw him on the ground after confronting the assailant.
"My brother Ignacio tried to stop some terrorists and lost his life trying to save others," another sister, Isabel, wrote on Facebook. "We love you and we will never forget you."
Alexandre Pigeard
Alexandre Pigeard was a 26-year-old French citizen who worked as a waiter at a restaurant near Borough Market. He was confirmed killed in the London attack by his colleague, Vincent Le Berre, a bartender at the same restaurant, French media reported.
According to Le Berre, restaurant employees had received training on how to deal with a terrorist attack just two days earlier, the Telegraph newspaper reported. Le Berre was able to shepherd 40 customers to safety, but the attack happened too quickly for him to shield Pigeard.
Pigeard's father described him as a "wonderful son, a perfect big brother," and a "shining young man."
Sara Zelenak
Twenty-one-year-old Sara Zelenak was from Australia and working in London as an au pair. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said she was seen fleeing from attackers near Borough Market.
Her mother confirmed that she had been killed, saying a DNA test confirmed she was one of the victims.
Her aunt told the BBC that Zelenak was "the girl next door, very special and a kindred spirit."
According to the BBC, Zelenak had been meant to babysit on the night of the attack, but the child's grandmother took over, enabling Zelenak to go out with friends.
Kirsty Boden
Twenty-eight-year-old Kirsty Boden was confirmed to have died in Saturday's attack in London on Tuesday. She was from Loxton, Australia, and had been working in the U.K. as a nurse.
In a statement distributed by London's Metropolitan Police, her family said, "Kirsty was loved and adored by her family, friends and boyfriend. She was the most outgoing, kind and generous person who loved to help people. Helping people was what she loved to do in her job as a nurse and in her daily life.
"As she ran towards danger, in an effort to help people on the bridge, Kirsty sadly lost her life.
"We are so proud of Kirsty's brave actions which demonstrate how selfless, caring and heroic she was, not only on that night, but throughout all of her life. Kirsty - we love you and we will miss you dearly.
"We grieve the loss of our beautiful, loving daughter and sister."
Chrissy Archibald
Canadian Chrissy Archibald was originally from British Columbia and was the first person to be named as killed in Saturday's attacks.
Her family said she died in the arms of her fiance, Tyler Ferguson, on London Bridge.
In a statement, her family said, "We grieve the loss of our beautiful, loving daughter and sister. She had room in her heart for everyone and believed strongly that every person was to be valued and respected. She lived this belief, working in a shelter for the homeless until she moved to Europe to be with her fiance. She would have had no understanding of the callous cruelty that caused her death. Please honour her by making your community a better place. Volunteer your time and labour or donate to a homeless shelter. Tell them Chrissy sent you."
James McMullan
James McMullan, a 32-year-old British national living in London, was confirmed as one of the victims by the Metropolitan Police on Thursday.
On Monday, after McMullan's bank card was found at the scene, his sister, Melissa McMullan, told Sky News, "While our pain will never diminish, it is important for us to all carry on with our lives in direct opposition to those who are trying to destroy us and remember that hatred is the refuge of small-minded individuals and will only breed more.
"This is not a course we will follow despite our loss.
"From his friends that were with him that night, they want everyone to know what a generous and caring friend he was.
"Words will never be able to match his essence. There will only ever be one James.
"Nowhere else will you find such humor and unique personality with someone who puts friends and family above all else. He was an inspiration."
Sebastien Belanger
Sebastien Belanger, a 36-year-old French national who worked in London, was confirmed as one of the victims by the Metropolitan Police on Wednesday.
According to British newspaper The Telegraph, Belanger was having a nightcap with friends after watching a soccer match when the terrorists' van crashed nearby.
A friend told the paper that Belanger became separated from the group in the ensuing chaos.
"Life is so cruel at times, we should remember to be as kind as Seb, if we are all a little more like him than the world will be a little bit brighter," another friend wrote in tribute to Belanger.
According to the Ouest-France newspaper, Belanger had been in London for seven years working as a chef.
