The Spanish government has paid tribute to a Catholic man who died trying to defend a woman from a knife-wielding terrorist.
Ignacio Echeverria was one of eight people killed in an attack at London Bridge earlier this month. At least two of the others were also Catholic.
Mr Echeverria was returning from a skate park when he stumbled upon the atrocity and saw one of the terrorists repeatedly stabbing a woman.
Witnesses have reported that Mr Echeverria used his skateboard as a weapon against the terrorist before he was fatally wounded himself. The Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy said Mr Echeverria would be remembered for his “heroic and exemplary behaviour” and asked that he be awarded an order of civil merit.
In a statement posted on its website the Spanish government said Mr Echeverria’s relatives and friends “are not alone in their pain, and that, today, Spain is with them”.
His brother Joaquin told the Spanish El Mundo newspaper that Ignacio never missed a Sunday Mass.
A friend, Rafael Duarte, noted that an uncle of his had been a missionary bishop in Peru. Bishop Antonio Hornedo of Chachapoyas died in 2006.
In London Mr Echeverria worked for HSBC’s anti-money-laundering team.
Christine Archibald, 30, from Canada, and James McMullan, a Londoner, were also killed in the attack. The Archibald family, parishioners of St Rita in Castlegar, British Columbia, said in a statement that Christine “had room in her heart for everyone and believed strongly that every person was to be valued and respected”.
They said that Ms Archibald had volunteered her time to a homeless shelter.
“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.” The hashtag #Chrissysentme has been used across social media by people donating to charity in her honour.
Mr McMullan, meanwhile, was baptised at Our Lady at St Thomas of Canterbury at Harrow on the Hill, north-west London. His sister Melissa described him as “inspirational” and “unique” and said he was working hard to launch an online business to support her and her son and their parents.
On Sunday Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark celebrated Mass at the Church of the Most Precious Blood in London Bridge. A candle was lit at the Lady Altar and the names of those who died in the attack were read out.
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