Skateboarding Spanish Hero Confirmed Dead in London Terror Attack

 

A SKATEBOARDING SPANISH national has been confirmed amongst the dead following a tragic terrorist attack in London over the weekend.

Ignacio Echevarria, 39 and from Madrid, was last seen trying to defend a woman with his skateboard, who was stabbed during the attack.

After several agonising days waiting for news, his brother and sisters confirmed Ignacio was amongst the fatal victims.

Writing on Facebook, his sister Ana said "Ignacio didn't survive the attacks".

His other sister, Isabelle, wrote “My brother Ignacio tried to stop terrorists and lost his life trying to save others. Igna we love you and will never forget you".

Ignacio Echevarría had been working for HSBC in London as part of the bank's team fighting money laundering

Returning from an evening of skateboarding in a nearby park with friends, Ignacio leap from his bike and used his skateboard to hit one of the attackers who was stabbing a woman. The two others then attacked him from behind and he was last seen lying on the ground, the family said.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy praised the Spanish victim's "heroic and exemplary act" and said he had recommended that he be awarded posthumously an order of civil merit.

"His bravery in standing up for a defenceless person is a reminder of the need to remain united in the face of the scourge of terrorism" the Spanish Foreign Ministry said.

However, British authorities have been criticised as being “inhumane” by Spanish government officials, angry at the “sluggish” pace of the identification and notification process.

Spain's Interior Minister, Juan Ignacio Zoido, described the identification process as strange and "inhumane" for the family.

EIGHT people were killed and a further 48 people were injured on Saturday night (3rd June 2017) after THREE attackers crashed their van through evening revellers, before leaping out armed with knives and machetes, stabbing randomly anyone who crossed their paths.

Armed Police response teams arrived on the scene within minutes shooting dead the assailants.

Several victims remain in a critical condition in hospitals around London.