A second victim of the Reading terror attack has been named by family and friends as Joe Ritchie-Bennett.

His father Robert Ritchie told US TV network CBS that he had been caught up in the attack in Forbury Gardens, which saw three people killed and three others left seriously injured. 

In a tribute, Ritchie said: “The family is heartbroken they have lost their brilliant and loving son. This was senseless.” 

The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper reported that Ritchie-Bennett was 39 and had moved to England from the US around 15 years ago.

Local tributes have also been paid to Ritchie-Bennett on social media, the Reading Chronicle reported. These suggest he was friends with history teacher James Furlong, who was also killed. 

On Monday morning, the US ambassador the UK confirmed that one of those killed in the attack was an American citizen. 

“I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the attack on June 20,” Woody Johnson wrote. 

“To our great sorrow, this includes an American citizen. Our thoughts are with all those affected. 

“We condemn the attack absolutely and have offered our assistance to British law enforcement.”   

While one of the victims of the attack has been named as James Furlong, Thames Valley Police have yet to confirm the identity of the other two people killed. 

Police arrested a 25-year-old man over the knife attack close to the scene at Forbury Gardens on suspicion of murder.

He was later re-arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act, which gives police the power to detain him without charge for up to 14 days.