Reading stabbings: Mural to terror attack victims reappears

Friends (L-R) David Wails, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and James Furlong were stabbed to death in Forbury Gardens

A mural to three terror attack victims has reappeared, after the original was painted over by the council.

The artwork, by anonymous artist Peachy, first appeared on Reading Bridge in June 2021.

It commemorates James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails, who were stabbed to death by Khairi Saadallah in Forbury Gardens in 2020.

Reading Borough Council had been forced to apologise last year, after the mural was accidently removed.

The artwork includes three cherubs, representing the victims, and the Forbury Lion.

It slightly differs from the original mural, and now includes the first names of the victims.

The new work slightly differs from the original mural, and now includes the first names of the victims

Peachy said he had been in contact with the victims' families before re-painting the artwork, saying they had been "so keen" to see it up again.

The artist added: "It has taken way too long so I made the decision to put it up again.

"It turned into a huge part of the Reading community and should have stayed in the first place."

When it was painted over last year, the council blamed a "breakdown in communications" which meant all of the graffiti on the bridge was painted over.

The work by street artist Peachy was painted over last year (right)

The authority had said it would speak with Peachy to see whether it would be possible to recreate the artwork.

However, Peachy claimed that negotiations with the council "took too long" which led him to reinstate the mural.

A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said: "The painting over of the original mural was a regrettable error, for which we apologised to the families of James, Joe and David."

They also confirmed the restored artwork would remain in place.

An inquest into the attack is currently taking place to establish whether lessons can be learned from the incident.

Libyan asylum seeker Saadallah was jailed for life for the murders of the three friends in January 2021.