THE father of London Bridge terror victim Jack Merritt has said his son would be “livid” that his death is being used to further an “agenda of hate”.

Merritt, 25, and fellow Cambridge University graduate Saskia Jones, 23, were both stabbed to death by convicted terrorist Usman Khan during a prisoner rehabilitation event they were supporting in London on Friday. Writing for The Guardian yesterday, Merritt’s father, David, said: “He would be seething at his death, and his life, being used to perpetuate an agenda of hate that he gave his everything fighting against.”

Khan was released from prison on licence in December 2018, halfway through a 16-year prison sentence after he was convicted of terror offences in February 2012.

The attack prompted the Ministry of Justice to review the licence conditions of every convicted terrorist released from prison, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson said was “probably about 74” people.

READ MORE: Johnson branded 'unfit' for office after blaming Labour for terror attack

Johnson has also vowed to take steps to ensure people are not released early when they commit serious offences.

Sharing an image of newspaper front pages about the plans, Merritt tweeted on Sunday: “Don’t use my son’s death, and his and his colleague’s photos – to promote your vile propaganda. Jack stood against everything you stand for – hatred, division, ignorance.”

In his Guardian piece, Merritt’s father said: “What Jack would want from this is for all of us to walk through the door he has booted down, in his black Doc Martens.

“That door opens up a world where we do not lock up and throw away the key. Where we do not give indeterminate sentences, or convict people on joint enterprise. Where we do not slash prison budgets, and where we focus on rehabilitation not revenge. Where we do not consistently undermine our public services, the lifeline of our nation. Jack believed in the inherent goodness of humanity, and felt a deep social responsibility to protect that. Through us all, Jack marches on.”

Merritt’s girlfriend broke down in tears as she attended a vigil in his memory in Cambridge. Leanne O’Brien (pictured) wept and clutched a cuddly toy as she was supported by family and friends at the event, which also honoured Jones.

In London, Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn observed a minute’s silence alongside members of the public. They were joined at the event by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who called for people to come together following the killings and work for a future “not defined by hatred but defined by hope, unity and love”.

The vigils took place as West Midlands Police said a 34-year-old man arrested in Stoke-on-Trent on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts had been recalled to prison due to a breach of his licence conditions.

He was named in reports as Nazam Hussain, who was jailed with Usman in 2012 for terrorism offences. The force said there is no information to suggest he was involved in the London Bridge attack.