Views sought on overseas terror victims' memorial
People affected by terrorist outrages overseas are being invited to have their say on the design and siting of a new memorial to British victims.
Plans for a national memorial to remember British citizens killed by terrorism abroad were announced by Prime Minister David Cameron last year in the wake of the murder of 38 people - including 30 UK tourists - at a beach resort in Tunisia.
Mike Haines, whose aid worker brother David was murdered by Islamic State terrorists in Syria in 2014, said the memorial would help victims' families and friends "share the grief and help celebrate the lives of those cut short by terrorism".
Views received from families and friends of victims, as well as individuals and groups supporting those affected, will help shape officials' thinking on how the memorial can be made a "timeless, meaningful and fitting tribute", said the Foreign Office.
Foreign Office minister for counter-terrorism, Tobias Ellwood, whose own brother Jonathan was killed in the Bali bombing in 2002, said: "It is a sad fact that we live in very difficult and dangerous times. Sadly, there are victims of terrorism whose families do not have a place where they can grieve.
"It is therefore appropriate that we have a national memorial for those caught up in terrorism abroad. These people must never be forgotten and I encourage anyone who has been affected to have their say."
Mr Haines added: "Like so many others these days, we have lost a brother, friend, husband, father, son and grandad at the hands of terrorists. This small minority seek to sow fear and hatred in our daily lives. Around our world we have seen with recent events so many have suffered, in so many nations. We cannot let this evil win.
"Our family have lost an integral part, which cannot be replaced or mended. We have been devastated by my brother's loss and know that other families have been affected in the same way. I would say to them, come and join us, be part of this memorial. Share the grief and help celebrate the lives of those cut short by terrorism. Let us not send them gently into that good night.
"We all have different ways of remembering our loved ones. Let's come together to find a common ground. A common ground in which we all can share and be part of building communities and not dividing our society. A memorial that stands for all our grief."
Contributions to the six-week consultation can be made at www.gov.uk/government/collections/consultation-on-the-national-memorial-to-british-victims-of-overseas-terrorism
