My student day out in London turned to terror - now survivors like me won't be forgotten

Travis Frain was texting a photo of Big Ben to his friends when a terrorist's car suddenly appeared before him. "It was a split second really before the car hit me," he recalled. "I went over the bonnet, into the air, before landing back on the ground." This was March 22, 2017, the day Khalid Masood drove his vehicle into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four people and fatally stabbing a police officer. Frain, then 19, sustained multiple injuries, including a fractured leg that took two years to heal. "There will always be a part of you affected by that attack," he said. Now 28, Frain spoke to BBC News ahead of the UK's first national day for victims and survivors of terrorism. He has campaigned for this day for nearly five years, feeling that recognition and memorials for terror victims often go unnoticed. "As a society, it is right and morally correct that we should be remembering those lost to terrorism," he stated. He believes victims are often targeted not as individuals but as representatives of national values. The new national day, mirroring similar observances in European countries, aims to recognize everyone impacted by terrorism, including victims, their families, witnesses, and emergency services. A central event in London will feature a two-minute silence and readings from those affected. Frain added that the day should also encourage people to "keep an eye on each other" because "we all have a role to play" in preventing terrorism. While the UK's terror threat level was recently raised to "severe," indicating an attack is highly likely, and a record number of people were referred to the government's anti-terrorism scheme, Prevent, Frain and others feel more support is needed for survivors. A report by Survivors Against Terror highlighted that despite progress, much remains to be done to aid those affected by terrorism.

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