Just before the attack, Hannah had given up her seat to a woman holding a baby. She stood near the entrance to the train, directly next to the terrorist. He pulled out a knife from his bag and stabbed her numerous times in her upper body. She died of her wounds a short time later.
The terrorist, 57, who had previously attempted suicide, was captured at the scene. He told interrogators he stabbed Hannah so that the soldier next to her would kill him. He had just purchased the knife he used to carry out the attack.
Hannah was spending the year studying at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem as part of her degree program in religion, theology, and archaeology at the University of Birmingham in the UK.
Her family members said they were devastated to learn of her murder: “Hannah was a talented musician, part of a serving team at her local church and a member of her local archaeological group. She was an enthusiastic rugby player and a keen Derby County supporter,” her family said through the British Foreign Office.
“She was driven and passionate and her death leaves so much promise unfulfilled. Our family is devastated by this senseless and tragic attack.”