Shock at death of 'peace champion'

Mr Senitt was tipped for a high-flying career

Describing their devastation at the loss of their son, stabbed to death in the US, Alan Senitt's family said the world had lost a champion of peace.

"We have lost a much-loved son and brother.

"The Jewish community as a whole has lost one of its bright young leaders and the wider world has lost a champion of peace and goodwill," a statement read.

"We will leave it to others to describe all that Alan had achieved in his short life."

And since the news of his death, tributes have been paid to the Birmingham University graduate from many Jewish groups, describing a passionate campaigner.

The 27-year-old had only recently left north London for Washington DC to embark on the next step of what should have been a high-flying political career.

He wanted to be involved in politics and he was so good at it Danny Stone

A former chairman of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), he had sat in on high-level meetings, including with the prime minister, for the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

He had worked to combat prejudice between Muslims and Jews - at the UJS, he campaigned to improve inter-faith understanding on campus.

As director of charity The Co-Existence Trust, he looked to bring together leaders from both faiths worldwide, to combat prejudice.

Danny Stone, who succeeded Mr Senitt at the Trust, described him as an inspiration with a bright future in politics.

Bright and hard working

"I am sure he would have been brilliant. He wanted to be involved in politics and he was so good at it.

"I have never seen anyone who was so good at communicating with people as him."

Following his time at the UJS, he had also worked for the All-Party British-Israel Parliamentary Group as well as the British Israel Communications and Research Centre.

Lord Janner, vice-president of the World Jewish Congress, had worked with Mr Senitt for the past year and described him as very bright and hard-working.

He was both a Jewish communal leader and before long I believe he would have been a political leader Lord Janner

He said he was just about to start working for former Virginia governor Mark Warner, touted as a 2008 Democrat presidential candidate.

"It's awful, a horrendous shock. This man was bright, young and had just got a fascinating job.

"He was both a Jewish communal leader and before long I believe he would have been a political leader."

The Birmingham University graduate had recently completed a masters in diplomacy at London's School of Oriental and African Studies.

His skills had already been noted by the Labour party in Edgware, north London, where he had campaigned during the local elections in May.

Barnet councillor Alison Moore remembered him as an asset to the campaign: "He was very good on the doorstep, dealing with people."