A suspected terrorist attack in London last night has killed at least seven people with over 40 others injured.
Mark Rowley, Assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said in a statement that a vehicle struck pedestrians on London Bridge shortly after 10 pm before continuing to Borough Market. The area, lined with restaurants and bars, is a busy destination for tourists and locals alike.
Holly Jones is a BBC reporter who was at the scene. She described a white van “speeding” down London Bridge at “probably about 50mph”, before it “veered off the road into the crowds of people who were walking along the pavement.”
“[It] swerved right around me and then hit about five or six people.”
The suspects then left the vehicle and stabbed a number of people, including a member of the British Transport Police who was responding to the incident. Armed officers attended quickly and the three suspects were shot and killed within eight minutes of the first call.
"This was a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners" —London Mayor Sadiq KhanAlthough the incidents are being treated by many sources as separate, London Bridge and Borough Market are contiguous. Reports of a further incident, in Vauxhall, turned out to be unrelated to the attack.
Rowley urges anyone who may have images or film of the incident to pass them on to the police.
A helpline has been set up for those concerned about their loved ones on 0800 0961 233.
Eyewitnesses spoke of men with 12-inch knives seemingly “stabbing people at random”. Police evacuated the era, using the “run, hide, tell” formula—which quickly spread on social media—to instruct the public.
#Londonbridge#boroughmarket#vauxhallpic.twitter.com/a7OciBEBjH — Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 3, 2017
BBC journalist Mark Lobel has posted an interview with an eyewitness named Gerard, who described the suspects stabbing a girl in front of him. “I was defenceless,” he said. “They started running up the road, and I was shouting ‘everybody run, it’s terrorists’.”
“They were running up, saying ‘this is for Allah’, and stabbing this girl… I tried to do everything to stop them but I could not get them away from her.”
“They ran up to a pub—I think it was the Tavern—and stabbed the bouncer. We were throwing pint glasses, stalls, chairs, trying to stop them.”
“I tried to help anyone I could, but at the end of the day, I was defenceless.”
Terrifying testimony from stabbing witness Gerard who just spoke to me about what happened #LondonBridgepic.twitter.com/Rn8cNfklHH — Mark Lobel (@marklobel) June 4, 2017
In a statement, London Ambulance Service Assistant Director of Operations, Peter Rhodes, said the first ambulance crews arrived within six minutes. The service has sent a number of crews, including specialist response team and an advanced trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Hospital was “on lockdown” following the attack.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has thanked emergency services for their service, saying in a statement “I’d like to thank the brave men and women of our emergency services who were first on the scene and will be working throughout the night.”
“We don’t yet know the full details, but this was a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. There is no justification whatsoever for such barbaric acts.”
Theresa May has confirmed that the attack is being treated as a terrorist incident. The Prime Minister said: “This is a fast moving investigation. I want to express my huge gratitude to the police and emergency services who are on the scene. Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events.”
She will chair an emergency meeting of Cobra this morning.
Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn made a statement via Twitter, writing “Brutal and shocking incidents reported in London. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. Thank you to the emergency services.”
Brutal and shocking incidents reported in London. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. Thank you to the emergency services. — Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 3, 2017
Public offers help
As with the attack in Manchester last Monday, members of the public have responded by offering help.#Sikh Gurdwaras in #London are open to serve food and shelter to those affected by the #LondonBridge#BoroughMarket & #Vauxhall incident. ? pic.twitter.com/mObl1gm1cZ — Phaldip Singh (@Phaldip) June 3, 2017
Sikh Gurdwaras opened across the capital to provide food and shelter to anyone affected, while Christ Church in Southwark, near to the scene, offered to host anyone stranded or who simply needed “a cup of tea.” Countless locals also used Twitter to offer spare beds, phone chargers, cups of tea and company.
If these people were proper Muslims, they should have been at the mosque praying during Ramadan like us normal Muslims #LondonBridge — Shaker (@ShakerMiah) June 3, 2017
Members of London's Muslim community also widely spoke out to condemn the attacks, which have taken place during the holy month of Ramadan. The identity of the attackers has not yet been confirmed.
Islam discourages even arguing while fasting in Ramadan. I'm not sure which religion those terrorists are subscribed to. #LondonBridge — Adnan Mahmood (@adnanmahmood25) June 4, 2017
The Muslim Council of Britain has issues a response condemning the attacks, saying "these people respect neither life nor faith."
"That this should happen in this month of Ramadan only goes to show these people respect neither life nor faith." pic.twitter.com/dgq8yIZy8f — Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) June 4, 2017
Campaigning suspended
The Conservative Party, Labour and the SNP have suspended campaigning for Thursday's general election following the attack.It is likely that other parties will follow suit.
The Andrew Marr show and Sunday Politics program have also been cancelled to allow for rolling news coverage.
The Metropolitan Police will use social media to post further updates as the investigation continues today.
Sign up to Twitter alerts today - receive critical info from @MetPoliceUK in times of crisis via text/notification directly to your phone pic.twitter.com/NLzeGhY3Nu — Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 14, 2016
The threat level will not be raised
Home Secretary Amber Rudd says that the threat level will not be raised from "severe" to "critical".It was raised temporarily in the wake of last week's attack in Manchester as it was suggested that the bomber may not have been acting alone.
Rudd said on ITV's Peston on Sunday program that the joint terrorism analysis centre has not recommended raising the level in this case.
Read Theresa May's full statement on the attack.
