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Police shoot dead three London Bridge terror suspects after rampage kills six Police shoot dead three London Bridge terror suspects after rampage kills six
(35 minutes later)
At least six people have been killed and 30 inured in a terrorist incident which started when three attackers drove a van into crowds on London Bridge and then went on a stabbing rampage in nearby Borough Market. At least six people have been killed and at least 48 inured in a terrorist incident which started when three attackers drove a van into crowds on London Bridge and then went on a stabbing rampage in nearby Borough Market.
Police said armed officers shot dead all three attackers within minutes of reports coming in of the mayhem unfolding in the centre of London. The three men appeared to be wearing suicide bomb vests which were later confirmed to be hoaxes.Police said armed officers shot dead all three attackers within minutes of reports coming in of the mayhem unfolding in the centre of London. The three men appeared to be wearing suicide bomb vests which were later confirmed to be hoaxes.
People fled in terror with gunshots from police ringing out across the streets of one of the capital’s most popular nightspots and witnesses have given horrific accounts of terrorists storming into a pub and restaurant to attack people with foot-long knives. They spoke of desperate attempts by customers to fend off the knifemen with bottles and chairs.People fled in terror with gunshots from police ringing out across the streets of one of the capital’s most popular nightspots and witnesses have given horrific accounts of terrorists storming into a pub and restaurant to attack people with foot-long knives. They spoke of desperate attempts by customers to fend off the knifemen with bottles and chairs.
One of those stabbed was a police officer who responded to the marauding attack, and was stabbed in the head, face and leg. His injuries whilst serious are not life threatening.One of those stabbed was a police officer who responded to the marauding attack, and was stabbed in the head, face and leg. His injuries whilst serious are not life threatening.
Police say the rampage lasted eight minutes, beginning at 10.08pm, before the three men suspected of staging the attack were shot dead by police at 10.16pm.Police say the rampage lasted eight minutes, beginning at 10.08pm, before the three men suspected of staging the attack were shot dead by police at 10.16pm.
It is the third deadly attack in less than three months on Britain, and comes days before the general election on Thursday.It is the third deadly attack in less than three months on Britain, and comes days before the general election on Thursday.
Prime minister Theresa May was among political leaders expressing their thanks to emergency services. May has broken off from campaigning and will chair an emergency meeting of the government’s crisis committee, Cobra, on Sunday morning.Prime minister Theresa May was among political leaders expressing their thanks to emergency services. May has broken off from campaigning and will chair an emergency meeting of the government’s crisis committee, Cobra, on Sunday morning.
The latest attacks involved a clear conspiracy among the three attackers, and will trigger fresh questions for police and the security service MI5. The fear will be that the defences against such attacks are being regularly penetrated, after atrocities in Westminster and the Manchester concert bombing.The latest attacks involved a clear conspiracy among the three attackers, and will trigger fresh questions for police and the security service MI5. The fear will be that the defences against such attacks are being regularly penetrated, after atrocities in Westminster and the Manchester concert bombing.
Just before 4am on Sunday, Britain’s most senior counter terrorism officer, assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, gave the first official account of the latest attack. He said: “Since late yesterday evening the Metropolitan police service has been responding to incidents in the London Bridge and Borough Market areas of south London. We are treating this as a terrorist incident and a full investigation is already underway, led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.Just before 4am on Sunday, Britain’s most senior counter terrorism officer, assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, gave the first official account of the latest attack. He said: “Since late yesterday evening the Metropolitan police service has been responding to incidents in the London Bridge and Borough Market areas of south London. We are treating this as a terrorist incident and a full investigation is already underway, led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
“At 22:08 yesterday evening we began to receive reports that a vehicle had struck pedestrians on London Bridge. The vehicle continued to drive from London Bridge to Borough Market.“At 22:08 yesterday evening we began to receive reports that a vehicle had struck pedestrians on London Bridge. The vehicle continued to drive from London Bridge to Borough Market.
“Armed officers responded very quickly and bravely, confronting three male suspects who were shot and killed in Borough Market. The suspects had been confronted and shot by the police within eight minutes of the first call. The suspects were wearing what looked like explosive vests but these were later established to be hoaxes.”“Armed officers responded very quickly and bravely, confronting three male suspects who were shot and killed in Borough Market. The suspects had been confronted and shot by the police within eight minutes of the first call. The suspects were wearing what looked like explosive vests but these were later established to be hoaxes.”
Witnesses reported attackers armed with long knives stabbing people and horrific scenes from London Bridge, where the van ploughed into people.Witnesses reported attackers armed with long knives stabbing people and horrific scenes from London Bridge, where the van ploughed into people.
One photograph provided to the Guardian showed a man on the ground after being shot by police, apparently with canisters strapped to his body. Gabrielle Sciotto, a documentary-maker who took the picture, said he saw people running away from Borough Market.One photograph provided to the Guardian showed a man on the ground after being shot by police, apparently with canisters strapped to his body. Gabrielle Sciotto, a documentary-maker who took the picture, said he saw people running away from Borough Market.
“It was dark, but I could see three men,” he said. “They were about 20 metres away. It was quite confusing – it took me a few seconds to work out what was going on. There was one policeman there, inside Borough Market,” he said. “He was trying to scare them away. They ran towards me because the police officer was trying to chase them.”“It was dark, but I could see three men,” he said. “They were about 20 metres away. It was quite confusing – it took me a few seconds to work out what was going on. There was one policeman there, inside Borough Market,” he said. “He was trying to scare them away. They ran towards me because the police officer was trying to chase them.”
The three men ran out of Borough Market and turned left into Stoney Street towards the Wheatsheaf pub. “Suddenly lots and lots police came from the other direction” and armed police started yelling at the men, Sciotto said. “There was a lot of shouting. ‘Stop, stop, get on the floor’, stuff like that. Then the police shot them.”The three men ran out of Borough Market and turned left into Stoney Street towards the Wheatsheaf pub. “Suddenly lots and lots police came from the other direction” and armed police started yelling at the men, Sciotto said. “There was a lot of shouting. ‘Stop, stop, get on the floor’, stuff like that. Then the police shot them.”
Gerard Vowls, 47, had been watching the Champions League final at the Ship pub in Borough. He was at the start of the south side of London Bridge and said he saw a woman being stabbed by three men in their 30s.Gerard Vowls, 47, had been watching the Champions League final at the Ship pub in Borough. He was at the start of the south side of London Bridge and said he saw a woman being stabbed by three men in their 30s.
Vowls said he threw chairs, glasses and bottles at the attackers in a bid to stop the men. “They kept coming to try to stab me ... they were stabbing everyone. Evil, evil people.” It took at least 10 minutes for armed police to reach the scene, he added.Vowls said he threw chairs, glasses and bottles at the attackers in a bid to stop the men. “They kept coming to try to stab me ... they were stabbing everyone. Evil, evil people.” It took at least 10 minutes for armed police to reach the scene, he added.
May praised the emergency services and said: “Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events.”May praised the emergency services and said: “Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events.”
Jeremy Corbyn, Labour leader, said on Twitter: “Brutal and shocking incidents reported in London. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. Thanks you to the emergency services.”Jeremy Corbyn, Labour leader, said on Twitter: “Brutal and shocking incidents reported in London. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. Thanks you to the emergency services.”
The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, called the terrorist incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market “deliberate and cowardly”, adding: “There is no justification whatsoever for such barbaric acts”.The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, called the terrorist incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market “deliberate and cowardly”, adding: “There is no justification whatsoever for such barbaric acts”.
Emergency services were seen treating people lying injured at the junction of Thrale Street and Southwark Street, near Borough Market. One woman was taken away on a stretcher while others sat injured on the ground, with shocked people crying and shouting around them.Emergency services were seen treating people lying injured at the junction of Thrale Street and Southwark Street, near Borough Market. One woman was taken away on a stretcher while others sat injured on the ground, with shocked people crying and shouting around them.
Other members of the public were led up Southwark Street away from Southwark Bridge Road, and police officers were seen shouting to people and ordering them to run. Many were in tears, with friends supporting each other and carrying people up the road.Other members of the public were led up Southwark Street away from Southwark Bridge Road, and police officers were seen shouting to people and ordering them to run. Many were in tears, with friends supporting each other and carrying people up the road.
Police entered bars and warned those inside to get get down. One witnesses, named as Eric, was on the south side of London Bridge when he saw a van on the wrong side of the road. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It veered to the right and people were trying to run away from it.” When it stopped, he said three people got out and he thought they were going to help the people who had been hit.Police entered bars and warned those inside to get get down. One witnesses, named as Eric, was on the south side of London Bridge when he saw a van on the wrong side of the road. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It veered to the right and people were trying to run away from it.” When it stopped, he said three people got out and he thought they were going to help the people who had been hit.
“But the three people literally started kicking them, punching them, and took out knives. It was a rampage really,” he said. The three men ran off towards the nearby bars and restaurants.“But the three people literally started kicking them, punching them, and took out knives. It was a rampage really,” he said. The three men ran off towards the nearby bars and restaurants.
Lara Al-Ostta was having drinks with a friend at the Old Thameside Inn underneath London Bridge when she said people came running into the pub and telling everyone to run away because “people are stabbing each other”.Lara Al-Ostta was having drinks with a friend at the Old Thameside Inn underneath London Bridge when she said people came running into the pub and telling everyone to run away because “people are stabbing each other”.
Thomas Daly, who was also watching the Champions League final in the Sheaf, said they were locked in. “People were saying there had been a stabbing at Borough Market and they locked us in. We sat down again and some minutes later people started coming into the bar and people were getting hysterical.Thomas Daly, who was also watching the Champions League final in the Sheaf, said they were locked in. “People were saying there had been a stabbing at Borough Market and they locked us in. We sat down again and some minutes later people started coming into the bar and people were getting hysterical.
“A lot of people were streaming through the rear exit and we went outside and heard gunshots. I heard at least two gunshots, and at that point the people who were trying to get out the back entrance came back inside. We went outside to the back, there was gunfire and then we decided to come back in again.”“A lot of people were streaming through the rear exit and we went outside and heard gunshots. I heard at least two gunshots, and at that point the people who were trying to get out the back entrance came back inside. We went outside to the back, there was gunfire and then we decided to come back in again.”
Fears a suspected terrorist connected to the attacks could still be at large earlier led the police to issue crisis instructions to the public, to “run, hide, tell” if caught up in an incident.Fears a suspected terrorist connected to the attacks could still be at large earlier led the police to issue crisis instructions to the public, to “run, hide, tell” if caught up in an incident.
#Londonbridge #boroughmarket #vauxhall pic.twitter.com/a7OciBEBjH#Londonbridge #boroughmarket #vauxhall pic.twitter.com/a7OciBEBjH
The attackers were shot by police from an armed response vehicle (ARV), which patrol around Britain ferrying armed officers to incidents. The numbers of ARVs was increased across Britain after the November 2015 attacks by gunmen on Paris. British police remain largely unarmed, unlike most of their counterparts across the world.The attackers were shot by police from an armed response vehicle (ARV), which patrol around Britain ferrying armed officers to incidents. The numbers of ARVs was increased across Britain after the November 2015 attacks by gunmen on Paris. British police remain largely unarmed, unlike most of their counterparts across the world.
The London Bridge and Borough attack represents again a change in the terrorists’ tactics.The London Bridge and Borough attack represents again a change in the terrorists’ tactics.
The Westminster attack on 22 March involved turning a vehicle into a weapon and murdering with a knife, but involved a lone attacker who planned the assault on their own. Four people including a police officer died, as well as the attacker.The Westminster attack on 22 March involved turning a vehicle into a weapon and murdering with a knife, but involved a lone attacker who planned the assault on their own. Four people including a police officer died, as well as the attacker.
The Manchester Arena attack on 22 May saw a suicide bomber strike as people left a pop concert where children and young people were among the terrorist’s targets.The Manchester Arena attack on 22 May saw a suicide bomber strike as people left a pop concert where children and young people were among the terrorist’s targets.
The London attack on Saturday saw multiple attackers strike, and in addition to the three atrocities, there have been five attack plots disrupted which are claimed to have been at an advanced stage.The London attack on Saturday saw multiple attackers strike, and in addition to the three atrocities, there have been five attack plots disrupted which are claimed to have been at an advanced stage.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which sets the terrorism threat level, was assessing the impact of the London Bridge and other incidents on Britain’s state of alert. Counter terrorism police are involved the investigation.The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which sets the terrorism threat level, was assessing the impact of the London Bridge and other incidents on Britain’s state of alert. Counter terrorism police are involved the investigation.
US President Donald Trump was briefed by US security officials about the attacks in London and counter terrorism officials in western countries were assessing what the latest incidents tell them about any changes in terrorist tactics.US President Donald Trump was briefed by US security officials about the attacks in London and counter terrorism officials in western countries were assessing what the latest incidents tell them about any changes in terrorist tactics.
The incidents come after two months of intense activity for counter terrorism investigators which has, before Saturday night, seen two plots escape detection and lead to mass casualties, and five alleged attack plots – four in London and one in Birmingham – thwarted.The incidents come after two months of intense activity for counter terrorism investigators which has, before Saturday night, seen two plots escape detection and lead to mass casualties, and five alleged attack plots – four in London and one in Birmingham – thwarted.
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