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London Bridge attack: Theresa May warns terror breeds terror after seven killed - live updates London Bridge attack: police make 12 arrests in Barking as death toll rises to seven - live updates
(35 minutes later)
1.12pm BST
13:12
12 people have been arrested in Barking, Met says
Nadia Khomami
Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command have arrested 12 people in Barking in connection with last night’s attacks. In a statement, the Met said:
At 22.08hrs on Saturday, 3 June, we received reports that a white van had struck pedestrians on London Bridge.
The van then drove to Borough Market where the three men left the vehicle and stabbed a number of people. The suspects were wearing what we now know to be hoax suicide vests.
Armed officers confronted the three suspects who were shot and killed in Borough Market.
Seven people have died, in addition to the three attackers shot dead by police. A further 48 people were taken to hospital, some of whom are believed to be suffering serious and life threatening injuries.
The MPS is in the process of informing next of kin and specialist officers have been deployed to provide support to families.
The Met added that among those injured in the attack are a British Transport Police officer and an off-duty Metropolitan Police officer. Both remain in hospital with serious injuries but neither are believed to be in a life-threatening condition.
1.09pm BST
13:09
Matthew Taylor
Furqan Navi, who lived in the block raided by police in Barking this morning, said he recognised his neighbour as one of the attackers lying dead in Borough Market after he had been shot by armed police.
“He lived there with his wife and two children, he’d been there for about three years. He seemed pretty friendly but I didn’t know him,” Navi said.
Another neighbour said he had seen the man two days ago. “He seemed a friendly, cool sort of guy. He was friendly and liked playing with kids. He was in his 20s I guess.”
Updated
at 1.11pm BST
1.08pm BST
13:08
Here is the full statement from Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, on the London Bridge attack:
Chancellor #Merkel on #LondonAttacks: My thoughts are with our British friends. I wish those injured a swift recovery. (BPA) pic.twitter.com/Bo2ZVaQxNj
Updated
at 1.11pm BST
12.58pm BST
12:58
This is how Theresa May (or whoever writes her tweets) has chosen to summarise the speech she gave earlier:
Enough is enough. Read my response to last night’s brutal terror attack: https://t.co/MHQ4SPG0aQ
Updated
at 1.03pm BST
12.57pm BST
12:57
Andrew Sparrow
President Trump is still tweeting about the London attack. Bizarrely, he seems to think what happened supports the case against gun control.
Do you notice we are not having a gun debate right now? That's because they used knives and a truck!
12.51pm BST
12:51
Here is some reaction to Theresa May’s speech (see 11.56am) from commentators and political figures.
From Nigel Farage, the former Ukip leader:
May now talks tough on terrorism. She had 6 years in charge of this as Home Secretary.
May says enough is enough. We should have reached this conclusion years ago.
From Matt Zarb-Cousin, who until recently was Jeremy Corbyn’s press officer:
Most people will see Theresa May's statement for what it is: politicising a terrorist attack because she's worried about losing the election
Theresa May has been Home Secretary and Prime Minister for the past 7 years. She has failed to protect the British people from terrorism https://t.co/YYOqFqTFIy
For May to come out the day after a terrorist attack attempting to distract from her own record by blaming the internet is utterly risible
May politicising the attack means her record is now fair game: police cuts, under resourcing of MI5 and our relationship with Saudi Arabia
From Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former press secetary:
Mrs May is happy enough to tolerate the extremism of the Brextremist Lie Machine newspapers spewing hate day after day.
From Alex Nunns, the writer and author of a book about Corbyn:
This morning May agreed to suspend election campaigning & then politicised a tragedy in her speech. She is campaigning. Poor judgement.
When Corbyn made an obvious point 4 days after Manchester he was accused of politicising it. Are all those pious voices criticising May now?
Im livid about May's speech.She was Home Secretary for 6 years! Now she tries to win an election by saying there's "far too much tolerance."
From the Daily Mirror’s Kevin Maguire:
May's was a political, campaigning speech. So who since 2010 was Home Sec then PM if "far too much tolerance of extremism in our country"? https://t.co/04VnT6AZTZ
From the New Statesman’s Stephen Bush:
This doesn't look like campaign suspension to me. Also remarkable from Home Secretary for 6 years. https://t.co/ToU6mmpcxF
Updated
at 1.07pm BST
12.49pm BST
12:49
Terrorist was shot dead by police mid-attack in pub - eyewitness
Hannah Ellis-Petersen
Lewis Bennett, 39, was a witness to the attack that took place in the Globe pub in London Bridge. Bennett described how the attacker, who was between 25 and 30, and clean-shaven
, was dressed in a black robe and had a curved knife in his belt, which was about 1ft long.
“Everyone gasped when he ran into the pub but he didn’t do anything at first, just stood still for about 10 seconds,” said Bennett. “But then he grabbed the knife and stabbed people closest to him. He stabbed people in the stomach and legs, I think about five or six people. People started screaming and running out the back door. He was shouting ‘Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar’ and he had a British accent.
“I went to go stand in the loo and I could hear all the screaming. I came back out and he was standing there right in the centre of the pub and all the blood was dripping from his blade.”
Bennett said two policemen then came in through the back door. The attacker lunged at one of the policemen but the other knelt on the floor and fired two shots at the attacker, taking him out instantly.
“He died there on the pub floor,” said Bennett. ”The police came in and covered the body and the paramedics came in to help the people who hadn’t escaped through the back door. I think a few died but most people were still alive I think. It looked like there were about five people who were attacked. It was such a frightening ordeal, it was so frightening.”
Bennett told the Guardian he had had a drink at the time of the attack and could not remember every detail.
Updated
at 1.00pm BST
12.45pm BST
12:45
Barking residents report arrest at raided flat
Barking residents have been speaking to my colleagues, Robert Booth and Matthew Taylor, about a raid on a property believed to be linked to one of the London attackers and where as many as five arrests are thought to have been made.
A neighbour, who asked not to be named, described the man who lived in a flat at the centre of the raid as a slim, bearded man in his mid-20s, married with a young child, no older than two. He is believed to be of Pakistani origin.
She told the Guardian she had recognised her neighbour as the man from a picture that circulated last night of one of the attackers lying on the ground in Borough Market after he had been shot by armed police.
Her suspicion appeared to be confirmed when she woke on Sunday morning to see police officers photographing his red Peugeot car.
“I realised it was him,” she said. “It is shocking. Everybody here has children and jobs. We never thought anyone here would have the type of mentality to do something like that. I used to see them every night, He had a wife and child and would drop them off home and would look for a parking spot.
“He never used to communicate with the women here. I just knew him as the guy that always came at a certain time and would drop his wife and kid off right close to the main door and then go.
“He never used to park where he should park. He never really looked at us and if he did he didn’t look happy as if he had a why are women out on the street at this time of the night type of look on his face.” She said he wore traditional Islamic robes and his wife wore a full-face veil.
“He used to have the beard, the long dress that men wear, sometimes white, sometimes dark-coloured,” she said.
Michael Mimbo, 25, had been getting ready for his shift as a security guard. “I heard cars screeching up the road and lots of shouting of ’get down get down’. I went outside to see what was going on and there were armed police everywhere.
“There were three people lying on the floor with guns pointed at them and I saw another one being Tasered as he tried to get away – it was chaos.” Mimbo said he had seen the man before but did not know him. He said that in all he saw five people – four men and one woman being detained.
Another neighbour, Furqan Navi, 35, said he believed the raid had centred on a ground-floor flat in the Elizabeth Fry block of flats in Barking where a family had lived for at least three years.
“There was lots and lots of shouting so I looked out of the window and there were armed police everywhere – it was most alarming.”
Updated
at 12.58pm BST
12.43pm BST
12:43
Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, has posted a statement about the London Bridge attacks on Facebook. Here’s an extract.
Today we collectively resolve to beat the terrorists and their nihilistic creed. To those who sympathise or encourage or harbour or aid or abet these killers – in any way – we say enough is enough.
Your time is up. The wells of tolerance are running empty. We will not let you disrupt our lives or our democracy.
In the week of this general election millions of people need to hear the arguments on either side. They cannot have that fundamental right taken away by terrorists. Millions of Londoners will today get on with their lives. They will go to the pub and to the museums and to the parks and to the shows.
The response of the British people will be to carry on with business and usual – as far as they possibly can – in a spirit of total defiance. And that is the best response of all.
Updated
at 12.50pm BST
12.35pm BST12.35pm BST
12:3512:35
The US president, Donald Trump, has criticised the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, in his latest tweet:The US president, Donald Trump, has criticised the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, in his latest tweet:
At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is "no reason to be alarmed!"At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is "no reason to be alarmed!"
We must stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people. If we don't get smart it will only get worseWe must stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people. If we don't get smart it will only get worse
12.33pm BST12.33pm BST
12:3312:33
Metropolitan police officers among injured - federation chiefMetropolitan police officers among injured - federation chief
Jamie GriersonJamie Grierson
The chair of the Metropolitan branch of the Police Federation has confirmed Metropolitan police officers are among the injured.The chair of the Metropolitan branch of the Police Federation has confirmed Metropolitan police officers are among the injured.
Ken Marsh said:Ken Marsh said:
I can confirm that sadly some of our colleagues were among the injured in the attack last night. I join all UK police colleagues in wishing them a swift recovery. We are offering them our full support.I can confirm that sadly some of our colleagues were among the injured in the attack last night. I join all UK police colleagues in wishing them a swift recovery. We are offering them our full support.
He added:He added:
First and foremost our thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones in the horrific events last night and we wish well to those still injured. First and foremost our thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones in the horrific events last night and we wish well to those still injured. There can be no doubt that the swift response of our colleagues – both armed and unarmed – saved further lives from being lost.
There can be no doubt that the swift response of our colleagues – both armed and unarmed – saved further lives from being lost.
There are barely words to describe their bravery – officers who ran towards danger with no thought for their own safety. Londoners can rightly be proud of their emergency services today. They are the best of the best and we thank everyone for their praise and kind comments.There are barely words to describe their bravery – officers who ran towards danger with no thought for their own safety. Londoners can rightly be proud of their emergency services today. They are the best of the best and we thank everyone for their praise and kind comments.
It has been reported that a British Transport police officer was also among the injured. It has been reported that a British Transport Police officer was also among the injured.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.35pm BST at 12.47pm BST
12.30pm BST12.30pm BST
12:3012:30
Theresa May has spoken to the French president, Emmanuel Macron, about the London Bridge attack, Patrick Wintour reports.Theresa May has spoken to the French president, Emmanuel Macron, about the London Bridge attack, Patrick Wintour reports.
Macron and May spoke this morning (in English) discussing victims, first stages of inquiry and need to combat extremism in social media.Macron and May spoke this morning (in English) discussing victims, first stages of inquiry and need to combat extremism in social media.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.36pm BSTat 12.36pm BST
12.29pm BST12.29pm BST
12:2912:29
A journalist reported missing in the wake of the London terror attack has been found, a friend said. Geoff Ho, a business editor with the Sunday Express, is in intensive care after allegedly being stabbed.A journalist reported missing in the wake of the London terror attack has been found, a friend said. Geoff Ho, a business editor with the Sunday Express, is in intensive care after allegedly being stabbed.
Friends had tweeted that Ho was put in an ambulance after being injured near the Southwark Tavern. The friend, Isabelle Oderberg, tweeted: “We have found Geoff. He is in intensive care.Friends had tweeted that Ho was put in an ambulance after being injured near the Southwark Tavern. The friend, Isabelle Oderberg, tweeted: “We have found Geoff. He is in intensive care.
“Thank you for the RTs and messages. I’ll be going offline now until I hear more.”“Thank you for the RTs and messages. I’ll be going offline now until I hear more.”
Nora Calder also tweeted: “Geoff Ho, stabbed at Southwark Tavern, taken in Ambulance.”Nora Calder also tweeted: “Geoff Ho, stabbed at Southwark Tavern, taken in Ambulance.”
The Sunday Express editor, Martin Townsend, said: “Geoff Ho is an absolutely first-class reporter and a fine and decent man and our thoughts are with him and his family at this time. We are all hoping and praying for a speedy recovery.”The Sunday Express editor, Martin Townsend, said: “Geoff Ho is an absolutely first-class reporter and a fine and decent man and our thoughts are with him and his family at this time. We are all hoping and praying for a speedy recovery.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.36pm BSTat 12.36pm BST
12.26pm BST12.26pm BST
12:2612:26
Ewen MacAskillEwen MacAskill
The security services and police fear the London Bridge and Borough Market attack may inspire further copycat attacks.The security services and police fear the London Bridge and Borough Market attack may inspire further copycat attacks.
The concern is that the Westminster attack in March, the Manchester bombing last month and London Bridge last night will have a galvanising effect on others who had been half-contemplating attacks.The concern is that the Westminster attack in March, the Manchester bombing last month and London Bridge last night will have a galvanising effect on others who had been half-contemplating attacks.
The security services will be watching to see what impact the attacks have on the estimated 3,000 Britons, mainly Islamists, that they monitor and who are regarded as being capable of domestic terrorism.The security services will be watching to see what impact the attacks have on the estimated 3,000 Britons, mainly Islamists, that they monitor and who are regarded as being capable of domestic terrorism.
The worry about copycat attacks explains why Theresa May, in her statement outside Downing Street, spoke about “terrorism breeds terrorism”.The worry about copycat attacks explains why Theresa May, in her statement outside Downing Street, spoke about “terrorism breeds terrorism”.
Since the 2005 London bombing in which 52 were killed, the security services have had a relatively good record. But the tempo has suddenly increased, with three major attacks in just over two months, and several plots disrupted in the same period, one of which has still to be made public.Since the 2005 London bombing in which 52 were killed, the security services have had a relatively good record. But the tempo has suddenly increased, with three major attacks in just over two months, and several plots disrupted in the same period, one of which has still to be made public.
One of the questions the security services will be looking at is whether those involved in the London Bridge and Borough Market attack were inspired by the Westminster and Manchester attacks.One of the questions the security services will be looking at is whether those involved in the London Bridge and Borough Market attack were inspired by the Westminster and Manchester attacks.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.28pm BSTat 12.28pm BST
12.24pm BST12.24pm BST
12:2412:24
Vikram DoddVikram Dodd
Evidence gained from a recent counter-terrorism operation recorded alleged plotters being inspired by the Westminster attack in March to attempt their own atrocity.Evidence gained from a recent counter-terrorism operation recorded alleged plotters being inspired by the Westminster attack in March to attempt their own atrocity.
In her speech on Sunday morning, the prime minister said terrorists were being inspired by copying previous recent attacks against the UK, as officials and ministers searched for answers as to why Britain is facing such an upsurge in jihadi activity in the last 10 weeks.In her speech on Sunday morning, the prime minister said terrorists were being inspired by copying previous recent attacks against the UK, as officials and ministers searched for answers as to why Britain is facing such an upsurge in jihadi activity in the last 10 weeks.
Counter-terrorism investigators believe the upsurge in jihadi attack plots is also possibly linked to the holy month of Ramadan, which began in late May and continues until late June.Counter-terrorism investigators believe the upsurge in jihadi attack plots is also possibly linked to the holy month of Ramadan, which began in late May and continues until late June.
In 2016, Ramadan saw an upsurge in attacks around the world. This year it has involved an increase in attempts to attack the UK, one source said. Five plots believed to be at an advanced stage were disrupted since the Westminster attack, four in London and one in Birmingham.In 2016, Ramadan saw an upsurge in attacks around the world. This year it has involved an increase in attempts to attack the UK, one source said. Five plots believed to be at an advanced stage were disrupted since the Westminster attack, four in London and one in Birmingham.
MI5 currently has 3,000 suspects it is investigating for activity ranging from attack plots to support activities and funding, across 500 investigations. It also has a pool of 20,000 former suspects, among whom for instance was the Manchester arena attacker, Salman Abedi.MI5 currently has 3,000 suspects it is investigating for activity ranging from attack plots to support activities and funding, across 500 investigations. It also has a pool of 20,000 former suspects, among whom for instance was the Manchester arena attacker, Salman Abedi.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.30pm BSTat 12.30pm BST
12.21pm BST12.21pm BST
12:2112:21
Severin CarrellSeverin Carrell
Police Scotland has warned it will crack down on any incidents of hate crime after last night’s terror attack in London, and said it will “dynamically review” all its security and safety planning, including the deployment of extra armed officers.Police Scotland has warned it will crack down on any incidents of hate crime after last night’s terror attack in London, and said it will “dynamically review” all its security and safety planning, including the deployment of extra armed officers.
There was an increase in reported hate crimes in Scotland, chiefly graffiti attacks on mosques and verbal attacks, after the Manchester Arena bomb.There was an increase in reported hate crimes in Scotland, chiefly graffiti attacks on mosques and verbal attacks, after the Manchester Arena bomb.
Assistant chief constable Steve Johnson said:Assistant chief constable Steve Johnson said:
While we understand that the public will clearly be appalled by these events, I would urge each and every member of our communities to remain united against extremism and hate.While we understand that the public will clearly be appalled by these events, I would urge each and every member of our communities to remain united against extremism and hate.
Police Scotland will not tolerate any attempts to target any community by any misguided individual or group and will work with all of our partners to resolve any issues and address any concerns. Should anyone become a victim of, or witness to, any hate crime, they should contact the police and report the incident.Police Scotland will not tolerate any attempts to target any community by any misguided individual or group and will work with all of our partners to resolve any issues and address any concerns. Should anyone become a victim of, or witness to, any hate crime, they should contact the police and report the incident.
Johnson added there was no specific intelligence or threat of attack in Scotland, which has an autonomous domestic policing and justice system except for UK-wide intelligence, security and border policing services. The same UK-wide threat level of severe applies too.Johnson added there was no specific intelligence or threat of attack in Scotland, which has an autonomous domestic policing and justice system except for UK-wide intelligence, security and border policing services. The same UK-wide threat level of severe applies too.
Police Scotland continues to dynamically review all safety and security plans and operations. An element of this includes ensuring our armed policing and specialist resources are appropriately deployed.Police Scotland continues to dynamically review all safety and security plans and operations. An element of this includes ensuring our armed policing and specialist resources are appropriately deployed.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.31pm BSTat 12.31pm BST
12.20pm BST12.20pm BST
12:2012:20
Sarah MarshSarah Marsh
The Australian actor who featured in Orange is the New Black, Ruby Rose, was reportedly caught up in the London terror attacks. On Saturday, Rose said on Twitter she was in “lockdown”:The Australian actor who featured in Orange is the New Black, Ruby Rose, was reportedly caught up in the London terror attacks. On Saturday, Rose said on Twitter she was in “lockdown”:
I'm lost for words but please know I am currently safe in London in lockdown with @Jessicaveronica -Absolutely tragic and frightening night.I'm lost for words but please know I am currently safe in London in lockdown with @Jessicaveronica -Absolutely tragic and frightening night.
Rose was with with girlfriend Jessica Origliasso, who is one half ofthe Australian band The Veronicas. Origliasso also tweeted about herexperiences.Rose was with with girlfriend Jessica Origliasso, who is one half ofthe Australian band The Veronicas. Origliasso also tweeted about herexperiences.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.32pm BSTat 12.32pm BST
12.16pm BST12.16pm BST
12:1612:16
Sam JonesSam Jones
The Spanish foreign ministry has released a statement condemning the atrocity in London and stressing it solidarity with the UK.The Spanish foreign ministry has released a statement condemning the atrocity in London and stressing it solidarity with the UK.
“Spain shares the pain of the families of those who have died in these cowardly attacks and wishes all those injured a swift recovery,” it said. “The government offers the British people and authorities its total solidarity and support in the fight against terrorism.”“Spain shares the pain of the families of those who have died in these cowardly attacks and wishes all those injured a swift recovery,” it said. “The government offers the British people and authorities its total solidarity and support in the fight against terrorism.”
It added: ‘The Spanish embassy in the UK and the consulate in London have been following the situation since the start to help Spanish citizens and remain in constant contact with the British authorities.”It added: ‘The Spanish embassy in the UK and the consulate in London have been following the situation since the start to help Spanish citizens and remain in constant contact with the British authorities.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.33pm BSTat 12.33pm BST
12.16pm BST
12:16
Nadia Khomami
Another witness to the London Bridge attack has been praised for attempting to fend off the terrorists by running after them and throwing chairs, bottles and pint glasses in a bid to stop them.
Gerard Vowles, 47, said he had been watching the Champions League final at the Ship pub in Borough and then decided to go home to get something to eat. He was at the start of the south side of London Bridge when saw a woman being stabbed 10 or 15 times by three men in their 30s.
“She was going, ‘Help me, help me’ and I couldn’t do nothing,” he said. “I want to know if this girl is still alive. I’ve been walking around for an hour and a half crying my eyes out. I don’t know what to do.”Vowles said he followed the attackers to Borough Market and started throwing items at them to try and stop the atrocity. “I know it was a silly thing to do but I was trying to save people’s lives,” he said.
Vowles said he hit one of the perpetrators on the back with a chair, at which point they chased him to try to stab him. “I knew if I slipped over I’d be a dead man, I’d be killed there and then.”
He said it took at least 10 minutes for armed police to reach the scene. “They literally just started kicking them, punching them, they took out knives. It was a rampage really.”
He said he knew the canisters attached to one of the men wasn’t a bomb because he he chased them and thrown bottles at them for five minutes. “If it was a bomb they would have blown themselves up.”
Updated
at 12.33pm BST
12.08pm BST
12:08
Police vans are arriving at the address in Barking raided earlier this morning.
Three police vans full of officers just arrived Barking #LondonTerrorAttacks pic.twitter.com/aQzP4mZPr2
12.00pm BST
12:00
Alan Travis
My colleague, Alan Travis, has analysed Theresa May’s four-point plan for tackling extremism in the wake of this latest attack.
Theresa May’s “time to say enough is enough” call to tackle the ideology of Islamist extremism in Britain head-on in the immediate aftermath of the London Bridge attack marks a much tougher response.
Outside 10 Downing Street, 12 hours after the London Bridge attacks, she declared that “there is far too much tolerance of extremism in our country” and said we must “deny any safe spaces for the extremists” and assert “the superiority” of British values.
The prime minister made no mention of Islamist extremism in her Downing Street statement in the immediate aftermath of the Manchester attack, not even to stress, as prime minsters before had done, that radical Islamist ideology is a perversion of the faith of Islam.
This time May has taken a much tougher response both in her language and in the expected policy response, even if the Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, has yet to publicly comment on the identity of the three attackers.
Updated
at 12.02pm BST
11.56am BST
11:56
Theresa May's statement - Summary and analysis
After the 7/7 terror attacks in 2005, Tony Blair announced a 12-point plan for tackling terrorism. It attempted to show the government was serious about toughening anti-terror laws, but Blair was later accused of over-reaction when it became clear that some of his proposals were impossible, or impractical, to implement.
Until now Theresa May has adopted a different approach. After the Westminster and Manchester Arena attacks there were no calls for new anti-terror laws. In fact, after Manchester, Amber Rudd, the home secretary, specifically said that the police and the intelligence services were not asking for news powers.
Now May has changed tack. “Things cannot continue as they are,” she said in a speech that proposed a new legislative blitz against terror.
Here are the key points.
May said terror laws needed to be overhauled because Britain faced new types of terror attack.
In terms of their planning and execution, the recent attacks are not connected but we believe we are experiencing a new trend in the threat we face.
As terrorism breeds terrorism and perpetrators are inspired to attack, not only on the basis of carefully constructed plots after years of planning and training, and not even as lone attackers radicalised online, but by copying one another and often using the crudest of means of attack.
We cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are. Things need to change and they need to change in four important ways.
May said the government needed to redouble efforts to stop people being being radicalised.
First, while the recent attacks are not connected by common networks, they are connected in one important sense. They are bound together by the single evil ideology of Islamist extremism that preaches hatred, sows division and promotes sectarianism.
It is an ideology that claims our western values of freedom, democracy and human rights are incompatible with the religion of Islam. It is an ideology that is a perversion of Islam and a perversion of the truth.
Defeating this ideology is one of the great challenges of our time, but it cannot be defeated by military intervention alone. It will not be defeated by the maintenance of a permanent defensive counter-terrorism operation, however skillful its leaders and practitioners.
It will only be defeated when we turn people’s minds away from this violence and make them understand that our values – pluralistic British values – are superior to anything offered by the preachers and supporters of hate.
May may have been referring to government plans to reboot the Prevent programme later this year.
She said she was committed to working with other governments to get internet companies to do more to tackle extremism online. She said:
Second, we cannot allow this ideology the safe space it needs to breed. Yet that is precisely what the internet, and the big companies that provide internet-based services provide. We need to work with allied democratic governments to reach international agreements that regulate cyberspace to prevent the spread of extremist and terrorism planning.
And we need to do everything we can at home to reduce the risks of extremism online.
This is a reference to an initiative that May was pushing at the G7 summit last month. At the G7 summit, May was focusing on getting internet companies to remove extremism content. In her interview with Peston on Sunday just now, Amber Rudd, the home secretary, signalled that the government would revive its attempt to get internet firms to allow the security services access to encrypted messages. (See 10.57am.) Rudd floated this idea after the Westminster attack, although campaigners and internet companies say her demands are unrealistic and disproportionate.
May said there was “far too much tolerance of extremism in our country” and that she wanted to stamp it out.
Third, while we need to deprive the extremists of their safe spaces online, we must not forget about the safe spaces that continue to exist in the real world. Yes, that means taking military action to destroy Isis in Iraq and Syria. But it also means taking action here at home.
While we have made significant progress in recent years, there is – to be frank – far too much tolerance of extremism in our country. So we need to become far more robust in identifying it and stamping it out across the public sector and across society.
That will require some difficult, and often embarrassing, conversations. But the whole of our country needs to come together to take on this extremism, and we need to live our lives not in a series of separated, segregated communities, but as one truly United Kingdom.
This suggests that May is determined to revive plans for a counter-extremism bill. After the 2015 general election, David Cameron’s government proposed a counter-extremism bill in two successive Queen’s speeches but the law never materialised, reportedly because government lawyers could not come up with a definition of “non-violent extremism”, which the bill was supposed to target.
The Conservative manifesto includes plans to address extremism. It says:
To defeat extremism, we need to learn from how civil society and the state took on racism in the twentieth century. We will consider what new criminal offences might need to be created, and what new aggravated offences might need to be established, to defeat the extremists. We will support the public sector and civil society in identifying extremists, countering their messages and promoting pluralistic, British values. And we will establish a Commission for Countering Extremism to identify examples of extremism and expose them, to support the public sector and civil society, and help the government to identify policies to defeat extremism and promote pluralistic values.
But the Tories have not said what these new criminal offences might be, or what “exposing” extremism might mean. May’s language this morning is much blunter and more aggressive.
She proposed a review of counter-terror laws and floated the prospect of toughening sentences, including for “apparently less serious” terror offences. She said:
Fourth, we have a robust counter-terrorism strategy, that has proved successful over many years. But as the nature of the threat we face becomes more complex, more fragmented, more hidden, especially online, the strategy needs to keep up.
So in light of what we are learning about the changing threat, we need to review Britain’s counter-terrorism strategy to make sure the police and security services have all the powers they need.
And if we need to increase the length of custodial sentences for terrorist-related offences – even apparently less serious offences - that is what we will do.
This goes beyond what the Conservatives proposed in their manifesto.
She said that since the Westminster attack in March “the security and intelligence agencies and police have disrupted five credible plots”.
Updated
at 12.15pm BST
11.49am BST
11:49
Jamie Grierson
A woman from Brisbane is among two Australians injured in the attack, according to the Brisbane Courier Mail. Candice Hedge, 31, was dining in London on Saturday night with her boyfriend when she was stabbed in the neck. She had finished working as waitress at Elliot’s restaurant in London Bridge about 10.30pm and was sitting at the bar having a drink when a man came up behind her and slashed her throat with a knife.
It’s understood she had her back to the man and he came up behind her, grabbed her head and slashed her throat. She was briefly in a coma but is now awake and speaking with friends.
Updated
at 11.59am BST
11.47am BST
11:47
Peter Walker
My colleague, Peter Walker, has filed this take on the response to the attack by the prime minister, Theresa May.
Theresa May has warned there has been “far too much tolerance of extremism” in the UK and promised to step up the fight against Islamist terrorism in the wake of the London Bridge attack, saying “enough is enough”.
The prime minister struck a sombre and serious tone as she spoke outside No 10 on Sunday morning after chairing a meeting of the Cobra committee following the attack in the centre of the capital that left seven dead.
She said internet companies must not allow extremism a place to exist, but that there was also a need to tackle “safe spaces in real world”, which would require “difficult” conversations.
May also suggested the idea of increased prison terms for terrorism offences, even relatively minor ones.
Updated
at 12.01pm BST
11.42am BST
11:42
Sarah Marsh
Felipe Vaiano, a waiter at Roast restaurant in the former floral hall at Borough Market. He told the Guardian:
As we were cleaning stuff two people came into the restaurant crying and panicking, at first we didn’t know what was going on or what to do. Then they tried to talk but they were in such complete panic, they couldn’t really get words out. All they said was there were stabbings downstairs. So we quickly shut all the doors and stayed inside for about an hour.
We finally left when the police came up to the restaurant and said “you need to leave, follow us.” We ran out into the street and it was full of paramedics everywhere. We were then taken to safety through an escape route in the London underground. I think we were taken to Southwark. We ran and I had nothing with me. When we got out I was near the nightclub Pulse and it was there that I was given an Oyster card by the security guard to get me home.
When we were trapped in the restaurant, the chef in charge was amazing, he was a voice of calm. He is responsible for the restaurant and panic is contagious so he did a great job of keeping everything under control. He told us to turn everything off, the stoves and ovens etc, which is important as it could be a fire hazard. I finished cleaning up and closing down as we normally do. I was cleaning my section, storing food, putting labels – I carried on as normal. Obviously it wasn’t a normal situation but I just tried to focus on my job. The customers were in the saloon trying to find out as much news as possible. There was an atmosphere of calm. I was scared when had to run but now sad because of all the people who had been injured and got killed. I am lucky to be alive.
Updated
at 11.58am BST
11.38am BST
11:38
Intelligence agencies and police against raising threat level
Ewen MacAskill
The intelligence agencies and police recommended at this morning’s Cobra meeting against raising the threat level from severe to critical, which suggests they believe that there is no one else at large, Guardian security correspondent Ewen MacAskill reports.
After the Manchester bomb attack, the threat level was raised to critical, which suggests another attack is imminent because the police and security agencies could not be sure at the time that the bomber Salman Abedi had acted alone. But soon after the threat level was dropped back to severe.
The working assumption is that the London Bridge attack was only the three killed by police were involved.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, based at MI5 headquarters in London, is made up of representatives of three intelligence agencies – MI5, which deals with domestic intelligence, MI6, which deals with overseas intelligence, and the surveillance agency GCHQ – as well as the police counter-terrorism team and various Whitehall departments.
There are five threat levels; low, moderate, substantial, severe – meaning an an attack is highly likely – and critical, which means an attack is expected imminently. The threat level was raised to severe in August 2014 in reaction to concerns over Iraq and Syria
Updated
at 11.44am BST
11.30am BST
11:30
Jamie Grierson
London’s fire chief said firefighters rushed to shut down gas supplies at premises near the attacks. The London fire commissioner, Dany Cotton, who was at London Fire Brigade headquarters shortly after the incident, said:
Our thoughts today are with all of those affected by this horrific terrorist attack in Southwark. Once again I am proud of all of the London Fire Brigade staff involved in the emergency service response.
London Fire Brigade officers were deployed to assist police and other emergency service colleagues at London Bridge and Borough Market. Specially trained officers were on site to treat casualties and carried out specific tasks, including shutting down the gas supply in a number of premises to ensure the area was safe.
We train alongside our emergency service partners to be ready for this kind of emergency and will continue to remain alert and prepared to respond.
At the height of the incident, and in addition to the specially trained officers attending, six fire engines, a command unit and 30 firefighters were positioned at the scene to assist.
Updated
at 11.33am BST
11.26am BST
11:26
My colleague Haroon Siddique reports that police officers have stationed themselves outside St Thomas’ hospital.
Two police officers have just taken up positions outside the main entrance of St Thomas' hospital pic.twitter.com/dsabP1JE4M