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London attacks: incidents at London Bridge and Borough Markets confirmed as terrorism – live London attacks: incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market confirmed as terrorism – live
(35 minutes later)
1.32am BST
01:32
The offices of the Sun newspaper are on London Bridge Street.
Staff there report hearing two explosions close by just now, at 1.23am and 1.25am.
A third explosion was reported close to the Shard at 1.28am.
It is not clear if these were controlled explosions by police on the scene.
Third sound of explosion at London Bridge - probably controlled explosion. Tourists here with nowhere to go.
1.29am BST
01:29
Guardian reporter Lisa O’Carroll is at Borough Market, where she says multiple stabbings have been reported:
Witnesses said they saw two men stabbing people outside the well-known Roast restaurant in Borough market. A chef from the nearby Fish restaurant said: “I saw two [men] with big knives downstairs outside Roast. They were stabbing people. The police were running away, they were community police. They were normal officers, they were running away.
“The guy with the knife was killing two people. We were shouting ‘stop, stop’ and people threw chairs at them. Police came and shot straight away.”
Another staff member from Fish said: “I saw two people in Breadhead bakery, they had blood on them, they were civilians. I never expected to see this happen here.”
Neither wanted to give their names.
Updated
at 1.32am BST
1.24am BST
01:24
Julian Borger
Donald Trump’s first response to the news of the London attacks was to retweet a conservative news website better known for sensationalism and partisanship than for accurate reporting.
It is unclear whether the president received any intelligence briefing of his own about the attacks before he saw the tweet from the Drudge Report:
Fears of new terror attack after van 'mows down 20 people' on London Bridge...
That was what he passed on under his personal Twitter account.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted:
National security team has briefed @POTUS on situation at #LondonBridge and will continue to provide updates
Trump’s tweet came from his personal account, @realDonaldTrump, and was retweeted by the @POTUS handle.
NBC Nightly News felt the need to caution its audience about the credibility of the information that the president was passing on. The channel put out its own tweet in response:
Pres. Trump has used Twitter to share news report on London incident. We aren't relaying president's retweet, as the info is unconfirmed.
Some 40 minutes after his original reflex response, Trump sent out a second tweet, making a political point from the unfolding horror in London, arguing that it added weight to his efforts to get a travel ban imposed on travellers from six predominantly Muslim countries. Trump’s executive order has been blocked by a succession of courts and the matter is now before the supreme court.
We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!
The tweet provoked a storm of criticism from commentators who saw it as a piece of opportunism at London’s expense. Eight minutes later, Trump sent out a third, more supportive tweet, closer to a more normal response from a world leader when an ally comes under attack:
Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there - WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!
The tweet was echoed by vice-president Mike Pence:
Our thoughts & prayers are w/ the victims, courageous first responders & all the people of London. As President Trump said: WE ARE WITH YOU.
Updated
at 1.34am BST
1.17am BST
01:17
The London Ambulance Service assistant director of operations, Peter Rhodes, has issued a statement on the medical response:
We are responding to an incident alongside other emergency services at London Bridge. We have sent a number of ambulance crews, advanced paramedics and specialist response teams to the scene, with the first of our medics arriving in six minutes. An advanced trauma team from London’s air ambulance has also been dispatched by car.
We are working closely with other members of the emergency services at the scene, with our priority being to get people to safety and ensure they receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible. Our initial priority is to assess the level and nature of injuries, and ensure that those people in most need are treated first and taken to hospital.
More information will follow when we have it.
Updated
at 1.21am BST
1.14am BST
01:14
Claire Phipps
This is Claire Phipps picking up the live blog.
Here is a brief recap of what we know so far:
Police have declared two incidents in the capital – in London Bridge and Borough Market – as acts of terrorism.
On London Bridge a van was driven, apparently deliberately, into pedestrians.
At Borough Market there are reports of multiple stabbings.
A third incident, a stabbing at Vauxhall, is not thought to be connected, police have said.
It is not yet known if there are fatalities, or how many people have been hurt, but there are “multiple casualties”, according to the Metropolitan police.
We will keep you updated with all developments on the live blog.
Updated
at 1.22am BST
1.08am BST
01:08
Australian senator Sam Dastyari was at a restaurant near London Bridge at the time of the attack. He told the ABC the scenes were “quite horrific”, and that it was difficult to know what was going on as he and others were evacuated, as people got tidbits of information from text messages and other individuals.
“People were afraid. There is a real lack of information although that’s obviously natural,” he said. “It’s horrific. When we were evacuated from the site, going past who were obviously victims 10 to 15 metres from where you were eating 20 minutes earlier, it’s very confronting.”
Dastyari said the number of armed police who quickly appeared showed how seriously they were taking the incident, and praised the professionalism of the police force.
He said he’d spoken with London mayor, Sadiq Khan, about the Manchester attack, and Khan said “the reality was we had to be ready for these kind of incidents now”.
Updated
at 1.22am BST
1.04am BST
01:04
Guardian journalist Peter Walker was near the scene and witnessed members of the public trying to leave the area. He said: “I’ve just been around much of the police cordon close to London Bridge and Borough, and there is still a very fast-changing, chaotic situation going on.
“The area has been hastily cordoned off with police tape, but it is full of small side alleys, where some of the cordons have no officers stationed. There are a lot of people lost and trying to find their way home and I witnessed a coupe walk past the tape – some had fallen to the floor – only to be spotted by an officer who yelled, ‘Get back! Get back!’ at them, with real urgency.
“All the while there is a stream of police vans and cars, and fire engines and ambulances streaming to and fro, and more police, some in protective riot-type gear. There are still a lot of people about – this is a hugely busy area on a Saturday night ... most are trying to work out how to get home.
“I went past King’s College hospital, one of London’s main emergency centres, a few miles to the south. It had ambulances arriving even then, and a red foldout sign pointing people to the major incident centre inside.”
Updated
at 1.17am BST
12.58am BST12.58am BST
00:5800:58
Metropolitan police confirm attacks as acts of terrorismMetropolitan police confirm attacks as acts of terrorism
Emergency services responding to the incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market have confirmed that they were terrorist attacks.Emergency services responding to the incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market have confirmed that they were terrorist attacks.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.58am BSTat 12.58am BST
12.55am BST12.55am BST
00:5500:55
The Metropolitan police have said: “ The incident at Vauxhall is a stabbing and is not connected to the incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market.” The Metropolitan police said: “ The incident at Vauxhall is a stabbing and is not connected to the incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market.”
Updated
at 1.18am BST
12.45am BST12.45am BST
00:4500:45
Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, said:Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, said:
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.50am BSTat 12.50am BST
12.43am BST12.43am BST
00:4300:43
Guardian journalist Kate Lyons has more on the evacuations going on in the area around London Bridge. Guests at hotels in the vicinity of the attack have been evacuated. Zaven Jordan who is visiting from Australia was staying in Novotel Southwark and was woken by a fire alarm. When guests assembled outside the hotel he said police told everyone to run.Guardian journalist Kate Lyons has more on the evacuations going on in the area around London Bridge. Guests at hotels in the vicinity of the attack have been evacuated. Zaven Jordan who is visiting from Australia was staying in Novotel Southwark and was woken by a fire alarm. When guests assembled outside the hotel he said police told everyone to run.
“The police didn’t just give directions, they were yelling ‘run!’,” he said. “When a fire alarm goes off you expect to assemble and then go back inside in a few minutes. We grabbed our passports just in case, but we weren’t really ready for this.”“The police didn’t just give directions, they were yelling ‘run!’,” he said. “When a fire alarm goes off you expect to assemble and then go back inside in a few minutes. We grabbed our passports just in case, but we weren’t really ready for this.”
He is walking the streets trying to find somewhere to stay. He says the hotel is not answering their phone, he had been turned away by another hotel and he is uncertain where in the city it is safe to go.He is walking the streets trying to find somewhere to stay. He says the hotel is not answering their phone, he had been turned away by another hotel and he is uncertain where in the city it is safe to go.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.51am BSTat 12.51am BST
12.39am BST12.39am BST
00:3900:39
Theresa May releases statementTheresa May releases statement
Sky News have reported a statement from Theresa May: “Following updates from police and security officials, I can confirm that the terrible incident in London is being treated as a potential act of terrorism.Sky News have reported a statement from Theresa May: “Following updates from police and security officials, I can confirm that the terrible incident in London is being treated as a potential act of terrorism.
“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.”“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.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.54am BSTat 12.54am BST
12.37am BST12.37am BST
00:3700:37
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said he is in contact with the Metropolitan police commissioner.Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said he is in contact with the Metropolitan police commissioner.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.37am BSTat 12.37am BST
12.36am BST12.36am BST
00:3600:36
Guardian journalist Chris Johnston is in the area of London Bridge, and says emergency services are continuing to descend on the area. He says a fire brigade command vehicle and operational support trucks and six fire engines just crossed Borough High Street along with two ambulances.Guardian journalist Chris Johnston is in the area of London Bridge, and says emergency services are continuing to descend on the area. He says a fire brigade command vehicle and operational support trucks and six fire engines just crossed Borough High Street along with two ambulances.
Meanwhile, life boats are coordinating with emergency services to evacuate members of the public on the Thames:Meanwhile, life boats are coordinating with emergency services to evacuate members of the public on the Thames:
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.38am BSTat 12.38am BST
12.31am BST12.31am BST
00:3100:31
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, said on Twitter: “Brutal and shocking incidents reported in London. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. Thank you to the emergency services.”Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, said on Twitter: “Brutal and shocking incidents reported in London. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. Thank you to the emergency services.”
12.31am BST12.31am BST
00:3100:31
Guardian journalist Kate Lyons is continuing to speak to people near the scene at London Bridge:Guardian journalist Kate Lyons is continuing to speak to people near the scene at London Bridge:
Leon Radschinski, a bartender who was working tonight at Caravan Bankside, a restaurant near London Bridge said they stopped serving after they began hearing reports of an attack, before police ran into the restaurant ordering everyone to get out and run south.Leon Radschinski, a bartender who was working tonight at Caravan Bankside, a restaurant near London Bridge said they stopped serving after they began hearing reports of an attack, before police ran into the restaurant ordering everyone to get out and run south.
Radschiski has made it out of the cordoned area and is trying to make it home on a Boris bike.Radschiski has made it out of the cordoned area and is trying to make it home on a Boris bike.
The streets around London Bridge, outside of the cordoned area, are full of people desperately trying to get home. The underground and trains are not running and taxis are hard to come by.The streets around London Bridge, outside of the cordoned area, are full of people desperately trying to get home. The underground and trains are not running and taxis are hard to come by.
One woman, visiting London from Yorkshire for a wedding, was in tears at the shock of the evening and overwhelmed at trying to find a way to her accommodation in Crystal Palace. Strangers are stopping to help one another in the street – offering advice on the best routes back and looking up locations for those without phones or GPS.One woman, visiting London from Yorkshire for a wedding, was in tears at the shock of the evening and overwhelmed at trying to find a way to her accommodation in Crystal Palace. Strangers are stopping to help one another in the street – offering advice on the best routes back and looking up locations for those without phones or GPS.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.35am BSTat 12.35am BST
12.27am BST12.27am BST
00:2700:27
Guardian journalists at the scene are continuing to get eye-witness testimony of how the attack unfolded.Guardian journalists at the scene are continuing to get eye-witness testimony of how the attack unfolded.
Olivia Doyle, 23, was travelling across London Bridge in a car with three family members, arriving to the sound of sirens.Olivia Doyle, 23, was travelling across London Bridge in a car with three family members, arriving to the sound of sirens.
She told the Guardian: “We arrived to see paramedics running to injured people. There were two people lying on the north end, on the east side of the bridge, just off the pavement. There were bits of what looked like car wreckage. We thought it was bits of bike or something. I saw four or five people lying on the ground, but everyone I saw was alive.She told the Guardian: “We arrived to see paramedics running to injured people. There were two people lying on the north end, on the east side of the bridge, just off the pavement. There were bits of what looked like car wreckage. We thought it was bits of bike or something. I saw four or five people lying on the ground, but everyone I saw was alive.
“It seemed like some kind of vehicle had knocked people down. They were two or three minutes walk apart, it obviously wasn’t an accident.“It seemed like some kind of vehicle had knocked people down. They were two or three minutes walk apart, it obviously wasn’t an accident.
“I saw armed police officers shouting at people to stay in their cars, and pedestrians running past us off the bridge.“I saw armed police officers shouting at people to stay in their cars, and pedestrians running past us off the bridge.
“We got out of our car and started running, then realised that we’d be better off in the car and we could be blocking the road, and the road was clear behind us except for a taxi that had been abandoned.”“We got out of our car and started running, then realised that we’d be better off in the car and we could be blocking the road, and the road was clear behind us except for a taxi that had been abandoned.”
12.16am BST12.16am BST
00:1600:16
The prime minister, Theresa May, who has been campaigning in the general election, was returning to Downing Street to receive further briefings from security officials, No 10 has confirmed.The prime minister, Theresa May, who has been campaigning in the general election, was returning to Downing Street to receive further briefings from security officials, No 10 has confirmed.
The White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, said the US president, Donald Trump, has been briefed on the incident by his national security team.The White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, said the US president, Donald Trump, has been briefed on the incident by his national security team.
The US president has recently tweeted:The US president has recently tweeted:
We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.36am BSTat 12.36am BST