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London Bridge attack: one Canadian and one French citizen among dead - latest updates London Bridge attack: one Canadian and one French citizen among dead - latest updates
(35 minutes later)
8.50pm BST
20:50
Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas told the crowd at the fundraising concert: “Manchester, London, we are here together and we are one.”
Ariana Grande then introduced Imogen Heap, who sat at the piano to sing Whatcha Say before a video message from David Beckham was played. He said: “As a father what happened made me truly sad and it’s a day we’ll never forget. I’m proud of everyone there today, everyone in the crowd and all the artists.”
Grande later joined a choir from Parrs Wood high school on stage, who sang their own version of her song, My Everything, before she welcomed her boyfriend Mac Miller on to the stage, saying: “Tonight is all about love, am I right?”
The pair danced together as they performed their 2013 collaboration The Way and Miller’s track Dang!
8.34pm BST
20:34
Ariana Grande has just finished performing with the Black Eyed Peas at the Manchester One Love concert, where the crowd was treated to their megahit Where is the Love?
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8.22pm BST
20:22
Police were warned about suspect two years ago
Lisa O'Carroll
Police were warned about the main suspect radicalising children in a local park two years ago, a neighbour has revealed.
Erica Gasparri, an Italian mother of three who lives in the same complex, said she confronted the man, known locally as “Abs”, after her son came home and said: “Mummy, I want to be a Muslim.”
Gasparri then went to the park, where she said a “Pakistani man” had stated: “I’m ready to do whatever I need to do in the name of Allah. I am ready in the name of Allah to do what needs to be done, including killing my own mother.”
She said: “I took four photographs of him and gave them to the police. They rang Scotland Yard when I was there and said the information had been passed on to Scotland Yard. They were very concerned. They told me to delete the photos for my own safety which I did but then I heard nothing. That was two years ago. No-one came to me. If they did this could have been prevented and lives could have been saved.
“He would go down to the park and talk to them about Islam and he also came to the houses and gave the kids money and sweets during Ramadan.”Gasparri said she told other neighbours including a Polish woman, who then tipped off the suspect that he had been reported to police.
Today that woman said she was sorry: “I didn’t know he was a bad guy. Maybe I was blind.”
In a stand-up row near the suspect’s flat on Sunday evening, Erica told the Polish woman: “My first impressions was he was a terrorist radicaliser.”
Met Police said they were aware of the claims, but had no comment at this stage, as they had not released any information about any of the suspects.
Updated
at 8.27pm BST
8.13pm BST8.13pm BST
20:1320:13
Much praise on Twitter for this tweet from the US Embassy in London, which is somewhat different in tone to those from President Trump earlier in the day.Much praise on Twitter for this tweet from the US Embassy in London, which is somewhat different in tone to those from President Trump earlier in the day.
I commend the strong leadership of the @MayorofLondon as he leads the city forward after this heinous attack. – LLukens 3/3 https://t.co/p4dDZuCpyOI commend the strong leadership of the @MayorofLondon as he leads the city forward after this heinous attack. – LLukens 3/3 https://t.co/p4dDZuCpyO
8.08pm BST8.08pm BST
20:0820:08
Little Mix have taken to the stage in Manchester now and kick off with their hit Wings. Little Mix have taken to the stage in Manchester now to perform their hit Wings.
One of the quartet, Jade Thirlwall, told the crowd: “We are so, so happy to be part of this incredible day, thank you. The song we have chosen to do for you guys we wrote together a few years ago in the hope it would empower people to stand together and to not let anything bring them down.”
Updated
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8.03pm BST8.03pm BST
20:0320:03
GO ARIANA. #OneLoveManchester pic.twitter.com/ry8hgwBTc3GO ARIANA. #OneLoveManchester pic.twitter.com/ry8hgwBTc3
A better-known song from Ariana Grande now: Break Free. The crowd is singing along noisily: “This is the part where I break free...”A better-known song from Ariana Grande now: Break Free. The crowd is singing along noisily: “This is the part where I break free...”
Just the two songs from the 23-year-old American performer tonight.Just the two songs from the 23-year-old American performer tonight.
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at 8.06pm BSTat 8.06pm BST
7.59pm BST7.59pm BST
19:5919:59
Ariana Grande opens her set with the track Be Alright – and some top-notch vogueing from her backing dancers.Ariana Grande opens her set with the track Be Alright – and some top-notch vogueing from her backing dancers.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.01pm BSTat 8.01pm BST
7.56pm BST7.56pm BST
19:5619:56
Ariana Grande is about to take to the stage at the One Love concert in Manchester. “Manchester, your bravery is our hope,” says the pop star’s manager, Scooter Braun, introducing her.Ariana Grande is about to take to the stage at the One Love concert in Manchester. “Manchester, your bravery is our hope,” says the pop star’s manager, Scooter Braun, introducing her.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.57pm BSTat 7.57pm BST
7.44pm BST7.44pm BST
19:4419:44
A small sign of normality returning to the London Bridge area – Borough underground station is once again open to commuters.A small sign of normality returning to the London Bridge area – Borough underground station is once again open to commuters.
#Borough - the station has now reopened, following an earlier police investigation.#Borough - the station has now reopened, following an earlier police investigation.
London Bridge underground and mainline station remains closed, however, and there is ongoing disruption to Thameslink services and some trains from Victoria as well.London Bridge underground and mainline station remains closed, however, and there is ongoing disruption to Thameslink services and some trains from Victoria as well.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.01pm BSTat 8.01pm BST
7.41pm BST7.41pm BST
19:4119:41
Nadia KhomamiNadia Khomami
A vigil for the victims will be held in Potters Fields Park, Southwark, on Monday night, according to a statement on the London Assembly website.A vigil for the victims will be held in Potters Fields Park, Southwark, on Monday night, according to a statement on the London Assembly website.
“The Mayor invites all Londoners – and everyone visiting our city - to come together in solidarity to remember those who have lost their lives in Saturday’s attack, to express sympathy with their families and loved ones and to show the world that we stand united in the face of those who seek to harm us and our way of life. We will never let these cowards win and we will never be cowed by terrorism.”Members of the public can lay floral tributes at the flagpoles at City Hall.“The Mayor invites all Londoners – and everyone visiting our city - to come together in solidarity to remember those who have lost their lives in Saturday’s attack, to express sympathy with their families and loved ones and to show the world that we stand united in the face of those who seek to harm us and our way of life. We will never let these cowards win and we will never be cowed by terrorism.”Members of the public can lay floral tributes at the flagpoles at City Hall.
7.36pm BST7.36pm BST
19:3619:36
Corbyn criticises Trump for his comments on London Bridge attackCorbyn criticises Trump for his comments on London Bridge attack
And here are some more lines from Jeremy Corbyn’s speech, for the full text released after he spoke.And here are some more lines from Jeremy Corbyn’s speech, for the full text released after he spoke.
Corbyn criticised President Trump for his comments about the London Bridge attack. (See 12.35pm.)Corbyn criticised President Trump for his comments about the London Bridge attack. (See 12.35pm.)
At this time it is more important than ever that we stay united in our communities. It is the strength of our communities that gets us through these awful times as London mayor Sadiq Khan recognised but which the current occupant in the White House has neither the grace nor the sense to grasp.At this time it is more important than ever that we stay united in our communities. It is the strength of our communities that gets us through these awful times as London mayor Sadiq Khan recognised but which the current occupant in the White House has neither the grace nor the sense to grasp.
Whether we are Muslim or Christian, black or white, male or female, gay or straight, we are united by our values, by our determination for a better world, and that we can build a better society.Whether we are Muslim or Christian, black or white, male or female, gay or straight, we are united by our values, by our determination for a better world, and that we can build a better society.
Corbyn said that, if he wins the election, he will commission a report on Friday on the changing nature of the terrorist threat.Corbyn said that, if he wins the election, he will commission a report on Friday on the changing nature of the terrorist threat.
If Labour is elected I will commission a report from the security services on Friday on the changing nature of the terrorist threat.If Labour is elected I will commission a report from the security services on Friday on the changing nature of the terrorist threat.
He defended Labour’s plans to raise tax for the rich, saying tax “underpins our peaceful, tolerant and civilised society” by funding the police.He defended Labour’s plans to raise tax for the rich, saying tax “underpins our peaceful, tolerant and civilised society” by funding the police.
The choice you face on 8 June is a Conservative party which has made clear it will press on with another five years of austerity and cuts to essential public services to pay for even more tax handouts to the richest and the big corporations.The choice you face on 8 June is a Conservative party which has made clear it will press on with another five years of austerity and cuts to essential public services to pay for even more tax handouts to the richest and the big corporations.
Or the Labour party, which is guaranteeing 95% of taxpayers will pay no extra tax but is asking the best off and the largest companies to pay a bit more to fund our hospitals, police, schools, decent pensions and childcare to invest in good jobs and a growing economy for the many not the few.Or the Labour party, which is guaranteeing 95% of taxpayers will pay no extra tax but is asking the best off and the largest companies to pay a bit more to fund our hospitals, police, schools, decent pensions and childcare to invest in good jobs and a growing economy for the many not the few.
I don’t hesitate to make the case for more tax from those who can afford it.I don’t hesitate to make the case for more tax from those who can afford it.
It is taxation that underpins our peaceful, tolerant and civilised society the police, security services, fire and rescue service, our NHS they have all suffered cuts to pay for tax giveaways for the big corporations and the very richest.It is taxation that underpins our peaceful, tolerant and civilised society the police, security services, fire and rescue service, our NHS they have all suffered cuts to pay for tax giveaways for the big corporations and the very richest.
He said if he won the election he would ensure those who acted bravely in the London Bridge attack are honoured.He said if he won the election he would ensure those who acted bravely in the London Bridge attack are honoured.
If I am elected prime minister on 8 June I will be asking the commissioners of the Met police and the British Transport police for the names of those whose bravery should be commended, to acknowledge their heroism and of many others in our emergency services and among the public who intervened.If I am elected prime minister on 8 June I will be asking the commissioners of the Met police and the British Transport police for the names of those whose bravery should be commended, to acknowledge their heroism and of many others in our emergency services and among the public who intervened.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.41pm BSTat 7.41pm BST
7.27pm BST
19:27
Jeremy Corbyn's speech on London Bridge attack – summary
Andrew Sparrow
Jeremy Corbyn has delivered his speech. Here are the key points from extracts released under embargo in advance.
Corbyn said that he approved of the police using “whatever force is necessary” to protect life.
Our priority must be public safety and I will take whatever action is necessary and effective to protect the security of our people and our country. That includes full authority for the police to use whatever force is necessary to protect and save life as they did last night, as they did in Westminster in March.
This is intended to finally quash the confusion created by an interview Corbyn gave to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg in November 2015 when he said he was “not happy with a shoot-to-kill policy in general”. His comments were taken as meaning that he was not happy about the prospect of the police shooting marauding terrorists killing civilians, but it is more likely that Corbyn thought he was being asked about terrorists being shot rather than apprehended (as “shoot-to-kill” operated at one point in Northern Ireland). The BBC Trust upheld a complaint about Kuennsberg’s report, but BBC News said it did not agree with the trust’s finding. Today Corbyn supporters have been protesting angrily about the fact that the original report is currently the fourth most watched video on the BBC news website.
He criticised Theresa May for ignoring warnings about the impact of police cuts.
You cannot protect the public on the cheap. The police and security services must get the resources they need, not 20,000 police cuts.
Theresa May was warned by the Police Federation but she accused them of “crying wolf”.
We will recruit another 10,000 new police officers, including more armed police, as well as 1,000 more security services staff to support our communities and help keep us safe.
He said that it would be “completely wrong” to suspend campaigning any longer or to delay the election.
The aim of the terrorists is plainly to derail our democracy and disrupt or even halt this election.
The general election is of course about the argument between the Labour and Conservative parties and our very different visions and plans for the future of our country.
But it is also now about something even bigger. It is about the struggle between terrorism and democracy itself.
The mass murderers who brought terror to our streets in London and Manchester want our election to be halted. They want democracy halted. They want their violence to overwhelm our right to vote in a fair and peaceful election and to go about our lives freely.
That is why it would be completely wrong to postpone next Thursday’s vote, or to suspend our campaigning any longer.
He criticised the government for refusing to publish a report into the foreign funding of jihadi groups. Britain needed to take a much firmer line with Saudi Arabia over its support of extremists, he said.
Our democratic values must be maintained. We must resist Islamophobia and division and turn out on 8 June united in our determination to show our democracy is strong. And, yes, we do need to have some difficult conversations starting with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states that have funded and fuelled extremist ideology.
It is no good Theresa May suppressing a report into the foreign funding of extremist groups. We have to get serious about cutting off the funding to these terror networks, including Isis, here and in the Middle East.
The reference to “difficult conversations” is particularly pointed, because May used the phrase herself in her speech this morning. (See 11.56am.) She said tackling extremism would involve “some difficult, and often embarrassing, conversations”.
Updated
at 7.43pm BST
7.23pm BST
19:23
At the Manchester tribute concert, Robbie Williams has taken over from Take That. He changed the lyrics to his song Strong in tribute to victims.
“Manchester we’re strong, we’re strong,” he sang in chorus with the audience. “We’re still singing our songs, our songs, our songs.”
Updated
at 7.23pm BST
7.02pm BST
19:02
The Manchester tribute concert has just started. Around 50,000 people are expected at the three-hour concert, which is being broadcast on the BBC.
Marcus Mumford from the band Mumford & Sons has opened the show, saying: “Let’s not be afraid.”
Updated
at 7.03pm BST
6.59pm BST
18:59
Andrew Sparrow
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, is due to give a speech in Carlisle shortly. According to a briefing from the party in advance, it is intended to be “statesmanlike”. He will talk about the London Bridge attack, and about Labour’s values.
According to Sky’s Darren McCaffrey, he will also speak about President Trump’s response to the atrocity. (See 3.29pm.)
Being told Corbyn will make reference to @realDonaldTrump during his speech this evening. #LondonBridgeAttacks pic.twitter.com/iv4gs50LBV
6.50pm BST
18:50
French man killed in attack - French foreign minister confirms
Nadia Khomami
A French man is among those killed in last night’s attack, theforeign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, has confirmed, according to French media and Reuters.
They report that seven people from France were injured in last night’s attack, four of them critically. One person is still missing.
The French government had earlier said four of those injured in the attack were from France.
🔴BREAKING NEWS - #Londres: 1 Français tué dans l'attentat,7 Français blessés dont 4 dans un état grave (Jean-Yves le Drian)." @franceinfo pic.twitter.com/5naYKfriTc
Le Drian tweeted that he would be in London tomorrow.
Hommage aux victimes du Bardo. Les démocraties attaquées sont déterminées à combattre le terrorisme, ici comme à Londres, où je serai demain
Updated
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6.33pm BST
18:33
Nadia Khomami
Leaders of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) have backed comments by Theresa May saying “enough is enough” after the London Bridge attack, and said they would be stepping up efforts to curb Islamic extremism in Britain.
Muslim community representatives from around the country were led by the MCB secretary-general, Harun Rashid, who condemned Islamic extremism as a “death cult”, and said “British Muslims must play our part” in turning people away from the ideology.
Today’s attack makes us all angry, it makes me angry. And we want to do something about it. That is why we agree with the prime minister that things must change.
Enough is enough. We are ready to have those difficult conversations, as equal citizens with an equal stake in this fight.
I am pleased that the prime minister is speaking about conversation, it implies that we must listen to one another and work together to be part of a truly United Kingdom.
Rashid said the MCB would now initiate a new campaign with mosques to report suspicious activity, and were “extending our hand of partnership and cooperation to the government and prime minister”.
We want to turn people’s minds away from this death cult.
We want to ensure families are not torn apart by being either victims of terrorist outrages, or finding out that someone they knew perpetrated such acts.
Updated
at 6.37pm BST
6.29pm BST
18:29
Caroline Bannock
One witness, who wishes to remain anonymous, was drinking in the George Inn on Borough High Street when the attack happened. They said:
We were enjoying a drink with friends we hadn’t seen in a while in the George, very close to where the atrocious attacks happened. A man, I think the bouncer, came in and shouted at us all to evacuate. There was a moment of silence and stillness as no one knew quite how to react. Our initial reaction was it was a hoax. He then shouted at us to move again and by his reaction, it was clear this was no hoax.
We all started leaving the pub, relatively calmly, and then we were told to go back in and started moving back in only to be told to run and get out quickly because there were people with knives and guns. As we went onto Borough High Street, we heard the sound of gunfire and a police officer telling us to run. We all just ran away as quickly as possible. I remember just grabbing my friend’s hand and sprinting away.
They said they had no idea what was happening or where they were running to and whether it was safe there. They ended up running into a residential area and then getting taxis further south.
I’m still feeling shocked that we were so near and also very lucky. We had nearly decided to go for drinks in Borough Market. My heart goes out to those people who have lost their lives, those who are injured and their families. It could have been us.
Updated
at 6.31pm BST
6.21pm BST
18:21
Nadia Khomami
Holly Jones, a BBC reporter, was one of the first people on the scene to call 999.
“The van was zig-zagging along the pavement and it looked like it was aiming for groups of people,” she said. “He hit two people in front of me that were about five metres in front, swerved back round again, and just clipped a girl who was walking towards me. Didn’t touch her, and she had headphones in, and I just saw the shock and look on her face as it veered around her.
“At this point is when I saw the driver of the vehicle, definitely intentional, he didn’t look scared he just looked focused. I’d almost like to say the word demented.
“That’s when he was heading straight towards me.”
"Demented, that's what he looked like" - BBC reporter Holly Jones saw van driver mount pavement in #LondonAttacks https://t.co/gDxKkWW4D0 pic.twitter.com/OK41v79YYO
Updated
at 6.23pm BST
6.16pm BST
18:16
Helena Smith
The Cyprus high commissioner, Euripides Evriviades, has ordered flags to be flown at half mast on his embassy’s London building ”in solidarity with the UK”.
The high commissioner, who was among the first to learn that the youngest victim of last month’s Manchester attack was an eight year-old Anglo-Cypriot schoolgirl, said the prime minister’s statement earlier today of “enough is enough is indicative of the direction of travel”.
“What it said is that all of us are in the same strategic boat,” he told the Guardian. “EU countries, irrespective of Brexit, have to cooperate closely to defeat this scourge, this threat against our way of life.”
What was needed was real-time, day-to-day cooperation at the highest levels, he added.
Respect to all affected; TY to all services; in solidarity w #UK, flags @ #Cyprus HC flying half mast #LondonAttacks #WeStandTogether 🇨🇾🇪🇺🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/BGLkbyORMv
Meanwhile, the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, which represents 300,000 Cypriots in Britain, expressed its “shock, horror and condemnation of the brutal events in London”.
In a letter to Theresa May, the federation also expressed its gratitude to the police and emergency services for the bravery and professionalism they had exhibited.
“We will not allow those who try to divide us and attack our democracy to succeed. Our community stands ready and willing to assist, in any way we can, to defend our common values.”
Updated
at 6.32pm BST
5.59pm BST
17:59
Nadia Khomami
The brother of David Haines, the British aid worker who was murdered by Islamic State in Syria in 2014, has made a plea for unity as the strongest possible response to the “barbarism” of the London terror attacks.
Over the past few years Mike Haines has sought to continue his brother’s work by visiting schools and community groups to combat extremist indoctrination of young people in the UK. He told the Press Association:
My deepest sympathies are with the victims and all those affected by last night’s dreadful attack in London.
From my own loss, I know first-hand the hurt and anger that many people are feeling today.
While it is hard at a time like this, I also know that hate can never be the answer – that is what the terrorists want, and it is not what we as a country are about.
As a nation, our strongest response to this barbarism is to hold steady, confident that terrorism will never break us, as long as we continue to stand together.
Updated
at 6.05pm BST