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London attacks: incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market confirmed as terrorism – live London attacks: incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market confirmed as terrorism – live
(35 minutes later)
2.08am BST
02:08
My colleague Colin Blackstock has been speaking to witnesses close to the scene:
The police cordons made it difficult for people to get where they were going and a number of people staying in hotels in the area have been unable to return to their rooms.
Elaine and Louise from Lurgan in Northern Ireland had been to the Olympic stadium in Stratford to see Depeche Mode. They were staying at the Premier Inn on Bankside but have been unable to get back to their hotel.
“We were at the concert when people started messaging us to ask us if we were OK because something had happened on London Bridge and they knew we were staying near there,” said Elaine. They were able to get a tube back to Southwark but found that the police cordon meant there was no way to get to their hotel.
“Now we’re stuck in London with nowhere to go and no sense of direction and sore feet,” Louise said.
They had tried calling their hotel but there was no answer, so after an hour of walking around trying to find somewhere to stay they were going to another Premier inn at Tower Bridge to see if the hotel would put them up for the night.
Updated
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An editor in the Sun’s London Bridge Street office says police have confirmed that a number of blasts heard in the last 45 minutes are controlled explosions.
Just had confirmation explosions in London Bridge area are controlled and police monitored
Updated
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01:55
Vikram Dodd
The attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market are the third suspected terrorist attack on the UK since March.
The incidents come after 10 weeks of intense activity for counter-terrorism investigators, which before Saturday had seen two plots escape detection and lead to mass casualties, and five alleged attack plots thwarted.
The first plot to kill was aimed at the Westminster area of central London on 22 March, when an attacker killed four people after mounting the pavement and mowing down pedestrians, before running into the Houses of Parliaments where a police officer was stabbed to death.
After that attack, five further plots were disrupted with suspects detained, as well as four alleged conspiracies in London and one in Birmingham.
On 22 May, a suicide bomber killed 22 people and injured more than 100 at Manchester Arena after attacking a pop concert attended by many children and youngsters. The Manchester attacker, Salman Abedi, was feared to have co-conspirators and concerns they may be on the loose led to the UK’s terrorism threat level being raised to its maximum, amid fears another attack may have been imminent.
The threat level was lowered to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely, last Saturday.
Updated
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01:50
Reports of further blasts close to London Bridge: three were heard about half an hour ago. It is not clear if these were controlled explosions deployed by the police. Scotland Yard has not yet commented on them.
Another sound of a massive explosion coming from the direction of Borough Market.
Updated
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01:43
My colleague Chris Johnston is at the scene and has been speaking to witnesses:
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 saw a woman being stabbed by three men.
“I want to know if this girl is still alive,” he said. “I’ve been walking around for an hour and a half crying my eyes out. I don’t know what to do.”
Vowls said he was throwing chairs, glasses and bottles at the attackers in a bid to stop them. “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.
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Emergency Cobra meeting on Sunday
There will be a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra meeting on Sunday morning, confirms Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, who will attend.
In a statement, Khan said:
The Metropolitan police are responding to the horrific terrorist attack at London Bridge and Borough Market. My thoughts are with everyone affected, and I’d like to thank the brave men and women of our emergency services who were first on the scene and will be working throughout the night.
I am in close contact with the Met commissioner and senior officers and am being kept updated on all developments. I will be attending the government’s emergency Cobra meeting later this morning.
London Bridge Station is closed and we are asking people to avoid the area. The situation is still unfolding and I would ask all Londoners and visitors to our city to remain calm and vigilant. Please report anything suspicious to the police, but only call 999 in an emergency.
We don’t yet know the full details, but this was a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. There is no justification whatsoever for such barbaric acts.
For further updates or information please follow the Metropolitan police on Twitter.
Updated
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1.37am BST
01:37
My colleague Carmen Fishwick is at Liverpool Street, outside the Andaz hotel where at least two people are being treated: one with a head injury and a woman in a wheelchair. She reports:
I spoke to a man who witnessed the immediate aftermath of the attack, whose car has been impounded by police.
A 25-year-old man, who wishes to remain anonymous, was driving across the bridge when he saw a man and a pregnant woman unconscious on the road. He says they were there for at least five minutes before the emergency services arrived.
“We thought it was a car accident but as we got closer we could see a lot of blood and bodies. There was a pregnant woman on the right who was severely injured and on the left there was a man being resuscitated, but he started breathing. We don’t know whether the woman survived.
“We had to get out of the car and there were lots of people screaming. And then ambulances arrived. It was a shocking experience.”
1.32am BST1.32am BST
01:3201:32
The offices of the Sun newspaper are on London Bridge Street. Staff at the offices of the Sun newspaper on London Bridge Street
Staff there report hearing two explosions close by just now, at 1.23am and 1.25am. reported hearing two explosions close by at 1.23am and 1.25am. A third explosion was reported close to the Shard at 1.28am.
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.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.Third sound of explosion at London Bridge - probably controlled explosion. Tourists here with nowhere to go.
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1.29am BST1.29am BST
01:2901:29
Guardian reporter Lisa O’Carroll is at Borough Market, where she says multiple stabbings have been reported: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. 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 guys 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.”“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.”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.Neither wanted to give their names.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.32am BST at 1.41am BST
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01:2401:24
Julian BorgerJulian 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.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: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...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.That was what he passed on under his personal Twitter account.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted:White House press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted:
National security team has briefed @POTUS on situation at #LondonBridge and will continue to provide updatesNational 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.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: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.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.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!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: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!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: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.Our thoughts & prayers are w/ the victims, courageous first responders & all the people of London. As President Trump said: WE ARE WITH YOU.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.34am BSTat 1.34am BST
1.17am BST1.17am BST
01:1701:17
The London Ambulance Service assistant director of operations, Peter Rhodes, has issued a statement on the medical response: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 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.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.More information will follow when we have it.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.21am BSTat 1.21am BST
1.14am BST1.14am BST
01:1401:14
Claire PhippsClaire Phipps
This is Claire Phipps picking up the live blog.This is Claire Phipps picking up the live blog.
Here is a brief recap of what we know so far: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.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.On London Bridge a van was driven, apparently deliberately, into pedestrians.
At Borough Market there are reports of multiple stabbings.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.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.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.We will keep you updated with all developments on the live blog.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.22am BSTat 1.22am BST
1.08am BST1.08am BST
01:0801:08
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.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.”“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.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”.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”.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.22am BSTat 1.22am BST
1.04am BST1.04am BST
01:0401:04
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.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.“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.“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.”“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.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.17am BSTat 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
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The Metropolitan police said: “ The incident at Vauxhall is a stabbing and is not connected to the incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market.”
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Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, said:
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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.”
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.
Updated
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12.39am BST
00:39
Theresa 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.
“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.”
Updated
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00:37
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said he is in contact with the Metropolitan police commissioner.
Updated
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00:36
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.
Meanwhile, life boats are coordinating with emergency services to evacuate members of the public on the Thames:
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00:31
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.”
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00:31
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.
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.
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.
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00:27
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.
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.
“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.”
12.16am BST
00:16
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 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:
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!
Updated
at 12.36am BST