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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)
2.45am BST
02:45
Amber Rudd, the home secretary, has called the night’s incidents “a horrific attack in the heart of our capital city”.
She added:
My thoughts are with the victims and all of those affected.
Rudd said she was “extremely proud of our emergency services” for their response to the attacks.
2.37am BST
02:37
At least 20 people taken to hospitals
London Ambulance Service says it has taken at least 20 patients to six hospitals across London:
We can confirm we have taken at least 20 patients to six hospitals across London following the incident at London Bridge.
We have also treated a number of people at the scene for less serious injuries.
We have declared a major incident and continue to work closely with other members of the emergency services. Our priority is to ensure patients receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.
As we are very busy dealing with this incident, we would ask the public to only call us in a genuine emergency and to call NHS 111 for urgent healthcare advice.
Updated
at 2.41am BST
2.34am BST
02:34
Owen Evans, 39, was in the Wheatsheaf pub on Stoney Street near Borough Market on Saturday night, with friends, when shooting broke out nearby:
I was in the back of the pub. A wave of about 30 people ran in and tried to get into the cellar or cupboard. Then there were shots outside. They didn’t seem real – like a kid letting off firecrackers. We saw police lights and everyone got down under a table. People turned tables over.
We waited about 10 minutes or so, with several shots every couple of minutes. Someone at the front of the pub had been shot – it’s speculation but we thought it was by accident, there were bullet holes in the windows.
The people near the person called for a medic, shouting: ‘He’s fucking bleeding to death, we need a doctor.’ The bar staff were amazing, I think they locked the door so no one got in.
Then they told us to leave the pub and to run, and a policeman standing outside with a gun was shouting, ‘Go, get the fuck out.’ We ran down the street, turned left at the Market Porter, than ran down the road and away. We got to the South Bank and then waited ages for a tube, and eventually got home.
2.28am BST
02:28
Vikram Dodd
The Metropolitan police have confirmed at least one armed officer had opened fire during the attack at Borough market.
In information posted on Twitter, they said: “Armed officers responded and shots have been fired.”
The Met has not said whether the shots fired by their officer struck anyone or stopped a suspect.
Updated
at 2.34am BST
2.20am BST
02:20
Photo shows man 'with canisters strapped to body'
Pictures have been circulating showing a man on the ground; he appears to have canisters strapped to his body. The Guardian is not showing his face until his identity and connection to the incident has been established.
The photo was taken by Gabriele Sciotto, a Juventus fan, who said he was on his way home after watching his team play in the Champions League final. “I had just been watching the football at The Sheaf pub and I left. I was trying to figure out which way to go home and I went the wrong way.”
As he walked down Park Street he said a man came running towards him. “He was maybe 35. He was saying ‘run away, there’s a terrorist attack going on’. There were other people around and they started to run away.”
Sciotto, a documentary maker, instead walked on:
I’m a documentary maker. I was doing what I’m trained to do. It was dark, but behind him I could see three men at the other end of the street. They were about 20 metres away. It was quite confusing – it took me a few seconds to work out what was going on.
Sciotto said he saw them run in the opposite direction into Borough Market:
There was one policeman there, inside Borough Market. He was trying to scare them away. They ran towards me because the police officer was trying to chase them.
The three men ran out of Borough Market and turned left into Stoney Street towards the Wheatsheaf pub:
Suddenly lots and lots of police came from the other direction. There was a lot of shouting. ‘Stop, stop, get on the floor’, stuff like that. Then the police shot them.
The 25-year-old took pictures of the men after they had been shot, lying on the floor:
I could see one of them moving still. There was blood. I could see the police were scared. The policeman in Borough Market, he was trying to make sure that no one was hurt. He was trying to get them outside. The police reaction was very quick.
Updated
at 2.22am BST
2.14am BST
02:14
The Metropolitan police have issued a statement clarifying the timeline of events:
From 22.08hrs [on] 3 June officers responded to reports of a vehicle in collision with pedestrians on London Bridge. Officers have then responded to reports of stabbings in Borough Market. Armed officers responded and shots have been fired. Officers subsequently responded to an incident in the Vauxhall area.
At 00.25hrs [on] 4 June the incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market were declared as terrorist incidents. The incident at Vauxhall is a stabbing and is not believed connected to the other two incidents.
We will release facts when we can – our info must be accurate. We urge the public to remain calm, but be alert and vigilant. To anyone near an incident our advice is RUN – HIDE – TELL.
#Londonbridge #boroughmarket #vauxhall pic.twitter.com/a7OciBEBjH
Updated
at 2.19am BST
2.08am BST2.08am BST
02:0802:08
My colleague Colin Blackstock has been speaking to witnesses close to the scene: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.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.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.“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. “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.
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.
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.11am BST at 2.14am BST
2.03am BST2.03am BST
02:0302:03
1.59am BST1.59am BST
01:5901:59
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. An editor in the Sun’s London Bridge Street office says police confirmed that a number of blasts heard in the last 45 minutes were controlled explosions.
Just had confirmation explosions in London Bridge area are controlled and police monitoredJust had confirmation explosions in London Bridge area are controlled and police monitored
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.01am BST at 2.12am BST
1.55am BST1.55am BST
01:5501:55
Vikram DoddVikram Dodd
The attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market are the third suspected terrorist attack on the UK since March.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 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.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.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.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.The threat level was lowered to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely, last Saturday.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.59am BSTat 1.59am BST
1.50am BST1.50am BST
01:5001:50
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.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.Another sound of a massive explosion coming from the direction of Borough Market.
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.00am BSTat 2.00am BST
1.43am BST1.43am BST
01:4301:43
My colleague Chris Johnston is at the scene and has been speaking to witnesses: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.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.”“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.”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.It took at least 10 minutes for armed police to reach the scene, he added.
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.00am BSTat 2.00am BST
1.39am BST
01:39
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
at 1.41am BST
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 BST
01:32
Staff at the offices of the Sun newspaper on London Bridge Street
reported hearing two explosions close by 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.
Updated
at 1.40am BST
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 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.”
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 1.41am 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 BST
00:58
Metropolitan 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.
Updated
at 12.58am BST