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London Bridge Shut Down After Pedestrians Struck; Stabbings Reported in Nearby Market London Bridge Shut Down After Pedestrians Struck; Stabbings Reported in Nearby Market
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — The police shut London Bridge on Saturday evening after a white van mounted the sidewalk and mowed down pedestrians, according to multiple witnesses. LONDON — Attacks on civilians in two locations near the Thames River on Saturday night sent armed London police officers to each site.
The authorities said there were casualties on the bridge, with more than one person dead. Theresa May, the British prime minister, said the authorities were treating the attacks “as a potential act of terrorism.”
A witness said at least one man left the van and ran toward a nearby market, wielding a large knife. The authorities closed London Bridge after a white van mounted the sidewalk and mowed down pedestrians a little after 10 p.m., according to multiple witnesses on the bridge.
The police confirmed they were dealing with a major incident on the bridge and had sent armed officers to Borough Market after unconfirmed reports of stabbings there. The police confirmed that shots had been fired. The police said there were casualties there, with more than one person dead, and witnesses reported seeing one bearded man with a large knife.
The police added that it was too early to suggest a motive. Soon after, there were reports of knife attacks at nearby Borough Market, a popular spot for pubs and restaurants on the southern side of the Thames. The police said that “armed officers responded and shots were fired.”
The London police also said that they were responding to a third incident near Vauxhall, also south of the Thames but some distance away from London Bridge and Borough Market. But they provided few details. The police advised people in each area to run to a place of safety, hide, silence their telephones and call the police when they could.
One witness, who gave only his first name, Andrew, described a terrifying sequence in which a van careening across the London Bridge smashed into a railing. At least one man jumped out of the van and ran toward the bars and restaurants in nearby Borough Market, wielding a large knife. Downing Street announced that Mrs. May will chair a meeting of the government emergency response committee, known as Cobra, on Sunday.
“There was a guy with a big knife — I mean, I mean, a big knife,” Andrew told LBC Radio. He said at least one person was badly injured, his bloodied body on the ground. Holly Jones, a BBC reporter who was on the bridge at the time of the incident, said the van was driven by a man and was “probably traveling at about 50 miles an hour.” She said that at least five people were being treated for injuries after the vehicle drove on the sidewalk and hit them.
“I hid behind a little bush for probably 10 seconds, maybe 20 seconds,” he said. “Then I ran for my life.”
Andrew said he raced through Borough Market, shouting at people inside the bars to escape. He thought that there may have been more than one attacker with a knife but was not certain.
Another witness told Reuters that she saw at least three people with knife wounds.
According to the BBC, police were looking for up to three attackers who may be armed.
Holly Jones, a BBC reporter who was on the bridge at the time of the incident, said the van was driven by a man and was “probably traveling at about 50 miles an hour.” She said that at least five people were being treated for injuries after the vehicle drove on the sidewalk and hit them a little after 10 p.m.
“He swerved right round me and then hit about five or six people,” Ms. Jones said. “He hit about two people in front of me and then three behind.”“He swerved right round me and then hit about five or six people,” Ms. Jones said. “He hit about two people in front of me and then three behind.”
Police and ambulance workers responded rapidly and evacuated pedestrians and shut down the London Bridge subway station. Ms. Jones later said that she saw a man being arrested by police. Police and ambulance workers responded rapidly, evacuating pedestrians and shutting down the London Bridge subway station. Ms. Jones later said that she saw a man being arrested by the police.
Mark Roberts, who said that he was on London Bridge at the time, told CNN that the van was traveling south across the bridge toward London Bridge Station. The police also sent armed officers to Borough Market, where witnesses reported stabbings.
A witness, who identified himself only as Andrew, said he was in the area at a bar, heard “a massive bang” and saw a van hitting a railing.
“Next 10 seconds later, there was a guy with a big knife, I mean, a big knife,” he told LBC Radio.
Andrew jumped over a fence, got to a footpath and said there was “a dead guy lying on the floor.” He hid for a few seconds in bushes nearby, then, he said, “I ran for my life.”
Mark Roberts, who said he was on London Bridge at the time, told CNN that the van was traveling south across the bridge toward the London Bridge station.
The van was speeding and swerving, Mr. Roberts said.The van was speeding and swerving, Mr. Roberts said.
“I was just lucky it swerved across the other side,” he said. “It looked to me that the van was aiming for the people.”“I was just lucky it swerved across the other side,” he said. “It looked to me that the van was aiming for the people.”
Mr. Roberts said that the van hit several people on the bridge and that about 10 minutes later he heard what sounded like 10 to 20 gunshots.Mr. Roberts said that the van hit several people on the bridge and that about 10 minutes later he heard what sounded like 10 to 20 gunshots.
After the Manchester bombing on May 22, when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the end of a concert by Ariana Grande and killed 22 and wounded dozens, the threat level in Britain was raised to critical, indicating that a terrorist attack was highly likely. But it was reduced to severe again several days later. After the Manchester bombing on May 22, when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the end of a concert by Ariana Grande, killing 22 and wounding dozens, the threat level in Britain was raised to critical, indicating that a terrorist attack was highly likely. But the threat level was reduced to severe several days later.
On March 22 there was an attack on Westminster Bridge, when Khalid Masood, 52, drove a car into pedestrians, killing four people and injuring 50, including stabbing a police officer to death, before being shot and killed near Parliament. The police treated that attack as “Islamist-related terrorism.” On March 22 an attack on Westminster Bridge was treated by the police as “Islamist-related terrorism.” Khalid Masood, 52, drove a car into pedestrians, killing four people and injuring 50. He stabbed a police officer to death before being shot and killed near Parliament.
A White House spokesman said President Trump has been briefed by his national security aides on the unfolding events in London, but that American officials did not have any details beyond the media reports.