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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 — Britain suffered what authorities called another act of terrorism on Saturday night, with two attacks on civilians in the center of the capital.LONDON — Britain suffered what authorities called another act of terrorism on Saturday night, with two attacks on civilians in the center of the capital.
At least one person was killed and many injured when a van careened onto the sidewalk along London Bridge, mowing down pedestrians. At least one person was killed and many injured when a van careered onto the sidewalk along London Bridge, mowing down pedestrians. London Ambulance Service said that it had taken at least 20 people to six hospitals across the city.
Witnesses reported that at least one man jumped out of the van wielding a large knife and ran into the nearby Borough Market, a popular spot for pubs and restaurants on the southern side of the Thames.Witnesses reported that at least one man jumped out of the van wielding a large knife and ran into the nearby Borough Market, a popular spot for pubs and restaurants on the southern side of the Thames.
Heavily armed police responded to the bridge attack, which took place a little after 10 p.m. and then more officers rushed to investigate reports of stabbings at the market. Police fired shots there, and three suspects were described as wearing canisters around their chests. There were reports that at least one of them had been killed. Heavily armed police responded to the bridge attack, which took place shortly after 10 p.m., and more officers rushed to investigate reports of stabbings at the market. Police fired shots there, where three suspects were described as wearing canisters around their chests. There were reports that at least one of the suspects had been killed.
Though no one has yet claimed credit for the attacks, they hit a nation still reeling from the shock of the bombing in Manchester almost two weeks ago when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the doors of an Ariana Grande concert. Twenty-two people were killed, including many children. Though no one has claimed credit for the attacks, they hit a nation still reeling from the shock of the bombing in Manchester almost two weeks ago when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the doors of an Ariana Grande concert. Twenty-two people were killed, including many children.
Saturday’s attack was closely reminiscent of another on March 22 on Westminster Bridge, when Khalid Masood, 52, drove a car into pedestrians, killing four people, including stabbing a police officer to death, before being shot and killed near Parliament. The police treated that attack, in which 50 were injured, as “Islamist-related terrorism.” Saturday’s attack was reminiscent of another on Westminster Bridge on March 22, when Khalid Masood, 52, drove a car into pedestrians, killing four people. He stabbed a police officer to death before being shot and killed near Parliament. The police treated that attack, in which 50 were injured, as “Islamist-related terrorism.”
And now, as Britain prepares for national elections in less than a week, more attacks in the most ordinary of places, London Bridge on a Saturday night, as people walked about enjoying the spring evening. And now, as Britain prepares for national elections in less than a week, it was hit by more attacks in the most ordinary of places, London Bridge on a Saturday night, as people walked about enjoying the spring evening.
Channels supporting the Islamic State had urged attacks on Western societies with vehicles, guns and knives during the month of Ramadan and on Saturday night, some cheered these attacks. Channels supporting the Islamic State had urged attacks on Western societies with vehicles, guns and knives during the month of Ramadan, and on Saturday night, some cheered these attacks.
The mood in London Saturday night was shock and anger, with the center of the city saturated all night with the sound of sirens. People were told to hide and put their mobile phones on silent as police searched for assailants. The mood in London was shock and anger, with the center of the city saturated all night with the sound of sirens. People were told to hide and put their mobile phones on silent as the police searched for assailants.
There was panic that a third stabbing in the Vauxhall area at around the same time as the assaults near the bridge might have been part of a coordinated attack, although police later declared that incident unrelated. There was panic that a third stabbing in the Vauxhall area at about the same time as the assaults near the bridge might have been part of a coordinated attack, although the police later declared that incident unrelated.
The attacks came just a few days before a snap election that has major implications for the country’s future outside the European Union. Across London, and Britain, there was a sense of fear that a way of life was under attack, but also a determination to carry on. The attacks came a few days before a snap election that has major implications for the country’s future outside the European Union. Across London, and Britain, there was a sense of fear that a way of life was under attack, but also a determination to carry on.
Saturday night, ambulances rushed to the scene, people fled in panic, restaurants and hotels were evacuated and helicopters flew overhead. Witnesses described horrible scenes. On Saturday night ambulances rushed to the scene, people fled in panic, restaurants and hotels were evacuated, and helicopters flew overhead. Witnesses described horrible scenes.
Holly Jones, a BBC reporter who was on the bridge at the time, 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. Holly Jones, a BBC reporter who was on the bridge at the time, 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.
“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.”
A witness, who identified his name only as Andrew, said he was in the area at a bar and heard “a massive bang” and saw a van of some sort hitting the rail of the road. A witness, who identified his name only as Andrew, said he was in the area at a bar, heard “a massive bang” and saw a van of some sort hitting the rail of the road.
“Next 10 seconds later, there was a guy with a big knife, I mean, a big knife,” he told LBC Radio.“Next 10 seconds later, there was a guy with a big knife, I mean, a big knife,” he told LBC Radio.
He jumped over a fence, got to a footpath and there was “a dead guy lying on the floor.” Andrew hid for a few seconds in bushes nearby, then, he said, “I ran for my life.” Andrew said he jumped over a fence, got to a footpath and 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.”
At the market, Ben, whose last name was not given, told the BBC that he and his wife Natalie saw someone being stabbed. At the market, Ben, who did not give his last name, told the BBC that he and his wife, Natalie, saw someone being stabbed.
“I saw a man in red with quite a large blade, I don’t know the measurement I guess maybe 10 inches,” Ben said. “He was stabbing a man,” he said. “He stabbed him about three times fairly calmly.” The witness added: “He was being stabbed quite coldly and he slumped to the ground.” “I saw a man in red with quite a large blade — I don’t know the measurement, I guess maybe 10 inches,” Ben said. “He was stabbing a man. He stabbed him about three times fairly calmly.”
Ben added, “He was being stabbed quite coldly and he slumped to the ground.”
He then said someone threw a table and a bottle at the man with the knife, but “then we heard three gunshots and we ran.”He then said someone threw a table and a bottle at the man with the knife, but “then we heard three gunshots and we ran.”
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, called the incidents a “deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners,” and they were also condemned by the leader of the main opposition party, Jeremy Corbyn. The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, called it a “deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners,” and it was also condemned by the leader of the main opposition party, Jeremy Corbyn.
Lorna Murray, 44, said that she was about to drive over London bridge when traffic stopped and people ran toward their car. “We ducked down in our car, assuming there was a stabbing,” she said. “Then this young couple started banging on the doors trying to get in to our car for safety. We took them in, but couldn’t let anyone else in because we had a baby in the back.” Lorna Murray, 44, said she was about to drive over London Bridge when traffic stopped and people ran toward her car. “We ducked down in our car, assuming there was a stabbing,” she said. “Then this young couple started banging on the doors trying to get into our car for safety. We took them in, but couldn’t let anyone else in because we had a baby in the back.”
Police told everyone to leave their cars and get away. “When I got out the car everything was a blur but I saw a woman with blood all over her face,” she said. The police told everyone to leave their cars and get away. “When I got out the car everything was a blur, but I saw a woman with blood all over her face,” she said.
Tim Hodge, 37, a security officer at a nearby office building on the south side of the bridge, described “huge crowds” running past, screaming. “There was so much panic and so many of the people were drunk which made them more hysterical.” Tim Hodge, 37, a security officer at a nearby office building on the south side of the bridge, described “huge crowds” running and screaming. “There was so much panic and so many of the people were drunk, which made them more hysterical.”
Alex Shellum was in the Mudlark pub with his girlfriend and two friends, underneath London Bridge, at the time of the incident. He described an injured woman coming into the pub. “She was bleeding heavily from the neck — it appeared that her throat had been cut,” he told the BBC. Alex Shellum was in the Mudlark pub, underneath London Bridge, with his girlfriend and two friends and described an injured woman coming into the pub. “She was bleeding heavily from the neck — it appeared that her throat had been cut,” he told the BBC.