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London terror attack: what we know so far London terror attack: what we know so far
(about 5 hours later)
Seven people have been killed and dozens injured during attacks in two closely connected areas of London on Saturday night. The police are treating the attacks as terrorist incidents. Seven people were killed and dozens injured during attacks in two closely connected areas of London on Saturday night. The police are treating the attacks as terrorist incidents.
Police were called after a white rental van ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge at about 9.58pm on Saturday night. The van continued on to nearby Borough Market where three attackers emerged and carried out multiple stabbings in pubs and restaurants. Police were called after a white rental van was driven into pedestrians on London Bridge at about 9.58pm on Saturday night. The van continued on to nearby Borough Market where three attackers emerged and carried out multiple stabbings in pubs and restaurants.
Armed police arrived and shot the attackers dead within eight minutes of being alerted. The attackers were armed with knives and wore what turned out to be fake suicide vests.Armed police arrived and shot the attackers dead within eight minutes of being alerted. The attackers were armed with knives and wore what turned out to be fake suicide vests.
On Sunday night, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. “A detachment of Islamic State fighters executed yesterday’s London attack,” said a statement posted on the militant group’s Amaq media agency website. On Sunday night, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. “A detachment of Islamic State fighters executed yesterday’s London attack,” said a statement posted on the group’s Amaq media agency website.
Britain’s top anti-terrorism officer, Metropolitan police assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, said detectives are urgently investigating if the three perpetrators were part of a network. He said: “Work is ongoing to understand more about [the three attackers], about their connections and about whether they were assisted or supported by anyone else.” The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said a Canadian national was among those killed in the attack. The victim was later named as Christine Archibald who had moved to Europe to be with her fiance. “She had room in her heart for everyone and believed strongly that every person was to be valued and respected,” her family said in a statement.
The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said a Canadian national was among those killed in the attack. The victim was later named as Christine Archibald who had moved to Europe to be with her fiancé. “She had room in her heart for everyone and believed strongly that every person was to be valued and respected,” her family said in a statement. A French man is among those killed in the attack, the foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, has confirmed. Seven people from France were injured in the attack, four of them critically. One person is still missing.
A French man is among those killed in last night’s attack, the foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, has confirmed. Seven people from France were injured in the attack, four of them critically. One person is still missing. There were multiple casualties in addition to the deaths. London ambulance service said 48 people were taken to five hospitals in the capital and a number of others were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The NHS said on Monday that 18 were in a critical condition.
There were multiple casualties in addition to the deaths, with London Ambulance Service saying at least 48 people have been taken to five hospitals in the capital. The NHS said on Sunday that 21 were in a critical condition. Eight armed police officers fired an estimated 50 rounds during the incident – an unprecedented number for the UK. One member of the public was caught in the gunfire when a bullet struck him in the head. A senior doctor at the Royal London hospital in east London said the man was expected to make a full recovery.
Eight armed police officers fired an estimated 50 rounds in the incident - an unprecedented number for the UK. One member of the public was caught in the gunfire when a bullet struck a man in the head. A senior doctor at the Royal London hospital in east London said the man was expected to make a full recovery.
A British Transport police officer armed only with his baton was stabbed in the face as he tackled the assailants. He suffered serious injuries, but is in a stable condition in hospital. An off-duty Metropolitan police officer was among others injured in the attack. Two more on-duty officers were described as “walking wounded”.A British Transport police officer armed only with his baton was stabbed in the face as he tackled the assailants. He suffered serious injuries, but is in a stable condition in hospital. An off-duty Metropolitan police officer was among others injured in the attack. Two more on-duty officers were described as “walking wounded”.
At least four Australian citizens have been injured, according to the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull. Among them, Candice Hedge from Brisbane was stabbed in the neck and is recovering after being treated in St Thomas’s hospital. A man from New Zealand also suffered serious wounds in the attack. At least four French citizens were harmed, one seriously. Geoff Ho, a journalist with the Sunday Express, was left in intensive care after being stabbed in the throat when he tried to help a wounded bouncer. At least four Australian citizens were injured, according to the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull. Among them, Candice Hedge from Brisbane was stabbed in the neck and is recovering after being treated in St Thomas’ hospital. A man from New Zealand also suffered serious wounds in the attack. At least four French citizens were harmed, one seriously. Geoff Ho, a journalist with the Sunday Express, was left in intensive care after being stabbed in the throat when he tried to help a wounded bouncer.
Police raided two more properties in Newham and Barking in east London early on Monday morning. Counter-terrorist officers detained “a number of people”, the Metropolitan police said.Police raided two more properties in Newham and Barking in east London early on Monday morning. Counter-terrorist officers detained “a number of people”, the Metropolitan police said.
The Met arrested 12 people on Sunday after an operation in Barking in east London. One person, a 55-year-old man, has since been released. On Sunday morning, police raided a block of flats in the area where at least one of the suspects is thought to have lived. Another raid, at a flat in nearby East Ham, followed in the afternoon.The Met arrested 12 people on Sunday after an operation in Barking in east London. One person, a 55-year-old man, has since been released. On Sunday morning, police raided a block of flats in the area where at least one of the suspects is thought to have lived. Another raid, at a flat in nearby East Ham, followed in the afternoon.
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street after she had chaired a meeting of Cobra, the government’s emergency committee, Theresa May condemned Islamist extremism and called the ideology a “perversion of Islam”. She said there was “a new trend in the threat we face”, with terrorism breeding terrorism. “It is time to say enough is enough,” she added. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street after she had chaired a meeting of Cobra, the government’s emergency committee, Theresa May condemned Islamist extremism and called the ideology a “perversion of Islam”. She said there was “a new trend in the threat we face,” with terrorism breeding terrorism. “It is time to say enough is enough,” she added.
The prime minister said there must be changes on four fronts: first, people who are drawn to Islamist extremism must be persuaded that western values are superior. Second, there must be a clampdown on the “safe spaces” on the internet where terrorism breeds. Third, she called for action at home where extremism may be tolerated. “There is – to be frank – far too much tolerance of extremism in our country,” she said. Finally, she proposed a review of counter-terrorism strategy and laws, and suggested longer sentences for some offences. She confirmed that the general election will go ahead on Thursday as planned. The prime minister said there must be changes on four fronts: first, people who are drawn to Islamist extremism must be persuaded that western values are superior. Second, there must be a clampdown on the “safe spaces” on the internet where terrorism breeds. Third, she called for action at home where extremism may be tolerated. “There is – to be frank – far too much tolerance of extremism in our country,” she said. Finally, she proposed a review of counter-terrorism strategy and laws, and suggested longer sentences for some offences. She confirmed that the general election would go ahead on Thursday as planned.
Jeremy Corbyn delivered a speech on the attack in Carlisle on Sunday evening. He said that, if he wins the election, he will commission a report on Friday on the changing nature of the terrorist threat. He also used the speech to criticise Theresa May for ignoring warnings about the impact of police cuts, as well as to criticise the US president, Donald Trump, for his comments about the London Bridge attack. After a brief suspension in election campaigning in the wake of the attack a bitter row erupted over cuts to police funding, with Jeremy Corbyn backing calls for May to resign over her record on the issue while she was home secretary. The prime minister dodged accusations that police numbers had fallen by tens of thousands since 2010 and that the number of armed officers had also fallen.
Cressida Dick, the Met police commissioner, said police officers had conducted a thorough search of the area. She paid tribute to the police, emergency services and members of the public who came to the aid of the injured and confronted the attackers. On a visit to London Bridge on Monday, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said he was “furious that these three men are seeking to justify their actions by using the faith that I belong to. The ideology they follow is perverse, it is poisonous, and it has no place in Islam.”
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) at MI5 headquarters has recommended not to raise the official threat level from severe to critical, suggesting that it believes no more terrorists are at large. Jeremy Corbyn delivered a speech on the attack in Carlisle on Sunday evening. He said that, if he won the election, he would commission a report on Friday on the changing nature of the terrorist threat. He also used the speech to criticise May for ignoring warnings about the impact of police cuts, as well as to criticise the US president, Donald Trump, for his comments about the London Bridge attack.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre at MI5 headquarters has recommended not to raise the official threat level from severe to critical, suggesting that it believes no more terrorists are at large.
The UK will observe a minute’s silence on Tuesday 6 June at 11am in remembrance of those who have lost their lives and all others affected by the attacks. Flags will remain at half-mast on Whitehall government buildings until Tuesday evening.The UK will observe a minute’s silence on Tuesday 6 June at 11am in remembrance of those who have lost their lives and all others affected by the attacks. Flags will remain at half-mast on Whitehall government buildings until Tuesday evening.
The Home Office has set up a website with information about the support available for people affected by the attacks.The Home Office has set up a website with information about the support available for people affected by the attacks.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS foundation hospital said it had been put “on lockdown” to keep patients, relatives and staff safe. A statement from the office of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, confirmed that French citizens were among the injured. He condemned “an abominable and cowardly attack against our free society”.
A statement from the office of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, confirmed that French citizens were among the injured and condemned “an abominable and cowardly attack against our free society”. Pictures have been circulating showing a suspect on the ground in the market. He appears to have canisters strapped to his body. Police say those canisters were part of a fake suicide vest. The use of fake bomb vests was designed to “spread panic and fear”, the prime minister said.
Pictures have been circulating showing a suspect on the ground in the market; he appears to have canisters strapped to his body. Police say those canisters were part of a fake suicide vest. The use of fake bomb vests was designed to “spread panic and fear”, the prime minister said. The identity of the man is believed to be known by several media outlets, including the Guardian, but they have chosen not to name him in accordance with police wishes. Two people have said they alerted police about his extreme views and he is also believed to have featured in a documentary entitled Jihadis Next Door broadcast on Channel 4 last year, in which he was part of a group involved in a confrontation with officers.
Authorities responded to a third incident, a stabbing at Vauxhall, but this was not connected to the events around London Bridge. Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that police in Ireland have confirmed that an Irish identity card was found on one of the three attackers shot dead.
Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP suspended national campaigning for the general election on Sunday. Ukip, however, did not. Its leader, Paul Nuttall, said it was because “this is precisely what the extremists would want us to do”. Concrete barriers have been installed on Westminster, Lambeth and Waterloo bridges to stop traffic from mounting the pavement in the wake of Saturday’s attack after the Metropolitan police assistant commissioner, Mark Rowley, said there would be “increased physical measures” .
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, thanked emergency services after the “brutal and shocking incidents reported in London”. Borough station reopened on Sunday evening. The cordon remained in place on Monday but London Bridge station reopened.
The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, condemned the “barbaric” and “horrific” attack as “deliberate and cowardly”. He said there would be a heavy police presence throughout central London on Sunday.
The Metropolitan police assistant commissioner, Mark Rowley, said there will be “increased physical measures” on London’s bridges.
Police urged people to stay away from the affected areas. They said cordons around Borough Market are likely to remain in place until Monday morning and encouraged people to take alternative routes.
Borough station reopened on Sunday evening. London Bridge station will be exit-only when it reopens on Monday morning from 5am.