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Saturday night turns to deadly horror as terrorists strike on London Bridge Saturday night turns to deadly horror as terrorists strike on London Bridge
(35 minutes later)
Britain has been sent reeling after its capital city was attacked by armed men who launched a shocking, deadly attack that left the country stunned less than a week before the General Election. Britain has been sent reeling after its capital city was attacked by armed men who launched an attack that left six people dead and the country stunned less than a week before the General Election.
Prime Minister Theresa May is to chair an an emergency security meeting after Metropolitan Police confirmed they were treating attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market - locations less than half-a-mile apart - as terror incidents. The London Ambulance said it had taken 20 people to various hospitals, while there were numerous reports of at least one fatality. Other, unconfirmed reports put the number of dead much higher. Prime Minister Theresa May is to chair an an emergency security meeting this morning after Metropolitan Police confirmed they were treating attacks on London Bridge and at Borough Market – locations less than half-a-mile apart – as terror incidents. The London Ambulance Service said it had taken 20 people to various hospitals.
On London Bridge, eye-witnesses reported seeing several people lying injured on the pavement or the middle of the road, after a white van began mowing people down people some time after 10pm.  Police confirmed the fatalities in a statement early this morning. They added that they believed three people were involved in the attack – all of whom who had been shot dead by firearms officers at Borough Market – but would give no further details.
It is believed, though it has yet to be confirmed, that one of more men got out of the van, made their way to Borough Market and started attacking people with people with knives. There were reports of Londoners out for a Saturday night, fending off the attackers with chairs and glasses. On London Bridge, eyewitnesses reported seeing several people lying injured on the pavement or the middle of the road, after a white van began mowing people down some time after 10pm. 
“A van came from London Bridge itself, went between the traffic light system and rammed it towards the steps,” a taxi driver told the BBC. Police said the suspects then made their way to Borough Market and started attacking people with people with knives. There were reports of Londoners out for a Saturday night, fending off the attackers with chairs and glasses.
“It knocked loads of people down. “Then three men got out with long blades, 12 inches long and went randomly along Borough High Street stabbing people at random.“ The Met's Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said one of the injured was an on-duty British Transport Police officer, who was stabbed trying to fend off the attacker. His injuries are described as serious but no life-threatening.
Pc Rowley said the suspects were wearing what appeared to be suicide vests, but these were later revealed to be fakes.
A taxi driver told the BBC: “A van came from London Bridge itself, went between the traffic light system and rammed it towards the steps.
“It knocked loads of people down. Then three men got out with long blades, 12 inches long and went randomly along Borough High Street stabbing people at random.”
The Metropolitan Police said in a tweet: “Please remain calm, but be alert & vigilant. We are using all necessary skills & resources at #LondonBridge #BoroughMarket #Vauxhall.” The Metropolitan Police said in a tweet: “Please remain calm, but be alert & vigilant. We are using all necessary skills & resources at #LondonBridge #BoroughMarket #Vauxhall.” 
The attack came just days before the country goes to the polls in the General Election on June 8, and less than two weeks after a 22-year-old man detonated a homemade bomb at the Manchester Arena shortly after the conclusion of an Ariana Grande concert, killing 23 people. The 23-year-old American singer was among those who sent her sympathies to London on Saturday night. The attack came just days before the country goes to the polls in the General Election on 8 June, and less than two weeks after a 22-year-old man detonated a homemade bomb at the Manchester Arena shortly after the conclusion of an Ariana Grande concert, killing 23 people. The 23-year-old American singer was among those who sent her sympathies to London on last night.
Photographs taken outside The Wheatsheaf pub in Borough Market appeared to show two men on the road, being stood over by police. Reports suggested the two men were suspects. It is not clear whether they are alive or dead in the photographs, but people pointed out on social media that one of the men appeared to be wearing some sort of canisters around his waist. Photographs taken outside The Wheatsheaf pub in Borough Market appeared to show two men on the road, being stood over by police. Reports suggested the two men were suspects. It is not clear whether they are alive or dead in the photographs, but one of the men appeared to be wearing some sort of canisters around his waist.
It is confirmed that there was more than one person involved in the attack, it would be of deep concern to the police and security services, as it would indicate a level of planning and organisation many times more serious than than involved in the kind of lone attacker incident seen outside of Westminster in March, when 52-year-old Briton Khalid Masood, drove a car into pedestrians on the pavement, injuring more than 50 people, four of them fatally. With confirmation that more than one person was involved in the attack, it is of deep concern to the police and security services, as it would indicate a level of planning and organisation many times more serious than than involved in the kind of lone attacker incident seen outside Westminster in March, when 52-year-old Briton Khalid Masood, drove a car into pedestrians on the pavement, injuring more than 50 people, four of them fatally.
Similar attacks, in Berlin, Nice, Brussels and Paris, have been carried out by militants over the past couple of years. Similar attacks in Berlin, Nice, Brussels and Paris, have been carried out by militants over the past couple of years.
It was initially reported that police believed a third incident, in Vauxhall, said to be a stabbing, was linked to the events on London Bridge. It was subsequently reported this was the case.It was initially reported that police believed a third incident, in Vauxhall, said to be a stabbing, was linked to the events on London Bridge. It was subsequently reported this was the case.
Owen Evans, 39, was in the Wheatsheaf pub on Stoney Street near Borough Market on Saturday night, with friends, when shooting broke out nearby: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,” he told the Guardian.“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,” he told the Guardian.
“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.”“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.”
A chef from an Italian restaurant on the edge of borough market told The Independent he heard shouting and ran into the basement with the customers.A chef from an Italian restaurant on the edge of borough market told The Independent he heard shouting and ran into the basement with the customers.
“There were people all outside the restaurant,” said the chef, who asked not to be named. “One had been stabbed in the back, others in their legs. They were bleeding. We were on our way out and then we heard gunshots from the other way.”“There were people all outside the restaurant,” said the chef, who asked not to be named. “One had been stabbed in the back, others in their legs. They were bleeding. We were on our way out and then we heard gunshots from the other way.”
He added: “The people near the person called for a medic, shouting: ‘He’s f***ing bleeding to death, we need a doctor.’ The bar staff were amazing, I think they locked the door so no one got in.”He added: “The people near the person called for a medic, shouting: ‘He’s f***ing bleeding to death, we need a doctor.’ The bar staff were amazing, I think they locked the door so no one got in.”
A couple of New Zealand tourists from Auckland said they were coming out of London Bridge station when heard shots.A couple of New Zealand tourists from Auckland said they were coming out of London Bridge station when heard shots.
“It sounded like a dozen but we didn't know if it was a gun or taser,” said the woman. “We came down the escalators from The Shard and police were shouting ‘get back, for your own safety get back’.” “It sounded like a dozen but we didn't know if it was a gun or Taser,” said the woman. “We came down the escalators from The Shard and police were shouting ‘get back, for your own safety get back’.”
The Metropolitan police has confirmed at least one armed officer had opened fire during the attack on Borough market. In information posted on Twitter they said: “Armed officers responded and shots have been fired.” The Metropolitan Police confirmed at least one armed officer had opened fire during the attack on Borough Market. In information posted on Twitter they said: “Armed officers responded and shots have been fired.”
It was not immediately clear if police had apprehended all the suspects or whether any individuals remained at large.
Ms May said that “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”.Ms May said that “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”.
She said it was a fast-moving investigation and her thoughts were with “those who are caught up in these dreadful events”. The Prime Minister’s office said she would chair a meeting of the government's COBRA emergency committee on Sunday.  She said it was a fast-moving investigation and her thoughts were with “those who are caught up in these dreadful events”. The Prime Minister’s office said she would chair a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee this morning. 
London mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the “barbaric and horrific” attack as “deliberate and cowardly”.London mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the “barbaric and horrific” attack as “deliberate and cowardly”.
US President Donald Trump used Twitter to offer help to Britain and also to push his demand for tougher screening and a end to immigration.US President Donald Trump used Twitter to offer help to Britain and also to push his demand for tougher screening and a end to immigration.
“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,” Mr Trump said in one of two tweets.“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,” Mr Trump said in one of two tweets.
“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 Manchester bombing on May 22 was the deadliest attack in Britain since July 2005, when four British Muslim suicide bombers killed 52 people in coordinated attacks on London's transport network.  The Manchester bombing on 22 May was the deadliest attack in Britain since July 2005, when four British Muslim suicide bombers killed 52 people in coordinated attacks on London's transport network.