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London attack: Isis claims responsibility, as first victim is named – live updates London attack: Isis claims responsibility, as first victim is named – latest updates
(35 minutes later)
9.05am BST
09:05
Sam Jones
Spanish authorities said on Monday that they were still trying to find Ignacio Echeverría, a 39-year-old Spaniard who has not been seen since the attack on Saturday night.
Echeverría, who lives in London, had apparently been skateboarding in a park with friends when he stopped to help a woman who had been injured in the atrocity. His family have put out an appeal on Facebook, but is still awaiting news.
“The embassy and the consulate are in permanent contact with the family and with the British authorities and are giving them all the help they can,” a spokesman for Spain’s foreign ministry told the Guardian.
“But there is still no news for the moment.”
Spain’s interior minister, Juan Ignacio Zoido, told the Cadena Ser radio station that Echeverría “could be among” those who were injured in the attack and who were still being treated in hospital.
Some reports suggested he may have been wounded after using his skateboard to try to defend the woman he was trying to help. Echeverría was wearing blue jeans, a dark top and Vans trainers and has a small scar over one eyebrow. His family think he may not have had ID on him as he had been skateboarding.
Echeverría’s brother Joaquín, who is using Facebook to appeal for information, said the family had been asked for his fingerprints, adding: “That’s not a good sign.”Echeverría is from the municipality of Las Rozas in Madrid and works for HSBC in London.
The Spanish interior minister, Juan Ignacio Zoido, said another Spaniard had been injured in the attacks but was recovering well from wounds to his chest, wrist and leg, adding: “He wants to get better as soon as possible as he’s got an exam to take.”
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9.02am BST
09:02
Helena Smith
The Greek embassy has confirmed that a London-based Greek citizen was also among those injured in the attack saying the young man has been operated on after being knifed in the kidney.
“He sustained head injuries and was stabbed in the kidney but has been operated on and is in stable condition, out of danger,” Alexis Georgiadis, a spokesman at the Greek embassy, told the Guardian. “I have just spoken with his father and our ambassador will be visiting him today.”
The wounded man had moved to London, like so many of his compatriots, at the height of Greece’s economic crisis in 2011.
At least two videos shot in the chaotic aftermath of Saturday’s attack have featured a man in a pub describing over the phone in Greek how he is bleeding after being stabbed. One of the videos, aired by the Sun, alerted authorities that a Greek was among those injured.
9.00am BST
09:00
Police vans were parked outside a car repair shop on the Ripple Road section of the A13 in Dagenham in east London.
James Bateman, who lives at the other side of the road, told PA: “At about 4am, after the large bang, I looked outside the window after being woken up and I saw about a dozen armed police officers going to and from an unmarked van.”
He said they were wearing “full gear”, adding: “The first bang was nothing like I’d heard before.”
Bateman said the bangs that followed were not as loud but sounded “the equivalent” of gunshots.
He said he thought it was more like a business address than a property where people lived. Officers were standing guard in front of the property.
Police still on guard outside Dagenham property raided as part of London Bridge attack investigation. Detailed search underway inside pic.twitter.com/dPFv1GD8BH
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8.59am BST
08:59
Steve Hilton, who was director of strategy in Number 10 from 2010 until 2012 and who was a close friend of David Cameron’s until they fell out over the EU referendum (Hilton backed leave), has said Theresa May should resign because she was home secretary when the terror threat escalated.
i am so sick of Theresa May blaming others for terror when the system she presided over has obviously failed so lamentably @NextRevFNC pic.twitter.com/ALo2idz9ym
Theresa May responsible for security failures of London Bridge, Manchester, Westminster Bridge. Should be resigning not seeking re-election pic.twitter.com/2o0odey2BQ
Theresa May blame-shifting again. her spin doctors attack MI5, but she was in charge of them for years... pic.twitter.com/nlmOmuqfO8
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8.48am BST
08:48
Damien Gayle
A London Bridge businessman, who asked not to be named, said police had allowed him inside the cordon to check on his offices.
He described the scene as like “life had ceased.”
“No one’s touched a thing – just ready for forensics, it just feels. There’s medical equipment on the floor and stuff like that.
“We work next door to the restaurant where a lot of the people were treated, just on Thrale Street.”
His colleague interjected, describing how medical kits were littered across the street, chairs had been scattered throughout the area and half drunk drinks abandoned. The businessman said he and his colleagues were regulars at the Wheatsheaf pub, where the attackers with knives set about patrons.
“We’re there two or three nights a week, and we’re there every single day – but don’t tell our wives that.”
It is striking how few overtly armed police there are around the Borough Market cordon this morning. The only two I’ve seen so far have stationed just behind the cordon across Borough High Street, where the world’s media are assembled.
I asked a constable why officers were stationed there, where there seemed little need for them. “You’ll have to find someone paid considerably more than me to tell you,” he said.
He would not comment on a suggestion that they were there for the benefit of cameras, but smiled.
Literally the only armed police I've seen around #londonbridge. They appear to be posing for the cameras pic.twitter.com/VYJOKpvPBT
Updated
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8.44am BST
08:44
Peter Walker
Karen Bradley, the culture secretary, appeared to accept that the numbers of armed officers had fallen amid more general cutbacks to the police amid austerity after 2010.
“We’ve seen reductions in police officers across the board, we had to take difficult decisions in 2010 when we came into office when as you remember, there was no money,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “All parties at that time agreed there needed to be cuts.”
She added: “It’s not just about numbers, it’s about powers, it’s about making sure the police have the powers they need.”
Asked about reports that a report into the foreign funding of UK Islamist groups might not be published, in part because it focuses on Saudi Arabia, Bradley said the report was not completed and no decisions had been made.
“The important point is we work with our partners and allies, and we save far more lives by working together,” she said.
“We have, through all our diplomatic relations, honest conversations with our friends. But we need to work with our friends and with our allies to make sure we share intelligence.”
She added: “To suggest we’re not taking terrorist financing seriously is simply ridiculous.”
Bradley had nothing concrete to add to May’s suggestion that more would be done to combat extremism on the internet, saying: “We’ve been clear for some that there cannot be safe spaces for people to operate on the internet and promote radicalisation.”
Quizzed about whether this meant demanding a halt to end-to-end web encryption, Bradley said only that authorities would seek “access to information as required”.
She said: “That’s why we want to work with the internet companies, we want to work with those companies and individuals who develop the apps, develop the technology, so that they can help us to find the radicalisation.”
Updated
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8.39am BST
08:39
Cressida Dick also said that there was “an international dimension” to the changing terrorist threat facing the UK, but the majority of recent attacks and plots have been domestic in focus.
She told Today:
At the moment we seem to be facing a threat that is posed by people [with] largely a domestic focus although there are some international dimensions. We are dealing with people who appear very volatile, very unstable many of them. People who are prepared to use low-tech methods and sometimes go from thinking about the idea to carrying out an attack in a very short space of time. So this is very, very challenging.
Asked about the foreign dimension, Dick added:
“All the recent attacks I think have primarily a domestic centre of gravity. In the five that we have foiled and these three recent attacks, in some of them, there are undoubtedly international dimensions. We will always be looking to see if anything has been directed from overseas but, I would say, the majority of the threat that we are facing at the moment does not appear to be directed from overseas.
Dick added that some of the attacks and plots appeared to be copycat in nature.
We are looking at thousands of subjects of interest.
The rhetoric coming from Daesh [Islamic State] and other organisations has been to encourage people to take action into their own hands to use low-tech methods and undoubtedly when people see something which appears from their perverted point of view to be successful, some people will be inspired by that. So that is a possibility.
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8.19am BST8.19am BST
08:1908:19
The Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, has called for more police resources in the wake of three terrorist attacks in 10 weeks.The Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, has called for more police resources in the wake of three terrorist attacks in 10 weeks.
Speaking to Sky News she said there “does appear to be a changing threat”.Speaking to Sky News she said there “does appear to be a changing threat”.
Asked about whether the police needed more funding she said: “Any police leader would always want more resources. I think we should reflect on how successful the police and the agencies have been in the last few years. Since 2013 we have foiled 18 plots which we know were designed to cause mayhem, murder, destruction, we’ve been arresting about one person a day for terrorist offences.”Asked about whether the police needed more funding she said: “Any police leader would always want more resources. I think we should reflect on how successful the police and the agencies have been in the last few years. Since 2013 we have foiled 18 plots which we know were designed to cause mayhem, murder, destruction, we’ve been arresting about one person a day for terrorist offences.”
Dick pointed out that police had foiled five plots since the Westminster attack. She added: “So yes of course I think it is appropriate for us all to look at the amount of the resource that the police have, both the counter [terrorism] police, but also our neighbourhood officers. The majority who responded on Saturday night aren’t counter-terrorist police.”Dick pointed out that police had foiled five plots since the Westminster attack. She added: “So yes of course I think it is appropriate for us all to look at the amount of the resource that the police have, both the counter [terrorism] police, but also our neighbourhood officers. The majority who responded on Saturday night aren’t counter-terrorist police.”
Dick said her sadness at the attack was mingled with “great pride” at the “fantastic” response of the police to the London Bridge attack both in uniform and not.Dick said her sadness at the attack was mingled with “great pride” at the “fantastic” response of the police to the London Bridge attack both in uniform and not.
Speaking later on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Dick refused to state whether the three attackers were known to the police.Speaking later on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Dick refused to state whether the three attackers were known to the police.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.25am BSTat 8.25am BST
7.52am BST7.52am BST
07:5207:52
Damien GayleDamien Gayle
A large police cordon remains in place around Borough Market and London Bridge, but the bridge itself is now open to traffic and pedestrians.A large police cordon remains in place around Borough Market and London Bridge, but the bridge itself is now open to traffic and pedestrians.
Transport for London (TfL) had said it hoped to run a full service from London Bridge less than 48 hours after three men crashed a car into pedestrians and went on a knife rampage through the market nearby.Transport for London (TfL) had said it hoped to run a full service from London Bridge less than 48 hours after three men crashed a car into pedestrians and went on a knife rampage through the market nearby.
However, the Borough High Street entrance to London Bridge tube station was closed and no one was boarding at the station.However, the Borough High Street entrance to London Bridge tube station was closed and no one was boarding at the station.
#LondonBridge is exit only "until we are advised otherwise," @TfL staff say pic.twitter.com/0U6zqJxi6d#LondonBridge is exit only "until we are advised otherwise," @TfL staff say pic.twitter.com/0U6zqJxi6d
At the station’s Tooley Street entrance, a cluster of senior TfL staff directed commuters. “Today it’s going to be exit only until we’re advised otherwise,” said Chris Steer, a TfL area manager.At the station’s Tooley Street entrance, a cluster of senior TfL staff directed commuters. “Today it’s going to be exit only until we’re advised otherwise,” said Chris Steer, a TfL area manager.
Steer confirmed that the Borough High Street entrance was closed. A police cordon surrounds it. “We are acting on Met police advice, as soon as they advice us on clearing the road, we will open up,” he said.Steer confirmed that the Borough High Street entrance was closed. A police cordon surrounds it. “We are acting on Met police advice, as soon as they advice us on clearing the road, we will open up,” he said.
Dozens of police stood guard at slipways used by buses leading up to the gleaming new London Bridge train station, opposite which alleys lead directly to Borough High Street, facing the market.Dozens of police stood guard at slipways used by buses leading up to the gleaming new London Bridge train station, opposite which alleys lead directly to Borough High Street, facing the market.
One Pret a Manger manager said she didn’t know if she would be able to reach the shop, which was further down the street towards Borough tube. And she didn’t know whether it would be worth it if she could get there.One Pret a Manger manager said she didn’t know if she would be able to reach the shop, which was further down the street towards Borough tube. And she didn’t know whether it would be worth it if she could get there.
“If the road is closed then there are no customers, and I may as well go home,” she said.“If the road is closed then there are no customers, and I may as well go home,” she said.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.10am BSTat 8.10am BST
7.43am BST7.43am BST
07:4307:43
Matthew WeaverMatthew Weaver
The culture secretary, Karen Bradley, has repeatedly refused to state whether Britain has fewer armed police officers in the wake of police cuts since 2010 when Theresa May became home secretary.The culture secretary, Karen Bradley, has repeatedly refused to state whether Britain has fewer armed police officers in the wake of police cuts since 2010 when Theresa May became home secretary.
In an angry exchange with ITV’s Piers Morgan, Bradley said: “It is not just about numbers, it is about powers, and Theresa May has never shied away from giving powers to the police.”In an angry exchange with ITV’s Piers Morgan, Bradley said: “It is not just about numbers, it is about powers, and Theresa May has never shied away from giving powers to the police.”
Bradley also repeatedly declined to answer questions about the number of mosques in Britain, saying she did not want to take part in a “pub quiz”.Bradley also repeatedly declined to answer questions about the number of mosques in Britain, saying she did not want to take part in a “pub quiz”.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.45am BSTat 7.45am BST
7.17am BST7.17am BST
07:1707:17
Claire PhippsClaire Phipps
I’m now handing the live blog to my colleague Matthew Weaver.I’m now handing the live blog to my colleague Matthew Weaver.
7.15am BST7.15am BST
07:1507:15
With days to go before voters head to the polls for Thursday’s general election, parties will continue campaigning today. This is in contrast to the aftermath of the Manchester Arena attack, when campaigning was suspended for three days by the major parties.With days to go before voters head to the polls for Thursday’s general election, parties will continue campaigning today. This is in contrast to the aftermath of the Manchester Arena attack, when campaigning was suspended for three days by the major parties.
Campaigning is likely to be dominated by the issue of security, with Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron both challenging Theresa May over policing cuts and the UK government’s relations with Saudi Arabia.Campaigning is likely to be dominated by the issue of security, with Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron both challenging Theresa May over policing cuts and the UK government’s relations with Saudi Arabia.
Here is today’s political diary:Here is today’s political diary:
We can expect a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra meeting this morning, with a Theresa May statement to follow. The PM then resumes campaigning.We can expect a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra meeting this morning, with a Theresa May statement to follow. The PM then resumes campaigning.
Jeremy Corbyn is visiting north-east England, culminating in a rally in Gateshead this evening.Jeremy Corbyn is visiting north-east England, culminating in a rally in Gateshead this evening.
Tim Farron and Nicola Sturgeon are in Edinburgh ahead of tonight’s delayed Question Time, hosted by Nick Robinson, on BBC1 at 9pm.Tim Farron and Nicola Sturgeon are in Edinburgh ahead of tonight’s delayed Question Time, hosted by Nick Robinson, on BBC1 at 9pm.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.45am BSTat 7.45am BST
7.04am BST7.04am BST
07:0407:04
Writing in the Times today, Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, says he agrees with Theresa May that British Muslims need to do more to tackle extremism:Writing in the Times today, Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, says he agrees with Theresa May that British Muslims need to do more to tackle extremism:
Speaking as a Muslim myself, we need to ask ourselves searching questions … There’s no avoiding the fact that these people think they are Muslims. They identify as Muslims. And they carry out their attacks – ignorantly, offensively – in the name of Islam. That’s why, although we all share the responsibility for tackling terrorism, there’s a special, unique burden on the Muslim community …Speaking as a Muslim myself, we need to ask ourselves searching questions … There’s no avoiding the fact that these people think they are Muslims. They identify as Muslims. And they carry out their attacks – ignorantly, offensively – in the name of Islam. That’s why, although we all share the responsibility for tackling terrorism, there’s a special, unique burden on the Muslim community …
We need them to set off on the path to peace rather than the road to war. We need to offer not just a counternarrative, which rebuts the extremists, but a positive and self-confident narrative that promotes pluralistic, British values – and their compatibility with an Islamic life. And that message can best come from within the Muslim community.We need them to set off on the path to peace rather than the road to war. We need to offer not just a counternarrative, which rebuts the extremists, but a positive and self-confident narrative that promotes pluralistic, British values – and their compatibility with an Islamic life. And that message can best come from within the Muslim community.
6.57am BST6.57am BST
06:5706:57
All of today’s national newspapers in the UK lead with the London attacks, with many using the photograph of the three terror suspects on the ground, after they were shot dead by armed police.All of today’s national newspapers in the UK lead with the London attacks, with many using the photograph of the three terror suspects on the ground, after they were shot dead by armed police.
Many also echo the words of Theresa May, who declared in the wake of the attack: “Enough is enough.”Many also echo the words of Theresa May, who declared in the wake of the attack: “Enough is enough.”
Here is Monday’s Guardian front page:Here is Monday’s Guardian front page:
Guardian front page, Monday 5 June 2017 – Seven dead, 21 critically hurt: May says ‘enough is enough’ pic.twitter.com/Id4uihWokgGuardian front page, Monday 5 June 2017 – Seven dead, 21 critically hurt: May says ‘enough is enough’ pic.twitter.com/Id4uihWokg
And here is our roundup of Monday’s other front pages:And here is our roundup of Monday’s other front pages:
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6.48am BST6.48am BST
06:4806:48
One of the seven victims killed in Saturday night’s attack has been named as Christine Archibald, who was from Canada. Her family has issued a statement asking people to “honour her by making your community a better place”:One of the seven victims killed in Saturday night’s attack has been named as Christine Archibald, who was from Canada. Her family has issued a statement asking people to “honour her by making your community a better place”:
We grieve the loss of our beautiful, loving daughter and sister. She had room in her heart for everyone and believed strongly that every person was to be valued and respected.We grieve the loss of our beautiful, loving daughter and sister. She had room in her heart for everyone and believed strongly that every person was to be valued and respected.
She lived this belief, working in a shelter for the homeless until she moved to Europe to be with her fiancé. She would have had no understanding of the callous cruelty that caused her death.She lived this belief, working in a shelter for the homeless until she moved to Europe to be with her fiancé. She would have had no understanding of the callous cruelty that caused her death.
Please honour her by making your community a better place. Volunteer your time and labour or donate to a homeless shelter. Tell them Chrissy sent you.Please honour her by making your community a better place. Volunteer your time and labour or donate to a homeless shelter. Tell them Chrissy sent you.
UpdatedUpdated
at 6.50am BSTat 6.50am BST
6.42am BST6.42am BST
06:4206:42
Jessica ElgotJessica Elgot
Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron have both challenged Theresa May over a long-delayed inquiry into foreign funding and support of jihadi groups in the UK, after the Home Office suggested the investigation may not be published.Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron have both challenged Theresa May over a long-delayed inquiry into foreign funding and support of jihadi groups in the UK, after the Home Office suggested the investigation may not be published.
The inquiry into revenue streams for extremist groups operating in the UK was commissioned by former prime minister David Cameron and is thought to focus on Saudi Arabia.The inquiry into revenue streams for extremist groups operating in the UK was commissioned by former prime minister David Cameron and is thought to focus on Saudi Arabia.
But the Guardian revealed last week the report was still incomplete and its contents may not be published.But the Guardian revealed last week the report was still incomplete and its contents may not be published.
The Labour leader used a speech in Carlisle on Sunday evening to challenge the prime minister over the delayed report: “We do need to have some difficult conversations, starting with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states that have funded and fuelled extremist ideology.The Labour leader used a speech in Carlisle on Sunday evening to challenge the prime minister over the delayed report: “We do need to have some difficult conversations, starting with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states that have funded and fuelled extremist ideology.
“It is no good Theresa May suppressing a report into the foreign funding of extremist groups. We have to get serious about cutting off the funding to these terror networks, including Isis here and in the Middle East.”“It is no good Theresa May suppressing a report into the foreign funding of extremist groups. We have to get serious about cutting off the funding to these terror networks, including Isis here and in the Middle East.”
Writing for the Guardian on Monday, the Lib Dem leader, Tim Farron, said it was essential the report was not suppressed: “Theresa May now has a choice. Does she publish that report or keep it hidden?”Writing for the Guardian on Monday, the Lib Dem leader, Tim Farron, said it was essential the report was not suppressed: “Theresa May now has a choice. Does she publish that report or keep it hidden?”
The Conservatives were criticised last year for selling arms worth billions of pounds to the Saudis.The Conservatives were criticised last year for selling arms worth billions of pounds to the Saudis.
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at 6.44am BSTat 6.44am BST
6.37am BST6.37am BST
06:3706:37
The three terror suspects shot dead by armed officers in Borough Market have not been named. Police believe they know their identities, but say they will not release the names while operations are continuing.The three terror suspects shot dead by armed officers in Borough Market have not been named. Police believe they know their identities, but say they will not release the names while operations are continuing.
Fresh raids are taking place this morning in two locations in east London: Newham and Barking.Fresh raids are taking place this morning in two locations in east London: Newham and Barking.
UpdatedUpdated
at 6.43am BSTat 6.43am BST