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| Stabbings on London Bridge Kill at Least 2 in ‘Terrorist Incident’ | Stabbings on London Bridge Kill at Least 2 in ‘Terrorist Incident’ |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| LONDON — The police shot and killed a man wearing a fake bomb on London Bridge on Friday, after at least two people were fatally stabbed in what the police called a terrorist incident, jolting Britain’s capital two weeks before a general election and three days before world leaders were to gather here for a NATO summit meeting. | |
| The chaotic eruption of violence drew in several police officers and civilians, sent scores of panicked pedestrians fleeing from the bridge and nearby streets on both sides of the Thames, and evoked memories of an eerily similar terrorist attack on the same bridge in 2017 that killed eight people. | The chaotic eruption of violence drew in several police officers and civilians, sent scores of panicked pedestrians fleeing from the bridge and nearby streets on both sides of the Thames, and evoked memories of an eerily similar terrorist attack on the same bridge in 2017 that killed eight people. |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who halted his campaign to rush back to 10 Downing Street, declared that “this country will never be cowed or divided or intimidated by this sort of attack.” He paid tribute to the bravery of the passers-by who he said intervened to prevent further bloodshed. | Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who halted his campaign to rush back to 10 Downing Street, declared that “this country will never be cowed or divided or intimidated by this sort of attack.” He paid tribute to the bravery of the passers-by who he said intervened to prevent further bloodshed. |
| Dramatic video posted on social media showed a crowd surrounding a man, whom they appeared to have tackled. As they wrestled with and held the man to the ground, at least three police officers responded with their guns drawn. | Dramatic video posted on social media showed a crowd surrounding a man, whom they appeared to have tackled. As they wrestled with and held the man to the ground, at least three police officers responded with their guns drawn. |
| The police pulled the other people away from the man on the ground, and then an officer appeared to fire at least one shot, hitting the man and prompting screams from bystanders. The man died at the scene, the police said. | The police pulled the other people away from the man on the ground, and then an officer appeared to fire at least one shot, hitting the man and prompting screams from bystanders. The man died at the scene, the police said. |
| “It has been declared a terrorist incident,” said Neil Basu, the assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. “I must stress, however, that we retain an open mind as to any motive.” | “It has been declared a terrorist incident,” said Neil Basu, the assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. “I must stress, however, that we retain an open mind as to any motive.” |
| There were reports that the man was wearing an explosive device, Mr. Basu said, but the police determined that it was “a hoax explosive device” strapped to his body. | There were reports that the man was wearing an explosive device, Mr. Basu said, but the police determined that it was “a hoax explosive device” strapped to his body. |
| “What’s remarkable about the images we’ve seen is the breathtaking heroism of members of the public who literally ran toward danger, not knowing what confronted them,” said Mayor Sadiq Khan of London. It is not clear if the passers-by who intervened saw the hoax explosive device and tackled him anyway. | “What’s remarkable about the images we’ve seen is the breathtaking heroism of members of the public who literally ran toward danger, not knowing what confronted them,” said Mayor Sadiq Khan of London. It is not clear if the passers-by who intervened saw the hoax explosive device and tackled him anyway. |
| On Friday evening, the police reported that two people died after being stabbed, and that three further people remained injured. | |
| The Metropolitan Police said they had responded to reports of a stabbing in a premises near London Bridge around 2 p.m. | |
| Additional videos posted on social media showed police vehicles blocking both sides of the roadway on London Bridge, which is one of the city’s busiest arteries and a popular crossing for tourists and other pedestrians. | Additional videos posted on social media showed police vehicles blocking both sides of the roadway on London Bridge, which is one of the city’s busiest arteries and a popular crossing for tourists and other pedestrians. |
| As the police cordoned off the area, empty buses and abandoned vehicles remained parked on the bridge. In the nearby Borough Market, a food and drink space that is popular with tourists, visitors were told to shelter in place, before eventually being evacuated. | As the police cordoned off the area, empty buses and abandoned vehicles remained parked on the bridge. In the nearby Borough Market, a food and drink space that is popular with tourists, visitors were told to shelter in place, before eventually being evacuated. |
| The incident bore a disquieting similarity to the 2017 attack on the bridge, in which a van careered onto the sidewalk, mowing down pedestrians, before three attackers leapt from the vehicle and struck people with knives. They killed eight people before being killed by the police. Those men were also wearing fake suicide vests. | The incident bore a disquieting similarity to the 2017 attack on the bridge, in which a van careered onto the sidewalk, mowing down pedestrians, before three attackers leapt from the vehicle and struck people with knives. They killed eight people before being killed by the police. Those men were also wearing fake suicide vests. |
| Earlier that year, a car plowed into pedestrians on nearby Westminster Bridge. Six people, including the attacker, were killed. | Earlier that year, a car plowed into pedestrians on nearby Westminster Bridge. Six people, including the attacker, were killed. |
| The 2017 London Bridge attack, which was carried out by three assailants inspired by the Islamic State came in the final weeks of Britain’s last election, and it rapidly became a political issue. The Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, accused the prime minister at the time, Theresa May, of cutting the number of police officers in Britain. | The 2017 London Bridge attack, which was carried out by three assailants inspired by the Islamic State came in the final weeks of Britain’s last election, and it rapidly became a political issue. The Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, accused the prime minister at the time, Theresa May, of cutting the number of police officers in Britain. |
| Mrs. May’s Conservative Party, which had begun the campaign with a robust lead in the polls, saw its lead steadily evaporate, and Mrs. May ended up losing her parliamentary majority. | Mrs. May’s Conservative Party, which had begun the campaign with a robust lead in the polls, saw its lead steadily evaporate, and Mrs. May ended up losing her parliamentary majority. |
| London has become accustomed to terrorist attacks, and its residents pride themselves on keeping their cool. On Friday evening, pubs across the city filled up with their usual after-work crowds. But the attack left the city uneasy because so many details about the assailant remain unknown. | London has become accustomed to terrorist attacks, and its residents pride themselves on keeping their cool. On Friday evening, pubs across the city filled up with their usual after-work crowds. But the attack left the city uneasy because so many details about the assailant remain unknown. |
| It also came only days before President Trump and other leaders are scheduled to visit the city for a NATO summit. On Tuesday, Queen Elizabeth II plans to hold a reception marking the alliance’s 70th anniversary at Buckingham Palace. | It also came only days before President Trump and other leaders are scheduled to visit the city for a NATO summit. On Tuesday, Queen Elizabeth II plans to hold a reception marking the alliance’s 70th anniversary at Buckingham Palace. |
| After the 2017 attack, Mr. Trump criticized Mayor Khan for what the president falsely claimed was his lackadaisical response. Mr. Khan called on the government to cancel Mr. Trump’s state visit later that year. | After the 2017 attack, Mr. Trump criticized Mayor Khan for what the president falsely claimed was his lackadaisical response. Mr. Khan called on the government to cancel Mr. Trump’s state visit later that year. |
| In a statement on Friday, Mr. Khan said, “We must — and we will — stay resolute in our determination to stand strong and united in the face of terror. Those who seek to attack us and divide us will never succeed.” | In a statement on Friday, Mr. Khan said, “We must — and we will — stay resolute in our determination to stand strong and united in the face of terror. Those who seek to attack us and divide us will never succeed.” |
| The incident, which happened after lunchtime on a sunny Friday afternoon, unfolded with an air of unreality. | The incident, which happened after lunchtime on a sunny Friday afternoon, unfolded with an air of unreality. |
| John McManus, a BBC reporter who was crossing the bridge at the time of the incident, told the news outlet that he had seen a group of men involved in a fight with another man on the bridge. The police then arrived, and “a number of shots were fired at this man.” | John McManus, a BBC reporter who was crossing the bridge at the time of the incident, told the news outlet that he had seen a group of men involved in a fight with another man on the bridge. The police then arrived, and “a number of shots were fired at this man.” |
| Matthew Marchand, 37, whose office faces the bridge, said it was “scary to think that this happens on your doorstep somehow.” | Matthew Marchand, 37, whose office faces the bridge, said it was “scary to think that this happens on your doorstep somehow.” |
| “It puts you back on edge,” Mr. Marchand said. “Every single attack makes you feel a little worse about safety.” | “It puts you back on edge,” Mr. Marchand said. “Every single attack makes you feel a little worse about safety.” |
| He said he was surprised that such an episode could happen despite the safety measures put in place after previous terrorist attacks. “But it must have unfolded so quickly. What can you do about it?” he said. | He said he was surprised that such an episode could happen despite the safety measures put in place after previous terrorist attacks. “But it must have unfolded so quickly. What can you do about it?” he said. |
| Prime Minister Johnson issued a statement thanking the police and emergency services for their “immediate response” and said he was being kept updated. He told the BCC he had suspended his campaigning on Friday and would decide over the next few hours when to return to the trail. | Prime Minister Johnson issued a statement thanking the police and emergency services for their “immediate response” and said he was being kept updated. He told the BCC he had suspended his campaigning on Friday and would decide over the next few hours when to return to the trail. |
| Mr. Corbyn also halted his campaign. “We must remain united across all our communities and we cannot let our democratic process be derailed by acts of terror,” he said in a statement. | Mr. Corbyn also halted his campaign. “We must remain united across all our communities and we cannot let our democratic process be derailed by acts of terror,” he said in a statement. |
| Those in the area around London Bridge described the panic in the moments after the attack. Noa Bodner, who was stuck in a restaurant near London Bridge, told BBC News that those sheltering inside had been told to keep away from the windows. | Those in the area around London Bridge described the panic in the moments after the attack. Noa Bodner, who was stuck in a restaurant near London Bridge, told BBC News that those sheltering inside had been told to keep away from the windows. |
| “There was a rush of people coming in, and everybody basically dived under the tables,” she said. The manager ran to lock the doors, and employees told people to move away from the front of the restaurant. | “There was a rush of people coming in, and everybody basically dived under the tables,” she said. The manager ran to lock the doors, and employees told people to move away from the front of the restaurant. |
| Susan Vinn, 57, said that she had been outside her office shortly after 2 p.m., when she saw people running across the bridge and into her office lobby. | Susan Vinn, 57, said that she had been outside her office shortly after 2 p.m., when she saw people running across the bridge and into her office lobby. |
| “It’s horrible,” she said of the attacks that have rattled London in recent years. “We know it’s going to happen again, we just don’t know when, so that keeps us worried for sure.” | “It’s horrible,” she said of the attacks that have rattled London in recent years. “We know it’s going to happen again, we just don’t know when, so that keeps us worried for sure.” |
| Elian Peltier contributed reporting. | Elian Peltier contributed reporting. |