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London Bridge attack: What we know so far London Bridge attack: What we know so far
(about 4 hours later)
Two members of the public have died and three others were stabbed in an attack on London Bridge which is being treated as "terror-related". A man who stabbed two people to death and wounded three others in a "terror-related" attack was shot dead by police on London Bridge after he was held down by members of the public.
The suspect, Usman Khan, was shot dead at the scene. The suspect, Usman Khan, 28, had been released from jail on licence in 2018, half way through a 16-year sentence for terrorism offences.
He was convicted in 2012 after plotting with a group from Stoke-on-Trent, London and Cardiff.
A property said to be his home in Wolverhampton Road, Stafford, is being searched by police.
NHS England said one person was in a critical but stable condition, a second victim was described as stable and a third person had less serious injuries.
What happened?What happened?
The Met Police said officers were called to a stabbing at a premises near the bridge in central London just before 14:00 GMT. The attack began at 13:58 GMT on Friday at Fishmongers' Hall, at the north end of London Bridge, where a conference on prisoner rehabilitation was taking place. Khan was attending.
Two members of the public are dead while three others were injured and taken to two London hospitals. It started inside the building before proceeding on to London Bridge, where Khan was held down by members of the public before he was shot by police.
One person is in a critical but stable condition, a second person is described as stable and a third person has less serious injuries, NHS England said. Two men can be seen in a video holding the attacker back using a whale tusk, seized from a wall mount, and a fire extinguisher spray, before others step in to pin him down. One man was seen walking away holding a large knife they had retrieved.
Videos on social media show people wrestling a man to the floor who then disperse before he is shot by an armed police officer. A separate video has also emerged showing police officers aiming guns at a white lorry that jack-knifed on the bridge.
Another man in a suit and jacket can be seen running from the suspect, having apparently retrieved a large knife.
A separate video has also emerged showing police officers aiming guns at a white lorry that jack-knifed across the bridge.
The footage shows several officers surrounding the vehicle before moving to the rear to check its container.
Whitehall officials have told BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner the police action was not intelligence-led and was spontaneous and reactive.
What do we know about the attacker?What do we know about the attacker?
The suspect, named by police as 28-year-old Usman Khan, was a former prisoner and convicted of a terrorist offence who was out on licence. Met Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said Khan was released from prison in December 2018.
The Met Police said he had been living in Staffordshire, and that searches were being carried out at an address there. He had been jailed for plotting to blow up the London Stock Exchange.
He was wearing what is thought to have been a hoax explosive device. He and three men from Cardiff, had discussed attacking the London Stock Exchange, pubs in Stoke and, separately, setting up a jihadist training camp in Pakistan.
According to The Times, he had been released from jail a year ago after agreeing to wear an electronic tag and have his movements monitored. The conspiracy developed over six weeks in late 2010, before the police arrested Khan and the others, their court case in 2012 was told.
The paper said he was attending a Cambridge University conference on prisoner rehabilitation being held at Fishmongers' Hall. Khan was one of three of the men initially given indeterminate sentences for their part in the plot. The sentences were revised on appeal.
The Parole Board said it had no involvement in his release from jail.
The Metropolitan Police said Khan had been living in Stafford, where searches were being carried out on Saturday.
He was wearing what is thought to have been a hoax explosive device when he was shot.
Whitehall officials told BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner the police action was spontaneous and reactive and was not intelligence-led.
Read moreRead more
What have police said?What have police said?
Met Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu said the suspect was shot by armed officers and died at the scene. Met Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu confirmed the force was treating it as a terrorist incident.
He confirmed the force was treating it as a terrorist incident. The attack began at a criminal justice event called Learning Together at Fishmongers' Hall and the Met is appealing for people attending the conference to contact them.
Police said officers were at the scene within five minutes of being alerted A wide police cordon would remain in the area for some time as police carry out searches "to ensure there is no further threat", he said.
The man had a hoax explosive device strapped to his body, said Mr Basu who is the head of UK counter-terrorism policing.
London Ambulance Service declared a "major incident" and had a number of crews at the scene.
"A number of other people received injuries. As soon as we can provide updates on their condition we will," Mr Basu said.
There is no further danger to the public, he added.
Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said: "We are also working at full tilt to understand exactly what has happened and whether anyone else was involved."
A wide police cordon will remain in the area for some time as police carry out searches "to ensure there is no further threat".
Where did it happen?Where did it happen?
The attack began at a criminal justice event called "Learning Together" at Fishmongers' Hall. A number of buildings near the bridge, including King's College London and the News UK building opposite the Shard, were put into lockdown.
The stabbings happened on the north side of London Bridge, around Fishmongers' Hall and opposite Adelaide House.
London Bridge station was closed during the incident, but has since reopened.
A number of buildings near the bridge, including King's College London and the News UK building opposite the Shard, were put into lockdown as part of the evacuation of the area.
A wide police cordon remains in the area as police carry out searches "to ensure there is no further threat".
Residents who live nearby have been told to find elsewhere to stay and the cordon may remain in place over the weekend, police said.
What did witnesses see?
BBC reporter John McManus said he saw a group of men involved in a fight on the bridge. Police then arrived and shots were fired, he said.
Witnesses described armed police arriving at the scene and shooting a man. Others said they saw a man on the ground, holding a knife.
Amanda Hunter said she was on a bus on the bridge when she looked out the window and saw "three police officers going over to a man".
"Then one of the police officers shot him," she said. "It appeared there was something in his hand."
Bus driver Mustafa Salih was travelling from Borough High Street towards London Bridge where he saw emergency vehicles and the police cordon.
"A police officer came up to me and said turn off your engine, get off and run," he told BBC London.
"I looked up and I could see a crowd of people coming towards me.
"One woman was crying. I ran back down to Borough High Street. It was all very scary as we did not know what was happening."
Luke Redman said he heard "12 or 15 (gunshots) in about 10 seconds" as he left the Monument pub and ran down an alleyway to escape.