Latest: 7 People dead plus the 3 attackers 48 persons taken to hospital

From BBC

UPDATE at 5:36AM  JUNE 4

Seven people have been killed in central London after three men drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge and launched a knife attack on people enjoying a Saturday night out in pubs and restaurants around Borough Market.

Police have declared it a “terrorist incident”.

Here is what we know so far.

What happened?

Armed police and ambulances were called to reports of a white van hitting several people on London Bridge at 22:08 BST on Saturday.

The area and nearby railway stations were closed. The van mounted the pavement and swerved into a number of people.

BBC reporter Holly Jones, who was on the bridge, said: “A white van driver came speeding – probably about 50mph – veered off the road into the crowds of people who were walking along the pavement.

“He swerved right round me and then hit about five or six people.”

The vehicle continued to drive to nearby Borough Market, where the suspects got out and stabbed several people in an area crowded with people having an evening out.

Eyewitnesses spoke of attackers targeting people in pubs.

One witness, Gerard, told the BBC: “They were running up shouting, ‘This is for Allah.’ They stabbed this girl maybe 10 times, 15 times.”

He said he tried to stop them by throwing bottles, chairs and other items.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed seven people had died and 48 required hospital treatment.

In addition, three suspected attackers were shot dead within eight minutes of officers receiving the first incident report.

British Transport Police said one of its officers was seriously injured responding to the attack.

A third police unit was sent to the Vauxhall area. Officers later said this was a stabbing and not connected to the operation at London Bridge and Borough Market.

London Ambulance Service took more than 100 emergency calls about the attack

The victims

None of the seven dead have been named.

Some of the injured are in a critical condition.

The “seriously injured” British Transport Police officer suffered head, face and leg wounds, but his life is not in danger.

Police boats have been searching the River Thames for anyone who might have fallen from the bridge.

The Metropolitan Police has opened its Casualty Bureau for people concerned about friends or relatives.

Two French citizens are among the injured and one is seriously hurt, according to a statement from the French president’s office.

Two Australian citizens “have been directly impacted”, says the country’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The attackers

Three men, believed to be the attackers, were shot by police at Borough Market.

A photographer took a picture showing people lying on the ground outside the Wheatsheaf pub – one of whom appeared to have canisters strapped around his waist.

Police said the attackers were wearing hoax explosive vests.

The person who took the photo has described seeing three people shot by police.

One of the attackers appears to have been wearing Arsenal football shirt,according to The Daily Mail.

What is happening now?

Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick says the incident is under control but many officers remain on the scene to ensure everyone is accounted for.

An investigation, led by the Counter Terrorism Command, is under way.

A police raid has been reported in Barking, east London. It is not clear whether it is connected.

A casualty line has been set up for members of the public who are concerned about friends and relatives. People have been told they can ring 0800 096 1233 or 020 7158 0197 but only “in a genuine emergency”.

The police are also asking anyone with photographs or videos of the incident toupload them here.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says there will be an increased police presence on the streets, but people should not be alarmed.

The UK terrorism threat level remains at severe, having been raised to critical for a short time after the Manchester attack.

London Bridge overground station will be closed all day, said Network Rail.

London Bridge and Borough underground stations are also closed, with trains are passing straight through them.

The River Thames has been reopened to boats and Southwark Bridge is no longer cordoned off.

Reaction

Prime Minister Theresa May addressed the nation after chairing the government’s Cobra emergency committee on Sunday morning.

She condemned the attack on innocent people and said it is time to say “enough is enough” when it comes to tackling terrorism.

She said the attack is not overtly connected to other recent attacks in Manchester and London’s Westminster, but it was part of a new trend of people using the “crudest” methods to terrorise citizens.

Mrs May confirmed the general election will go ahead as planned on Thursday.

However, most political parties have suspended national campaigning for the day – apart from UKIP which is to continue its campaign.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said “all communities must come together. Our strength is the strength of our community unity.”

He agreed that the election should go ahead, as “democracy must prevail”,

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said it was a “horrific incident” and Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called it “dreadful news”.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “[The attackers] are evil cowards and London will never be cowed.”

US President Donald Trump tweeted: “Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the UK, we will be there – WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!”

Mr Trump also called for his travel ban on visitors from six predominantly Muslim countries to be upheld by US courts, where it is being challenged.

Other world leaders have also condemned the attack, including French President Emmanuel Macron who said his country “is more than ever at the side of the United Kingdom”.

For more on this story and video go to: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-40147164

 

Original story: (Posted 9:30PM Fri June 3)

More than one person has died in a terrorist incident in central London which is still ongoing, the Metropolitan Police has said.

Police and ambulances were alerted to reports a van hit people on London Bridge shortly after 22:00 BST.

Armed officers went to nearby Borough Market where they were responding to reports of stabbings in the area which is known for its restaurants and bars.

London Ambulance Service said at least 20 people have been taken to hospital.

A number of people were treated at the scene for less serious injuries.

The Metropolitan Police tweeted: “At 0025hrs 4/6/17 the incidents at #LondonBridge & #BoroughMarket were declared as terrorist incidents.”

Prime Minister Theresa May described the incidents as “dreadful events” and will chair a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee later.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the attacks were “horrific” and “targeted at people enjoying their evening with friends and family”.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “We don’t yet know the full details, but this was a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”

Eyewitnesses told BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds they saw between two and four people getting out of the van after the attack on the bridge and running towards Borough Market.

Gunshots were later heard in the area while one social media user has posted a photograph appearing to show one of the attackers lying on the ground outside a pub in the food market, with what seemed to be canisters strapped to his body.

The attack comes almost two weeks after 22 people died in a suicide bombing at a concert in Manchester.

In March, five people died in London when a car was driven at pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and a police officer was stabbed outside Parliament.

‘Van hit five people’

The BBC’s Tom Symonds said a security guard who oversees a number of pubs in the London Bridge area said he saw four people stabbed by three attackers.

BBC reporter Holly Jones, who was on the bridge at the time of the attack, said a van driven by a man was “probably travelling at about 50 miles an hour” before it hit a number of people.

“He swerved right round me and then hit about five or six people. He hit about two people in front of me and then three behind,” Ms Jones told the BBC News Channel.

Five or six people were being treated for injuries after the vehicle mounted the pavement and hit them, she said.

“I’d say there are about four severely injured people. They all have paramedics assisting them at the moment.”

She said the van came from the direction of central London and headed towards the south side of the river.

Ms Jones later reported seeing a man being arrested by police. She said he was handcuffed and had his shirt off.

She said a French woman was among the injured. She had said she did not know where two people she had been with were.

Speaking to the Press Association, Will Orton described being in a pub in the area and seeing people coming running inside.

“We didn’t really know what was going on,” he said.

“We thought maybe there was a fight or something outside. And then there were almost hundreds of people coming inside.

“The bouncers did a really good job, they shut the doors and locked everyone in. There was panic – it seemed like it was literally outside the door. People were coming inside and saying they had witnessed people being stabbed.”

The prime minister said: “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.”

Mrs May added: “This is a fast-moving investigation. I want to express my huge gratitude to the police and emergency services who are on the scene.

“Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events.”

Downing Street said Mrs May, who has been campaigning in the general election, returned to No 10 to receive further briefings from security officials.

On Twitter, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn described the incidents as “brutal and shocking”.

Transport for London (TfL) said London Bridge has been closed in both directions, while neighbouring Southwark Bridge has also been shut.

TfL said there were further closures in Borough High Street, where armed police and counter-terrorism specialist forces were later seen. On the north side of the river, road closures included Lower Thames Street and part of Cannon Street.

The Met Police has set up a casualty bureau on 0800 096 1233 and 020 7158 0197for people concerned about friends or relatives who may be affected.

Meanwhile, Facebook said it has activated its safety check so people in London could post a message to let friends and relatives know they were safe.

Police said earlier they were also responding to an incident in the Vauxhall area a few miles away but later confirmed it was not connected to the London Bridge attacks.

IMAGES:

Police and ambulance could be seen on the south side of London Bridge

GETTY IMAGES Image caption Police led people to safety after the attack

GETTY IMAGES Image caption Ambulances attended to the injured on London Bridge

GETTY IMAGES Image caption Counter-terrorism specialist firearm officers were later in attendance

PA Image caption Armed police were sent to the area

PA Image caption People running down Borough High Street on the south side of London Bridge

GABRIELE SCIOTTO

H. ATTAI Image caption The white van, in the centre of this photo, is believed to have been used in the attack on London Bridge

For more on this story and video go to: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40146916