Seven people have died and at least 48 have been injured following a terrorist attack in London, less than two weeks after the suicide bombing on the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.
Three assailants drove a van at high speed across London Bridge, by one of the city’s busiest stations, at around 10 pm local time on Saturday night, before ferociously attacking people, including an off duty police officer, with knives around Borough Market, a popular and lively area with pubs, restaurants and shops.
The three attackers were wearing what appeared to be explosive vests, but turned out to be hoaxes, and were shot dead by police within 8 minutes of the first call to emergency services. Police forces are reviewing their presence across the capital in coming days, with extra police set to be deployed across the city. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
In the aftermath of the attack London’s police force used a new warning system urging people to “Run, Hide, Tell,” outlining the ways in which people should respond if caught up in an attack.
“Potential act of terrorism”
The attack comes days before the general election is due to take place, and after Britain’s threat level was reduced back to “severe” after being raised to its highest level — “critical” — following the Manchester attack. The main political parties said they would be suspending election campaigning till the end of the day.
Prime Minister Theresa May, who will chair a meeting of the government’s emergency committee COBRA, said the incidents were being treated as a “potential act of terrorism.”
The attack is the second on the city in three months, following the attack on Westminster Bridge and Parliament Square in March, in which the lone attacker also used a vehicle to attack pedestrians, and then attacked and killed a policeman outside Parliament with a knife. London Mayor Sadiq Khan called on the city’s residents to remain calm and vigilant. “I am appalled and furious that these twisted and cowardly terrorists deliberately targeted Londoners and visitors to our city who were just enjoying their Saturday night.” He urged for the general election not to be postponed, which he said would involve “giving in to terrorists”
Eyewitness accounts
Eyewitness accounts and video clips sent to media outlets have built up a horrific picture of what had happened. Holly Jones, a BBC reporter who was on the bridge as the attack took place, said the van drove at high speed, veering into pedestrians. “It was swerving violently, mounting the pavement fully, then swerving back into the road,” said Sunday Times journalist Ian Houghton who was at the scene at the time of the attack.
Those around Borough Market spoke of the moments when the three men began entering venues around the area, attacking people with knives, as other members of the public sought to thwart them, by throwing bottles and chairs. One eyewitness told the BBC that one of the attackers had shouted “this is for Allah” before launching an attack on a woman.
Police, who were swiftly on the scene, urged many — on buses or on the street — to run from the scene, and also entered bars and restaurants, ordering people to bend low as they sought to establish if further attackers were in the area. The area, including homes, were swiftly evacuated under a tight police presence, with those leaving the area asked to keep their hands above their head.
Anti-terror police urged members of the public who had witnessed the events to share images and film with the police
