London attack: Seven killed and at least 48 injured in vehicle and stabbing incidents
London: As many as seven people have died and at least 48 injured in twin terror strikes in the heart of London on Saturday night. The first attack took place on the iconic London Bridge when a speeding van rammed pedestrians.
The occupants of the vehicle then got out at the nearby Borough Market at the south end of the bridge and stabbed several people in the bustling tourist hub before police shot dead three of them. The attacks come just days before Britain goes to polls.
Media reports said that a white van hit pedestrians on London Bridge at about 22:00 BST on Saturday, then three men got out and stabbed people in nearby Borough Market. Police said the three men were wearing fake bomb vests.
One of those hurt is a police officer who was stabbed after going to help. His injuries are not life-threatening.
Political parties have suspended national general election campaigning and the prime minister is chairing a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee.
Theresa May described Saturday night’s events as “dreadful”, while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called them “brutal and shocking”.
Borough Market is an area known for its bars and restaurants which were busy on a warm summer evening.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said it was “a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners”, but the capital remained the “safest global city” and Londoners would not be cowed by terrorism.
It is the third terror attack in the UK in three months following the car and knife attack in Westminster in March, which left five people dead, and the Manchester bombing less than two weeks ago, in which 22 people were killed.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said it was believed there were only three attackers involved and the explosive vests they were wearing were “hoaxes”.
One social media user posted a photograph appearing to show an attacker lying on the ground outside a pub in the food market, with the fake vest visible.
