Updated June 4
Seven people died and at least 48 were injured in a terrorism incident in London on Saturday, June 3, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said on June 4.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack via its Amaq news agency.
According to Dick, a vehicle hit pedestrians at London Bridge and then drove to nearby Borough Market where a number of people were stabbed. Clarifying later, Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations Mark Rowley said the van was abandoned and the suspects proceeded to Borough Market on foot.
The van, a white Renault, which had recently been hired by one of the attackers, “entered London Bridge at 21:58 travelling from the North to the South side of the river,” Rowley said. “The van mounted the pavement, and collided with pedestrians before being abandoned, where the attackers, armed with knives, continued into the Borough Market area, stabbing numerous people.”
Within eight minutes of the first call to police at 10:08pm, three suspects wearing hoax bomb vests were shot dead by armed officers, Dick said.
Rowley said eight firearms officers discharged weapons and around 50 rounds were fired because officers believed that the attackers were wearing explosive vests. He said “the firearms officers fired an unprecedented number of rounds to be completely confident they had neutralised those threats,” adding that the use of lethal force will be investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
A member of the public also suffered gunshot wounds, Rowley said.
According to the BBC, witnesses said a white van “probably travelling at about 50 miles an hour” hit “five or six” pedestrians on the bridge, before crashing close to the Barrowboy and Banker pub. Three men then left the vehicle and attacked people in the Borough market area before being shot by police near the Wheatsheaf pub.
London Ambulance Service Assistant Director of Operations, Peter Rhodes said 48 patients were taken to five hospitals across London and paramedics treated a number of others for minor injuries at the scene. 36 are still in hospital. NHS England said 21 people are in a critical condition.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a Canadian national was killed in the attack. French media reported that foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said one French national died and seven were injured, four of them critically.
In a statement, British Transport Police said an on-duty officer – one of the first on the scene – was injured responding to the incident. He received injuries to his head, face and leg, which are serious but not life-threatening.
At least one Metropolitan Police officer was also injured in the incident.
The Met said twelve people – six men and six women – were arrested at two properties in Barking, east London, in connection with the incidents. One man was later released. Searches at four addresses – two in Barking and two in Newham – are continuing. No-one was arrested in Newham.
June 3
London’s Metropolitan Police Service confirmed Saturday, June 3, they were responding to “terrorist incidents” at London Bridge and nearby Borough Market.
Police said they responded to reports of a vehicle hitting pedestrians on London Bridge just after 10 p.m. Soon after, police responded to reported stabbings nearby in Borough Market, which resulted in gunfire.
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, and I’d like to thank the brave men and women of our emergency services who were first on the scene and will be working throughout the night.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan
A stabbing was reported nearby at Vauxhall, but Met Police said that incident is unrelated to the other two, and not considered a terrorist event.
London Ambulance Service confirmed they transported at least 30 patients to five hospitals in London.
Metropolitan Police confirmed early Sunday that six people were killed, including three suspects. However, the department is still “inquiring” on if anyone else was involved in the attack.
British Prime Minister Theresa May will chair an emergency response meeting later on Sunday. She stated that the incidents are being treated as a “potential act of terrorism.”
(Story developing…)
Live TV coverage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y60wDzZt8yg
