Face-to-face with terrorists in suicide vests, bakers armed with brooms and mystery man on a Santander bike: Astonishing video of London Bridge attack revealed

Newly-released footage gives extraordinary glimpse of the courage shown by those caught up in atrocity that left eight dead

Wednesday 17 July 2019 12:18 BST

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Astonishing moment London Bridge attackers walk towards police officers in BBC's unseen footage filmed by member of the public

Astonishing new footage shows the moment the three London Bridge terror attackers were confronted by unarmed police – and a baker with a broom.

The video captures officers and members of the public facing down the Isis recruits as they rampaged through the capital’s Borough Market armed with knives and wearing apparent suicide vests.

Eight people were killed and another 48 injured during the atrocity on 3 June 2017.

An inquest found on Tuesday that the three attackers, Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba, were lawfully killed by responding armed officers.

But the newly-released mobile footage – recorded by Paul Clarke, a visitor to the market – gives an extraordinary glimpse of the courage shown by those caught up in the attack before the armed units arrived.

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Armed police on Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Armed Police talk to members of the public outside London Bridge Hospital as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Police Officers outside the Barrowboy and Banker Public House on Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Armed Police talk to members of the public outside London Bridge Hospital as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Armed police on Borough High Street as police deal with a 'major incident' at London Bridge

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Emergency services near the scene of the incident

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People run down Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Emergency services arrive at the scene near Borough market at London Bridge

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Emergency personnel on London Bridge as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Police sniffer dogs on London Bridge as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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A second helicopter lands on London Bridge as police are responding to three incidents in the capital, amid reports that a vehicle collided with pedestrians on London Bridge, Scotland Yard said. Officers are dealing with reports of stabbings in Borough Market, where armed officers attended and shots were fired. They are also at an incident in the Vauxhall area

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Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London

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Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London, Britain

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A police officer escorts members of the public to safety at London Bridge

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Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London, Britain

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Police attend to an incident near London Bridge in London, Britain

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At one point, two bakers, carrying nothing more than a broom and two plastic trays, can be seen going after the attackers. Shortly after, a man who has never been identified rides a Santander bike, appearing to monitor where the terrorists are going in a bid to warn others.

In perhaps the most chilling moment, all three attackers suddenly appear around a corner doubling back on those trying to stop them. “Get Trojan, get Trojan,” the officers can be heard shouting – code for firearms units.

When they arrive, gunshots can be heard out of picture as the terrorists are finally killed. A police van is seen rolling into discarded restaurant tables in the street because no-one has had time to put the handbrake on.

The footage was released after being used at the inquests of the three attackers at the Old Bailey this week.

Among those seen in it are police constables Sam Balfour, Bartek Tchorzewski and Ian Rae.

Speaking about his decision to confront the attackers, PC Rae, 51, told the hearing: “To be quite honest I felt that I needed to do something.

“I did not have time to think about the risk involved. I just went and did what I thought was the best thing for everyone.”

PC Tchorzewski, 36, added: “We were just thinking about stopping them. Assume the worst and you try to think what you may encounter and what we will do.”

It was only later the suicide vests were found to be dummies.

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The new inquest followed separate hearings into the victims’ deaths, where relatives criticised the security services for failing to prevent the atrocity after years of monitoring Butt.

Those inquests, held without a jury, concluded victims Xavier Thomas, 45, Chrissy Archibald, 30, Sara Zelenak, 21, James McMullan, 32, Kirsty Boden, 28, Alexandre Pigeard, 26, Sebastien Belanger, 36, and Ignacio Echeverria, 39, were unlawfully killed by the attackers.