London terror attack – live: Man wearing hoax suicide vest shot dead by police after three injured in ‘Islamist-related’ stabbings in Streatham
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A convicted terrorist was shot dead by armed police after stabbing two people on a London high street.
The Metropolitan Police said they were treating the incident in Streatham at 2pm on Sunday as an Islamist-related attack.
Officers named the suspect as Sudesh Amman, 20, who had been released from prison days earlier.
A man in his 40s remains in hospital but is no longer in a life-threatening condition. A woman in her 50s was discharged following treatment.
Police said a third victim suffered minor injuries, believed to be caused by flying glass during the shooting of the suspect.
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has tweeted about the attack.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the Labour MP for Streatham, has spoken to BBC News about the attack this afternoon.
“Firstly, our prayers and thoughts go out to those who were injured and their families, and those who witnessed [the attack],” Ms Ribeiro-Addy said.
“It was a very busy day for Streatham High Road, there will be loads of people, including children, going to the cinema, going to the shops who may have witnessed what happened, which can be quite traumatic for them."
She added that the police and emergency services had been "fantastic" in their response.
Here is the latest update from Ms Ribeiro-Addy, who is currently at the scene of the attack.
Sky News is reporting that the man who was shot by armed officers is understood to have been under active surveillance by anti-terror police.
That would appear to match with an assessment of the incident by David Videcette, a former counterterror detective for the Met Police, earlier today.
Police scenes of crime officers are gathering forensic evidence from the scene in Streatham High Road (pictures via AP, AFP and Reuters).
Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party and councillor for the St Leonard's ward on Lambeth Council, has described the "absolute shock and disbelief" from local residents.
He told PA: "There was an immediate sense of panic and fear when it happened.
"My partner was just down at the traffic lights and a woman ran up and said 'there's been a shooting' and another broke down next to her and said she feared for her daughter's life.
"There is that initial sense of fear and worry when this happens. But when you see the emergency services respond, you suddenly feel reassured.
"The police called it a terrorist incident very quickly and very early on."
Police officers were involved in a "proactive counter-terrorism operation" at the time of the attack
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that officers were at the scene immediately "as part of a proactive Counter Terrorism operation".
Their latest statement begins: "At approximately 1400hrs on Sunday, 2 February two people were stabbed in Streatham High Road, Lambeth.
"As part of a proactive Counter Terrorism operation, armed officers were in immediate attendance and shot a male suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A third person also received minor injuries - believed to have been caused by glass following the discharge of the police firearm.
"A device was found strapped to the body of the suspect and specialist officers attended.
"Cordons were put in place and it was quickly established that this was a hoax device."
Police have also released more details about the victims
"Three victims have been taken to south London hospitals," the statement continues. "One man is being treated as life-threatening, one woman has non-life threatening injuries and another woman has minor injuries."
Two were stabbed and the third "received minor injuries - believed to have been caused by glass following the discharge of the police firearm."
Police confirm they believe the attack is an Islamist-related terrorist incident
"The situation has been contained and officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are now leading an investigation into the incident. The incident was quickly declared as a terrorist incident and we believe it to be Islamist-related.
"However as you would expect, officers continue to work in the area to ensure there is no continuing danger to the public and that all evidence is gathered. Streatham High Road remains closed at this time, and cordons are in place. We will reopen these as soon as we can.
"We would like to thank the numerous members of the public who assisted officers and ambulance staff this afternoon following a very confusing and alarming incident."
Here's the link to the full statement from deputy assistant commissioner Lucy D'Orsi of Metropolitan Police:
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