London terror attack live updates: Seven killed in London Bridge and Borough Market before armed police shoot three suspects dead
Prime Minister warns Britain is in the grip of a spate of copycat terror attacks
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
At least seven people were killed and dozens more injured after a van drove into pedestrians on London Bridge and several men then started stabbing passersby in what police said was a terrorist attack.
The incident began on London Bridge when a white transit-style van drove into a crowd of people "at about 50mph", according to witnesses.
Police said the van then drove to the nearby Borough Market where three men began attacking people. Three suspects were shot dead by armed police.
If you are having trouble viewing this in your browser click here.
Three men have been shot dead after killing seven and injuring 48 more with a van and knife attack in London.
The killings on Saturday night were the second terrorist atrocity to hit the country in as many weeks after 22 were killed at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.
Attackers brought carnage to the streets of the capital, stabbing a police officer and revellers with 12-inch knives, reportedly shouting "this is for Allah".
The trio were pictured wearing what appeared to be explosive vests, with Scotland Yard later confirming they were hoaxes.
Armed police rushed to the scene and shot dead the three male attackers in the Borough Market area near the bridge, as authorities urged Londoners on Twitter to "run, hide, tell" if they were caught up in the violence.
The attacks came just five days ahead of a national parliamentary election on Thursday. The ruling Conservative Party suspended national campaigning on Sunday, a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said.
"Following updates from police and security officials, I can confirm that the terrible incident in London is being treated as a potential act of terrorism," Ms May said in a statement as events unfolded.
The killings also occurred less than two weeks after a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a pop concert by U.S. singer Ariana Grande in Manchester in northern England.
The BBC showed a photograph of two possible attackers shot by police, one of whom had canisters strapped to his body. Hours after the attack the area remained sealed off and patrolled by armed police and counter-terrorism officers.
The London Ambulance Service said 48 people had been taken to five hospitals across the city and a number of others had been treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Streets around London Bridge and Borough Market, an area that is a major transport hub and is packed with bars and restaurants, was busy with people on a night out.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan spoke of a "cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night".
Here's more on Ukip's refusal to suspend campaigning:
In a statement, the Ukip leader, Paul Nuttall, said: "With more people murdered on the streets of our capital city last night by Islamist terrorists, it is more important than ever for us to confront this evil with the democratic principles that have made this country what it is.
"Our hearts go out to the family and friends of those who lost their lives last night. The courage and quick response of our emergency services have yet again saved countless lives and in the midst of such a tragedy, deserve our respect and admiration.
"It is time to start honouring our dead with more than just words. The only guarantee that will come from our choosing to stall the democratic process again will be more attacks; it is what these cowards want us to do.
"For those of us seeking to serve the people of this country, it is our duty to drive the dialogue on how best to confront and defeat this brand of terrorism.
"That is what Ukip will be doing today and beyond. Therefore, I refuse to suspend campaigning because this is precisely what the extremists would want us to do."
The date of Britain's 8 June election probably cannot be changed following an attack in London which killed seven people, Brexit minister David Davis said on Sunday.
"I'm not sure it can be legally done. In order to do this you'd have to have some change of law I think and who's going to do that? Parliament no longer exists," Mr Davis told the BBC, referring to the fact that parliament was dissolved ahead of the election.
"I think we're locked in," Mr Davis said.
Russian president Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences over attacks in London in a telegram to Ms May, the Kremlin said in a statement.
"The President of Russia expressed his confidence that the build-up of joint efforts to fight forces of terror all over the world should become the common answer on what happened," the Kremlin said
Here is Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick's statement in full: "Our understanding is that there were three people involved in the attack.
"We have witness reports of three people armed with knives and three attackers. And we believe the threat that they posed was neutralised within eight minutes.
"Of course it's a very complex and confused scene, and a confused series of events, so it's important that we first of all make sure that there is no one else outstanding.
"We don't believe there is but we must make absolutely certain ... and as I said we have a very large investigation ongoing and we will be seeking to establish whether anyone else was working with or assisting in any way, or helping in the planning of this attack in the way that you would expect.
"So at the moment we believe there were three attackers and we believe they are dead."
The official terror threat level in the UK is currently at severe, the second highest category.
Ms Dick said authorities are already at a "very high level of alertness".
She said: "Severe means that an attack is highly likely, and the threat level was at severe.
"So, we were prepared potentially for an incident as we have been for some considerable time. The threat level is a matter, as you know, for the independent JTAC, the terrorism analysis centre, and they take a whole range of factors into account in setting the threat level.
"In my view, we responded extremely well. to this ghastly, ghastly incident.
"I can tell you that we will be doing absolutely everything in our power to try to stop such horrendous attack as this.
"We will be working with the Government, and with our colleagues in the intelligence services to do so."
Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick said police have "very good" resources and "extraordinarily highly-trained people" but attacks are difficult to predict.
She said: "We've been trying to prepare for an attack like this. We have an excellent working relationship with our colleagues in the agencies, and we have officers on the streets of London all the time.
"These sorts of things, as you know, as is quite apparent, are hard to predict, and are sometimes sadly, as has been proven over the last few weeks, hard to prevent.
"We're clearly going to have to look, all of us, in the light of the Westminster attack and the events in Manchester, at our resource levels and how we use them.
"But that's just a natural thing to do. I believe the Metropolitan Police is well resourced."
Carwyn Jones, the First Minister of Wales, said: "This was an appalling, cowardly attack on innocent people simply enjoying a summer evening.
"Our thoughts are with the victims and families and I would like to thank the emergency services for their swift and brave response. I am being kept fully informed and I ask all of us to remain vigilant.
"Wales stands with London again and we will not be cowed, we will not change our way of life, or give in to fear and let division win."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments