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
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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.
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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".
One of the London Bridge attackers was wearing an Arsenal away shirt from the 2011/12 season, in addition to a fake suicide vest.
Donald Trump has tweeted, again.
He said: "Do you notice we are not having a gun debate right now? That's because they used knives and a truck!"
Arab Gulf countries are condemning the attack.
The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait issued separate statements condemning such attacks and expressing their support for the British government.
The Saudi Embassy in the UK called on their citizens in London to exercise caution in crowded areas and follow police instructions.
In Turkey, the foreign ministry has expressed its "deep sadness." The ministry says that as "Turkey and the Turkish people, who have been subjected to similar attacks many times, we understand and share the pain of the people of the United Kingdom."
The ministry emphasized Turkey's readiness to support the UK in its fight against extremism
Police officers are among those injured in last night's attack.
Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh said: "I can confirm that sadly some of our colleagues were among the injured in the attack last night. I join all UK police colleagues in wishing them a swift recovery.
"We are offering them our full support."
Mr Marsh added: "First and foremost our thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones in the horrific events last night and we wish well to those still injured.
"There can be no doubt that the swift response of our colleagues - both armed and unarmed - saved further lives from being lost.
"There are barely words to describe their bravery - officers who ran towards danger with no thought for their own safety.
"Londoners can rightly be proud of their emergency services today. They are the best of the best and we thank everyone for their praise and kind comments."
Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood paid tribute to the bravery of the emergency services and called for action to reverse public service funding cuts in the upcoming election.
She told ITV's Peston on Sunday: "Can I first of all offer my condolences to everyone who has been affected in London following so quickly on the back of Manchester and also to pay my respects to those people who work in our public services, and the best way we can value those public servants is to make sure that they are adequately funded and we should use this election opportunity to reverse those funding cuts to our public services.
"So in short the answer to your question is we should carry on campaigning, democracy will lose out and the terrorists will win if we do anything else."
The Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, has said the UK's terrorism threat level will not be raised because police believe there are no perpetrators still on the loose.
She said "we don't believe there are additional elements" at large.
The level was raised to "critical" for several days after the 22 March concert bombing in Manchester, as police raced to track down the attacker's possible accomplices.
It now stands at "severe," meaning an attack is highly likely.
Ms Rudd told ITV television that more must be done to fight the "onslaught of jihadi propaganda that is radicalising people online."
Several women with their heads covered were seen being taken by police out of a block of flats in Barking, a Reuters photographer has said.
Twelve people have been arrested in connection with the London Bridge attack, police have said.
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