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".
He also said there would be "increased physical measures" on London's bridges to protect the public.
Google has said it is committed to working with the Government to ensure terrorists “do not have a voice online” following Theresa May's commitment to regulating cyberspace to stop the spread of extremism after the London Bridge attack.
In a statement, the company aid it was “working with industry colleagues on an international forum to accelerate and strengthen our existing work in this area.”
Rafiq Hayat, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, said the organisation "unequivocally condemns" the terrorist attack on Saturday night "in the strongest possible terms", adding that such acts find "no hiding place in Islam".
In a statement, Mr Hayat said: “The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK unequivocally condemns in the strongest possible terms Saturday's terrorist attack in London. All acts of terrorism and extremism are vile criminal acts that are completely unjustifiable.
“We express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and pray for a full and speedy recovery of those injured. We also commend the excellent work of emergency services, who responded in a matter of minutes. We are proud of them.
“This latest attack follows the horrific attacks at Westminster Bridge and the suicide bombing in Manchester and it is clear that such murderers are bent on sowing the seeds of hatred and division. As before they will not succeed.
“Such acts find no hiding place in Islam for it rejects extremism and terrorism in any form and for any reason. We will continue to stand united against extremism and work with all who seek peace to defeat this ideology of hate.”
Following the tragic events of last night, Mary Dejevsky discusses how the General Election in four days time will not be the same election as it would have been, even if going ahead with the vote as normal shows the necessary determination not to be cowed.
A student nurse has said she “owes her life” to a taxi driver after he shouted for her to run as a man “with a giant blade” approached her.
In an emotional message to the cab driver in an interview with Press Association, the woman said: “I don’t know who you are, but I owe you my life”.
The brother of an Isis victim has said "hate can never be the answer" following Saturday night's terror attack.
Mike Haines, whose younger brother David was beheaded in Syria in 2014, told the Press Association: “From my own loss, I know first-hand the hurt and anger that many people are feeling today.
“While it is hard at a time like this, I also know that hate can never be the answer - that is what the terrorists want, and it is not what we as a country are about."
Holly Jones, a BBC presenter who was one of the first on the scene where a white van plow into pedestrians on London Bridge, has spoken of the moment she saw the driver of the vehicle looking "almost demented".
"I saw the driver of the vehicle, definitely intentional, he didn’t look scared he just looked focused," she said.
"I’d almost like to say the word demented. That’s when he was heading straight towards me.”
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