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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Your support makes all the difference.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".
A statement from Theresa May confirms that the events are being "treated as a potential act of terrorism".
We have plans for every incident and keep these under constant review.
Police are continuing to ask people to avoid London Bridge and Borough Market, as the incident is ongoing. Transport for London has asked anyone who might be affected by the closure of the area to check its Twitter accounts for updates.
Tonight's incidents have been "declared as terrorist incidents", according to the Met Police.
Met Police have said the incident in Vauxhall was a stabbing that was not connected to tonight's terrorist incidents in central London.
Here's our full breaking story on the declaration of a terror attack www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-bridge-borough-market-attack-incident-terror-terrorist-police-what-happened-latest-live-a7771636.html
Awful news from London tonight. We're monitoring the situation - Canadians in need of help please see below: twitter.com/canadianuk/sta…
If you're just joining us, here's a rundown of the major events tonight:
:: Police were called at around 10.08pm to reports of a vehicle hitting pedestrians on London Bridge.
:: Officers then attended a second incident at nearby Borough Market after reports of stabbings. Armed officers responded and shots were fired.
:: Both incidents were declared by the Metropolitan Police as "terrorist incidents" at 12.25am on Sunday.
:: A third incident at Vauxhall was a stabbing and unrelated, Scotland Yard said.
:: Prime Minister Theresa May is returning to Downing Street to receive further briefings from security officials.
:: The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee on Sunday.
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