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

London terror attack: Everything we know so far

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".

Key Points

• Isis claims responsibility saying a 'detachment' of its fighters carried out attack
• Canadian Christine Archibald named as one of those killed
• Witness: 'I looked terrorist directly in the eye - then he started walking towards us'
• Jeremy Corbyn tells Theresa May 'you cannot protect public on the cheap'
• Theresa May says attack shows Britain is too tolerant of extremism
• Internet must now be regulated, Prime Minister says
• Donald Trump tweets unconfirmed reports before using attack to promote travel ban
• Seven people killed after van crashes into public and passersby are stabbed
• Timeline of events
• What we know so far

[4 June 2017 01:35 · Andrew Griffin]

A young man caught up in the London Bridge incident has thanked two strangers who offered him a bed for the night after being left stranded.

George Moss, 22, was unable to get home after police put a cordon between Borough Market and Elephant and Castle.

Mr Moss, originally from Guernsey, also lost his phone during the evening, which meant he initially had no way of contacting family or friends to ask for a bed to stay.

After borrowing a phone from a reporter at the scene, Mr Moss was able to get in touch with Holly Robinson and Mary Lynch, who tweeted that strangers with nowhere else to stay could crash at their home in Vauxhall.

Speaking from his new, temporary accommodation, Mr Moss said: "I was out this evening trying to make my own way home at around 11.30pm but couldn't make my way through anywhere.

"I met (a reporter) who lent me his phone so I tried to get hold of my mum and dad.

"After that I went towards Vauxhall and found Holly and Mary who very kindly gave me a place to stay.

"(Without them) I would have been in a pickle, I wouldn't have anywhere else to go.

"Having someone so close and so willing to help makes a massive difference."

Ms Lynch, 23, from Nottingham, said: "I think we saw when things (terror attacks) had happened in Orlando and Manchester and thinking if I had been in that situation I would want to know that people were going to open up their homes."

Ms Robinson, from Birmingham, said her original tweet was able to reach many followers after it was retweeted by former Newsround presenter Lizo Mzimba, who she once met after asking him for a selfie.

She said: "I just tweeted it (the offer) because we were here, we have friends stuck in various places. You have to give whatever you can, whenever you can.

"That's all we wanted to do, we didn't know if anyone would come but it was just to put the offer out there."

[4 June 2017 01:41 · Andrew Griffin]

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called the terrorist incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market "deliberate and cowardly", adding: "There is no justification whatsoever for such barbaric acts". 

[4 June 2017 01:41 · Andrew Griffin]

The full statement from Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London:

[4 June 2017 01:45 · Andrew Griffin]

Apparenly genuine pictures are circulating online that appear to show one of the attackers on the floor with what look to be canisters strapped to his body.

[4 June 2017 01:50 · Andrew Griffin]

Two further loud bangs have been heard at Borough Market, according to The Independent's Lizzie Dearden, who is at the scene.

[4 June 2017 01:51 · Andrew Griffin]

Ariana Grande has tweeted out a tribute to London, after the attacks. "Praying for London ♡," she wrote on Twitter. It is less than two weeks since a suicide bomber killed 22 and injured many more at one of Ms Grande's concerts in Manchester.

[4 June 2017 01:55 · Andrew Griffin]

As in Manchester two weeks ago, Londoners were quick to offer assistance to those caught up in the attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market. Phaldip Singh, who describes himself as an entrepreneur and youth activist, tweeted that Sikh Gurdwaras were open to provide food and shelter for those affected by the attacks. Gurdwaras are places of worship that traditionally serve simple meals to anyone, regardless of their religion. The Royal Oak pub in Southwark opened its doors to people evacuated from hotels inside the area cordoned off by police. At least one minicab company tweeted an offer of free rides for people stranded in the area. 

[4 June 2017 01:56 · Andrew Griffin]

"Huge explosions" have been reported in London Bridge. "We are talking four-five times louder than earlier explosions," wrote a Telegraph reporter on Twitter.

[4 June 2017 01:59 · Andrew Griffin]

The US state department has said that it "condemns the cowardly attacks targeting innocent civilians in London".

[4 June 2017 02:03 · Andrew Griffin]

People staying in the area around London Bridge have found their hotels closed and are being left with nowhere to stay on the night, according to tourists who spoke to The Independent's Lizzie Dearden. But one couple she spoke to said they were going to carry on with their holiday touring around the UK, despite being caught up in the incidents.