At least 6 dead in terror attacks in London

8 years ago

Borough Underground Station remains closed, following last night incident where six people were killed in a terror attack in which three assailants were shot dead by police, on June 4, 2017 [Isabel Infantes / Anadolu Agency]

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 4 : Police officers search the area around London Bridge, central London, following last night incident where six people were killed in a terror attack in which three assailants were shot dead by police, on June 4, 2017. At least six people were killed in attacks late Saturday as a van mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge before attackers then stabbed victims at nearby Borough Market. ( Isabel Infantes – Anadolu Agency )

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 3 : Police officers cordon off the area around London Bridge, central London, after reports of pedestrians being hit by a white van on London Bridge in London, United Kingdom on June 3, 2017. UK Police said Saturday they were responding to two incidents on London Bridge and Borough Market amid reports of a van mowing down pedestrians. ( Isabel Infantes – Anadolu Agency )

Members of the public, leave the scene of an attack on London Bridge in central London on June 3, 2017. UK Police said Saturday they were responding to two incidents on London Bridge and Borough Market amid reports of a van mowing down pedestrians [Behlül Çetinkaya / Anadolu Agency]

At least six people were killed in in attacks late Saturday as a van mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge before attackers then stabbed victims at nearby Borough Market.

Health officials said at least 30 victims were taken to area hospitals for treatment.

Three male suspects were killed by police within eight minutes after the first report of the attacks, according to Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, who said authorities are treating it as a “terror incident” as they proceed with a massive operation in central London. One officer sustained serious non-life-threatening injuries when he responded to the attack, Rowley said.

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.

Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the “barbaric acts” he described as a

deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night

Reports of a stabbing in Vauxhall was later determined to be unrelated to the London Bridge and Borough Market.

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.

“The terrible incident in London is being treated as a potential act of terrorism,” she said in a statement.

Third Terror Attack

The UK has been the site of deadly terror attacks in recent months.

British national Khalid Masood carried out an attack in March by mowing down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before attacking police outside of the parliament building.

Three civilians were killed on the bridge and one police officer was stabbed to death outside the parliament. Dozens of people were injured in the attack. Masood was shot dead moments after the attack.

More recently, 22 victims were killed when suspected suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a device on 22 May in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena at the end of a pop concert. Fifty-nine others were injured.

The terror threat level was upgraded following that attack to “critical” – which meant a terror attack was imminent, but it was downgraded to “severe” after a few days.

In a tweet early Sunday, London police asked the public to “remain calm, but be alert & vigilant”.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 4 : London Bridge remains closed in the morning, following last night incident where six people were killed in a terror attack in which three assailants were shot dead by police, on June 4, 2017. At least six people were killed in attacks late Saturday as a van mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge before attackers then stabbed victims at nearby Borough Market. ( Isabel Infantes – Anadolu Agency )

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 4 : Police helicopters raid the area around London Bridge, central London, following last night incident where six people were killed in a terror attack in which three assailants were shot dead by police, on June 4, 2017. At least six people were killed in attacks late Saturday as a van mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge before attackers then stabbed victims at nearby Borough Market. ( Isabel Infantes – Anadolu Agency )

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 4 : Two women cover themselves with thermal blankets inside London Bridge Station, while police officers search the area around Borough Market, central London, following last night incident where six people were killed in a terror attack in which three assailants were shot dead by police, on June 4, 2017. At least six people were killed in attacks late Saturday as a van mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge before attackers then stabbed victims at nearby Borough Market. ( Isabel Infantes – Anadolu Agency )

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 4 : Firefighters carry plastic bags by London Bridge, central London, following last night incident where six people were killed in a terror attack in which three assailants were shot dead by police, on June 4, 2017. At least six people were killed in attacks late Saturday as a van mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge before attackers then stabbed victims at nearby Borough Market. ( Isabel Infantes – Anadolu Agency )

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 4 : London Bridge Station remains closed following last night incident where six people were killed in a terror attack in which three assailants were shot dead by police, on June 4, 2017. At least six people were killed in attacks late Saturday as a van mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge before attackers then stabbed victims at nearby Borough Market. ( Isabel Infantes – Anadolu Agency )

Police officers search the area around London Bridge following an incident where six people were killed in a terror attack on June 4, 2017 [Isabel Infantes/Anadolu Agency]

Borough Underground Station remains closed, following last night incident where six people were killed in a terror attack in which three assailants were shot dead by police, on June 4, 2017 [Isabel Infantes / Anadolu Agency]