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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Calla Wahlquist (now), Kevin Rawlinson and Matthew Weaver (earlier)

London Bridge attacker named as Usman Khan, 28 – as it happened

What we know about the London Bridge attacker

  • The Met has identified the London Bridge attacker as Usman Khan, a 28-year-old man released from prison on a licence (parole) in December 2018 after spending eight years in jail for terrorism offences.
  • He pleaded guilty in 2012 to offences including planning and raising funds for terror related activities and planned to establish, and train at, a terrorist military training facility in Kashmir. The judge termed his plans a “serious, long term venture in terrorism” and warned he may pose an ongoing risk to the public.
  • You can read more about his history here.
  • Khan was wearing an electronic tag and had reportedly been invited to attend a justice conference on prison rehabilitation at Fishmongers’ Hall, on the northern side of London Bridge, on Friday. The attack began there.
  • One man and one woman died after being stabbed. Their names have not been formally released.
  • Two women and one man remain in hospital.
  • Khan was shot dead by police after being restrained by bystanders, including one man wielding a fire extinguisher and another wielding a five-foot-long narwhal horn he had apparently taken from the walls of Fishmongers’ Hall.

Before the sun comes up in the UK, here are the first run of the London papers.

Updated

London Bridge attacker once planned ‘terrorist military training facility’

London Bridge suspect Usman Khan once planned to establish and train at a “terrorist military training facility” on land owned by his family in Kashmir, according to sentencing remarks from his conviction for terrorism offences in 2012.

Khan was one of nine people arrested for involvement in the Stock Exchange Plot in December 2010 and, at 19, was the youngest of the group. But in his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Wilkie said Khan and two others were “more serious jihadis” than the others.

He said Khan should not be released before he had served a minimum of eight years of his 16 year sentence — which, backdated to his arrest in December 2010, saw him released in December 2018. He received a 20% discount on his sentence for pleading guilty and was subject to a terrorism notification period of 30 years.

Wilkie said Khan and his co-accused Nazam Hussain and Mohammed Shahjahan were planning to fund and establish the terrorist training school, with Khan and Hussain planning to leave the UK in January 2011 to train.

Wilkie said:

It is clear that this was a serious, long term, venture in terrorism the purpose of which was to establish and manage a terrorist training facility at the Madrassa, to fundraise for its construction and operation by the use of various means, including fraud, and to recruit young British Muslims to go there and train, thereafter being available to commit terrorism abroad and at home.

Wilkie said that even considering Khan’s youth, the risk he posed was “so significant that it can only be adequately met by an [instrument for public protection].” That would allow him to be remanded indefinitely so long as he was considered to pose a risk. The IPP sentencing model was abolished in 2012.

Said Wilkie:

They were working to a long term agenda, no less deadly in its potential than the potential for damage and injury the subject of the short term intentions of the others. They were intent on obtaining training for themselves and others whom they would recruit and, as such, were working to a more ambitious and more serious jihadist agenda.

In my judgment, these offenders would remain, even after a lengthy term of imprisonment, of such a significant risk that the public could not be adequately protected by their being managed on licence in the community, subject to conditions, by reference to a preordained release date.

What we know so far

  • Two people, one man and one woman, died after being stabbed in an attack that started at Fishmongers’ Hall during a conference about rehabilitating offenders.
  • Two women and one man were injured and remain in hospital.
  • The suspect was shot dead by police on London Bridge, about 2pm. He has been identified as Usman Khan, a 28-year-old man who was jailed for terrorism offences in 2012 after pleading guilty to involvement in the 2010 Stock Exchange Plot.
  • He was arrested in December 2010 and released on licence (parole) in December 2018, wearing an electronic tag. He had reportedly been invited to attend the Learning Together conference.
  • Nine men, including Khan, pleaded guilty on the eve of their trial to plotting to bomb the London Stock Exchange, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey, and had a handwritten list noting the names and addresses of other potential targets including Boris Johnson, who was then mayor of London.
  • The plot was said to be inspired by al-Qaida.
  • The sentencing judge identified Khan and two others as “the more serious jihadists” and said they should not be released until they were no longer a threat to the public.
  • Johnson telegraphed concerns with the parole system in his second press statement late on Friday, telling reporters had “long argued” that it was a “mistake to allow serious and violent criminals to come out of prison early.”

University of Cambridge ‘devastated’

Professor Stephen Toope, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, said he was “devastated” that an event organised by its Institute of Criminology was targeted in the attack.

He said:

I am devastated to learn that today’s hateful attack on London Bridge may have been targeted at staff, students and alumni attending an event organised by the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Criminology.

We are in touch with the Metropolitan Police, and awaiting further details of the victims.

We mourn the dead and we hope for a speedy recovery for the injured. Our thoughts are with all their families and friends.

The 2010 Stock Exchange plot, which the Met said bridge attacker Usman Khan was involved with, was said by prosecutors to have been inspired by al-Qaida.

Nine men pleaded guilty over the incident in 2012.

London Bridge attacker Usman Khan was jailed for terrorism offences in 2012, the Met said.

He was part of the Stock Exchange plot which was disrupted by MI5 and the police.

He is also understood to have been a supporter of al-Muhijaroun, the extremist group which scores of terrorists were involved with, according to the anti-extremism group Hope Not Hate.

Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu said the event began at Learning Together, a justice conference featuring ex-prisoners, academics and justice advocates. Organiser the Learning Together Network has locked its twitter account.

Basu said in a statement:

The circumstances, as we currently understand them, are that the attacker attended an event earlier on Friday afternoon at Fishmonger’s Hall called ‘Learning Together’. We believe that the attack began inside before he left the building and proceeded onto London Bridge, where he was detained and subsequently confronted and shot by armed officers.

Extensive cordons are likely to remain in place for some time and I would ask the public to continue to avoid the area.

The Times has reported that the attacker, who police have identified as Usman Khan, was invited to attend the conference and sat through a morning session.

Bryonn Bain, an associate professor with the University of California in Los Angeles, spoke at the conference prior to the attack.

Basu said police would be increasing patrols across London in the wake of the attack, and asked anyone with images or footage to submit it to police here.

Khan had terrorism conviction from 2012

Usman Khan was convicted in 2012 for terrorism offences and released from prison in December 2018 on licence, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said.

In a statement, Basu said police were searching Khan’s Staffordshire residence and that he is believed at this stage to have acted alone.

Whilst we are still in the early stages of the investigation, at this time we are not actively seeking anyone else in relation to the attack.

However, we continue to make fast time enquiries to ensure that no other people were involved in this attack and that there is no outstanding threat to the public.

As I stated earlier, police were called at 13:58hrs to a stabbing at premises near to London Bridge, EC1. Emergency services attended, including officers from the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police.

A male suspect was shot by specialist armed officers and I can confirm that he died at the scene.

We are now in a position to confirm the identity of the suspect as 28-year-old Usman Khan who had been residing in the Staffordshire area. As a result, officers are, tonight, carrying out searches at an address in Staffordshire.

Basu said a man and a woman were killed in the attack while three others, one man and two women, remained in hospital.

This individual was known to authorities, having been convicted in 2012 for terrorism offences. He was released from prison in December 2018 on licence and clearly, a key line of enquiry now is to establish how he came to carry out this attack.

Tragically, two people – a man and a woman – were killed during the attack. Three others – a man and two women – were also injured and remain in hospital.

Updated

Police identify the suspect as Usman Khan, 28

Police have identified the suspect of the London Bridge Attack as 28-year-old Usman Khan from Staffordshire.

Updated

‘I did what any Londoner would do’

A man who helped tackle a knife-wielding terrorist who killed two people near London Bridge said he intervened because it was “what any Londoner would do”.

Thomas Gray, 24, was among a group of men who dragged the killer to the floor near Fishmongers’ Hall on Friday.

The tour firm manager said he stamped on the terrorist’s wrist to try to make him release one of two large knives he was carrying

Gray told the PA news agency:

I was brought up on rugby and the rule is ‘one in, all in’. I did what any Londoner would do and tried to put a stop to it.

Gray said he had been driving northbound on London Bridge with a colleague when they saw several people running towards the south of the bridge.

He said they did not know what to do, so he turned the car off and by the time he got to the attacker, he had been “wrestled” to the floor by “five or six other blokes”. He said:

He had two knives on him, one in each hand, and it looked like they were taped to his hands.

I stamped on his left wrist while someone else smacked his hand on the ground and kicked one of the knives away.

I went to pick up the knife when I heard a cop say ‘he has got a bomb’.

I then got back and hid behind a school bus which was full of kids at the time.

Gray said he saw “two or three” shots fired by police hit the attacker, who then “hit the deck”.

I then heard a fourth one and then a pop and a bang, followed by ‘run, run, run’.

I turned and ran and then heard a volley of shots from behind us.

Gray told ITV News the attacker was being chased by five men with a “fire extinguisher” before he was wrestled to the ground.

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has offered his sympathies to the victims of attacks in London and the Hague. He said he is not aware of any Australians caught up in either incident.

The maintenance worker who witnessed the London Bridge knife attack claims he was told the assailant had been in prison for terrorism offences.

One witness said he spoke to one of the men who helped wrestle the knifeman to the ground after they were taken to the Salvation Army headquarters to be interviewed by police.

He told the PA news agency:

The guy who was on top of him said he [the attacker] had been in prison for terrorism, apparently.

Some of the guys who were on top of him were ex-prisoners and they had all been in the Fishmongers’ Hall.

The guy told me he was in prison with the attacker.

One witness, a 24-year-old maintenance worker from Croydon, said he was driving his van across the bridge when he saw four men tackle the attacker.

He told PA News Agency:

As I got on the bridge armed police pulled in front of me. There were already four pedestrians on top of the guy on the floor.

One of them [pedestrians] was shouting ‘shoot him in the f***ing head’.

I’m still in my van at this point, trying to turn around. Then the police say ‘get out of the van’, so I had to leave it there.

I then saw them [police] shoot him three or four times.

I was in shock. I wanted to get away. Everyone was shouting run because he had something across his chest. It was crazy.

Updated

One of the bystanders who helped restrain the attacker was armed with a five-foot narwhal tusk. Amy Coop, a writer and director who was in Fishmongers’ Hall when the attack occurred, said the man took the tusk from the wall.

Footage of the attacker being tackled to the ground shows a man holding a long white pole, which Coop identified as the tusk.

The attacker is understood to have been wearing an electronic tag when he staged the attack after being released from prison for terrorism related offences.

He was known to the authorities at MI5 and police because of his previous conviction, sources confirm.

Thomas Gray said he was among those members of the public who helped tackle the attacker on London Bridge. He told ITV News:

Me and my colleague Stevie were driving northbound over London Bridge and we sort of came up behind a double-decker bus and we noticed several people jumping over the central reservation out to the right and sort of just peered our heads around and saw there was one chap running away from five guys running him down with a fire extinguisher.

So Stevie and I just thought what to do, and just ran towards it, left the cars where they were and tried to do our best to apprehend the suspect.

When we got there, he was wielding two knives, one was duct-taped to his hand so all I could do after the guys had held him down and were pinning him to the ground, tried to stamp as hard as I could on his wrist to try and release the knife as it were.

Someone kicked the knife away, somewhere northbound up London Bridge and then after that the police armed response were really quick, got there almost instantaneously and, at that point, we were told he had a bomb vest so we cleared house and got out the way.

At that point, saw a guy get shot a couple of times and then hit the deck. I hid behind a school bus full of little children ... got the bus turned around and they went back south over London Bridge.

At that point, we were told to stay where we were, as we were then told he had a gun as well. So we just stayed put, heard another shot and a little explosion and we just heard ‘run’ so we just turned and high-tailed it south over London Bridge and heard 15 or so gunshots.

The prime minister has described the deaths of two members of the public at London Bridge as “heartbreaking” and said there would be an “enhanced” police presence on the streets following the attack.

Johnson said he had “long argued” that it is a “mistake to allow serious and violent criminals to come out of prison early and it is very important that we get out of that habit and that we enforce the appropriate sentences for dangerous criminals, especially for terrorists, that I think the public will want to see”.

Speaking in Downing Street ahead of the Cobra meeting, Johnson declined to say whether the individual was known to the security services or the police before the incident took place. On the election campaign, he said:

I think it’s very important that in a democracy we continue to get on with the democratic process and I think it’s vital that we show respect to the victims, to their families and certainly we’ve acknowledged that and campaigning has been suspended and the opposition parties have also suspended campaigning in London.

But I think it’s very important in a democracy that we are not bowed and we are not intimidated by terrorism and that we get on with the normal democratic processes and that’s what we’ll be doing.

Johnson added:

We’ve received the heartbreaking news tonight that two members of the public have lost their lives in this attack and obviously our thoughts are very much with them, their families, their loved ones and everybody affected by the attack.

My thanks go first of all to the emergency services, the police for their bravery and their professionalism, and to repeat again my thanks to those members of the public who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others and I think they represent the best of our country and I thank them on behalf of the rest of our country.

A British Red Cross spokesman has said:

The British Red Cross is in communication with the authorities regarding the incident that occurred at London Bridge today. We are closely monitoring the situation and are ready to make the UK Solidarity Fund available to those affected by the attack. The fund was set up in 2017 following the attacks in Manchester and London and offers financial support to victims of terror attacks in need anywhere in the UK.”

One person in critical but stable condition, health officials say

Simon Stevens, the NHS chief executive, has just released this statement on the conditions of the three people being treated in hospital:

Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who responded to this incident, both the extraordinarily brave members of the public and our emergency responders.

As the Met police have confirmed, sadly two people have died in addition to the suspect. London Ambulance Service treated people at the scene and three were taken to hospital.

We can confirm that one patient is critical but stable, a second person is in a stable condition and a third person has less serious injuries.

Our deep sympathies are with the families and all those affected by today’s incident.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has released an updated statement following Scotland Yard’s briefing earlier this evening (see: 8.16pm).

Heartbreaking confirmation from the Met Commissioner that two people who were attacked this afternoon have tragically died – victims of the appalling terrorist attack at London Bridge.

My heart goes out to them, their loved ones and to everybody affected.

London will never be cowed by terrorism. Terrorism will never win. I want to reassure Londoners and visitors that there will be enhanced police patrols, including firearms teams, on the streets of London this weekend. I will be attending the government’s emergency Cobra meeting tonight.

Here’s the full text of Cressida Dick’s statement:

I am deeply saddened and angered that our city has again been targeted by terrorism. It is with the heaviest of hearts that I must now inform you that, as well as the suspect who was shot dead by police, two of those injured in this attack in the London Bridge area have tragically lost their lives.

My heart goes out to their loved-ones and to the three further injured victims, who I understand are being treated in hospital, and of course to everybody who has been affected by today’s terrible and mindless events.

The attack started at Fishmonger’s Hall in the City of London. My understanding is that police were called at 1.58pm and City of London police officers had bravely and professionally confronted the suspect by 2.03pm; just five minutes later.

If you are concerned about anyone who was there today please try to contact them and if you cannot, then get in touch with us.

I want to thank all the emergency service personnel who are currently working tirelessly to deal with this incident, particularly the police officers from the Met and the City who have worked so closely together to protect the public.

I also want to thank the members of the public who have helped, either by showing extraordinary courage by stepping in or by following the instructions they’ve been given by officers at the scene and in the area. This support from our public assists us more than you could know.

In the coming days, you will see more police – both armed and unarmed – patrolling our streets to help reassure those who are understandably concerned. Similarly, our counter-terrorism detectives will be working round the clock to identify those who have lost their lives, to support all the victims and their families. We are also working at full-tilt to understand exactly what has happened and whether anyone else was involved. For this reason we expect cordons to remain in place around the London Bridge area for some time.

This afternoon, I met with the prime minister and the home secretary, and also had a meeting with the mayor. I’m very grateful for all their support. Indeed, we have been working closely with the government at every level and just as closely with our partners across London. This will obviously continue in the coming days.

This joint effort mustn’t stop with the authorities, though. As you know, we are treating this as a terrorist incident. Fighting terrorism takes effort and determination from all of us. If you have any information or concerns, please do contact us.

The empty ideology of terror offers nothing but hatred and today I urge everyone to reject that. Ours is a great city because we embrace each other’s differences. We must emerge stronger still from this tragedy. In doing that we will ensure that the few who seek to divide us will never, ever succeed.

Police have asked anyone with information that could assist with their investigation to call the anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789 321.

One other update: Dick was unable to say whether or not the suspect was known to police, telling reporters only: “This is a very fast moving, dynamic investigation, we will keep you updated.”

That concludes the Met commissioner’s statement; the main update of which seems to be confirmation of the numbers of people affected. To recap, Dick said two people died and three more are being treated in hospital.

The Met commissioner says more armed police will patrol and, as part of Scotland Yard’s efforts to work out if anyone else was involved, cordons will remain for some time.

Dick says she met the prime minister, the home secretary and London’s mayor and the police are working with the government.

She reaffirms that the attack is being treated as a terror incident and asks for the public’s help in combating it. Dick says the ideology behind terrorism will never succeed.

Taking questions, she says she’s unable to provide any updates on the conditions of those in hospital and she says she cannot confirm anything about the identities of those who died, adding that confirming identities is a priority for the police.

Dick says officers were called at 1.58pm and had confronted the attacker within five minutes. She asks anyone worried about a loved-one to try to get in touch with them and, if they cannot, to contact the police.

She pays tribute to the emergency services who responded and to the bystanders who intervened and then followed the instructions they were given by police, saying it assists officers “more than you can know”.

Two dead, three injured, police confirm

Cressida Dick is speaking now. She confirms that two people died in the attack and three more are being treated in hospital.

The suspect was also shot dead by the police.

Updated

The Met police commissioner, Cressida Dick, will give a statement outside New Scotland Yard in about 10 minutes, police say.

The London Ambulance Service says it took three people to hospital after today’s incident.

It’s worth noting that the number of people injured could be greater because officials are not yet able to rule out the possibility that some people made their own way to hospital.

Updated

The prime minister will chair a meeting of the government’s emergency committee – known as Cobra – at 9.30pm, a Downing Street spokesman has said.

A faked tweet made to look like it came from the account of Jeremy Corbyn has been circulating online.

In the mocked-up screengrab, which we will not disseminate any further, it is made to appear as if the Labour leader expressed sympathy for the suspect, who was shot dead by the police, rather than for the victims of the terror attack.

No such tweet every existed. Corbyn’s real statement following the attack can be read here.

Adam, a 30-year-old hotel night manager who was walking along the bridge on the way to the gym when he heard gunshots, said he thought the stabbing had taken place near a van that was stationary in the middle of the road.

He was feet away on the other side of the bridge, he told reporters after leaving the police witness centre hours later.

The police came towards us and started moving vehicles and it was all in such a rush and there was a lot of people who were quite stressed. Yeah, so it was quite difficult to see what was happening, you know. I think everyone was confused.

It seemed to be unfolding because, when I was walking along the bridge at first, there was nothing happening.

He was taken to the witness centre by police and spent two hours giving details and getting assistance from trained welfare officials.

I’m just trying to process everything, I suppose. I haven’t seen nearly enough to be what you called shaken or traumatised. I’d imagine that anyone that was on the other side of the road probably is, though.

The prime minister, Boris Johnson called the leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, this evening. Johnson will receive further updates from security officials within the next hour to see what more has emerged since he met officials earlier in the evening.

A decision on whether or not the government’s emergency committee Cobra should meet will be judged on the basis of the meeting, it is understood.

The president of the European parliament, David Sassoli, has expressed his condolences after today’s attack:

A large police cordon remains in place around the north side of London Bridge following the knife attack.

Pedestrian and vehicle access along Upper Thames Street, which runs underneath part of the bridge, is blocked by police at its junction with Swan Lane through to Lower Thames Street at its junction with Fish Hill Street.

The pedestrian cordon extends north-east to Fenchurch Street, at its junction with Philpot Lane, and north to Gracechurch Street, at its junction with Bell Inn Yard.

On the north-west side on the bridge, the pedestrian cordon extends to Cannon Street at its junction with Bush Lane. Monument Station, which is within the cordon, remains closed.

Updated

The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has released the following statement in response to the London Bridge attack:

My heart goes out to the victims of this appalling attack.

We owe a deep debt of gratitude to our police and emergency services and the brave members of the public who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others.

We must remain united across all our communities and we cannot let our democratic process be derailed by acts of terror.

We are suspending campaigning in London tonight as a mark of respect for those who suffered in this attack. We will not be cowed by those who threaten us. We must and we will stand together to reject hatred and division.

Death toll increases to two people

It is now understood that two members of the public have died following today’s attack. We reported at 6.04pm that one member of the public had been killed.

National Rail has confirmed that London Bridge station has reopened.

Updated

The Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, has paid tribute to the emergency services for their response to today’s incident:

Our emergency services have once again displayed the courage and professionalism that keeps us safe everyday. I am hugely grateful to each and every one of them. My thoughts are with the people who were injured and all those affected by this appalling display of violence.

Today’s incident reminds us that we can never take our security for granted. We must never forget the vital work that our police and security services do to keep us safe. Those who seek to terrorise us, divide us or undermine our freedoms will never succeed.

The University of Cambridge has said it’s concerned for the welfare of some of its staff and students who were reported to have been attending an event just metres away from the incident. A spokesman said:

We are gravely concerned at reports that University of Cambridge staff, students and alumni were caught up in the incident at London Bridge. We are urgently seeking clarification and further details. Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by these terrible events.

A woman who works as a trader in Borough market, and who asked to remain anonymous, told the Guardian that some people were injured in the panic.

“I was breaking down some cardboard boxes to take to the bins and was almost knocked over by the oncoming stampede to get out of the market. I saw some people get knocked over and sustain head injuries. I then ran into The Gentlemen Baristas where staff took people downstairs to the basement.

“Police then moved us further away so I reconvened with colleagues at a pub on Borough High Street. I am now heading home but the buses are understandably a nightmare. All the stalls have been left open and market management has not officially closed the market for trading; some staff remained in the area but they have now been told that no one is allowed to return to the market. Most traders have no bags or wallets and many are stuck in the London Bridge area.

“I’m a bit shaken but not as bad as others – some have PTSD from the previous terrorist attack on London Bridge. Everyone’s collective fear was quite intense but we are mainly anxious for tourists.

“We have already seen a significant drop in the number of visitors to the market compared to before the previous attack. The worry is now that many stalls may lose good business right before what is our busiest time of year.”

Julia O’Dell, 25, who works in sales at a software store on Borough High St, gave this account of the aftermath:

Just after 2pm I was on my lunch break and I popped across the road to get a sandwich at the Pret a Manger on Borough High Street. When I came out, everyone at London Bridge was running away from the incident and shouting ‘Gun! Shooting!’

There were about 100 people in a massive panic – I was shocked, I didn’t know what was going on, it was like out of a movie.

You could see fear in people’s eyes; there were tourists as well as people who worked round the market. Then the police were blocking the whole of Borough High Street off with buses, lorries and coaches.

I started walking further away, and then there more shouts of ‘run!’ About 30 of us bolted ran down a side street to the back of King’s College. There was a fire exit door that someone opened and everyone ran in. The staff were amazingly calm and they locked the door as there were fears that there was a lone shooter out there.

I was feeling very shaky. Everyone there was on high alert, we were all checking the news on our phones. After about 30 minutes, we read on the news that someone had been detained, and we thought it was safe to leave. So the staff unlocked the doors.

Updated

One member of the public killed

One member of the public has died after the attack, sources involved in the NHS response to the incident say.

All the casualties were taken to the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel, one of the capital’s four designated major trauma centres.

Police announced earlier that the suspect was shot and died at the scene.

Johnson: 'the incident has been contained'

Johnson was asked if the immediate danger was over following the fatal shooting of the suspect. He said: “To the best of our knowledge the incident has been contained.”

He added: “But I would urge everybody, of course, to be to be vigilant and one cannot help but think back to what happened in 2017 in the same part of the city, and I hope very much that people will be able, as fast as possible to to go about their normal business.”

Speaking after a briefing from the police he said:

While this is an ongoing investigation, the police can confirm that this was a terrorist incident.

And clearly my thoughts are first with emergency services with the police the bravery that they showed in going towards danger as they do. I also want to pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery of those members of the public who physically intervened to protect the lives of others. And for me, they represent the very best of our country, and I thank them on behalf of all of our country.

I think we’re all very saddened also to learn that some people have been injured in this event and our sympathies are very much with them and with their loved ones.

Clearly the Metropolitan Police are continuing their investigations, and I can assure you and assure everyone that anybody involved in this crime, in these attacks, will be hunted down and will be brought to justice.

The message that we send to them and anyone associated with this type of attack is one that will be familiar, and that is that this country will never be cowed or divided or intimidated by this sort of attack and our values our British values will prevail.

Asked if he would suspend election campaigning, Johnson said: “I’ve obviously stopped my campaigning for this evening, but will be we’ll be reviewing the matter in the course of next few hours.”

Boris Johnson says the investigation into the terrorist incident is ongoing.

Speaking in Downing Street, he said “anybody involved in this crime and these attacks will be hunted down and will be brought to justice”. He also paid tribute to the bravery of the emergency services and members of the public who intervened in the London Bridge attack.

Johnson said the UK would “never be cowed or divided or intimidated by this sort of attack and our British values will prevail”.

Updated

Some three-and-a-half hours on from the attack, the number of casualties is thought to be at least 10 people.

There is serious concern about the condition of two of those injured.

Officially no figure has been given for the number of the members of the public injured. The suspect was shot by police and died at the scene, police have said.

Khan: some seriously injured

Khan said a number of people were wounded in the incident Friday and that some of the injuries are serious.

He did not offer a figure, but said it was important to allow the families of those who were hurt some privacy.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has paid tribute to “breathtaking heroism” from members of the public who confronted the attacker. Speaking to reporters he said:

“What’s remarkable about the images we’ve seen is the breathtaking heroism of members of the public who literally ran towards danger, not knowing what confronted them.

“We do know from the statement given by the assistant commissioner Neil Basu that there appears to be a device on the suspect.

“Members of the public didn’t realise at the time that was a hoax device and they really are the best of us, another example of the bravery and heroism of ordinary Londoners running towards danger, risking their own personal safety to try and save others.

“And I want to say thank you to them on behalf of all Londoners but also because it shows the best of us.”

Updated

Little is know yet about the about the number of people injured in the stabbing attack. This image shows one of those who was hurt.

Police assist an injured man near London Bridge after the suspected stabbing attack
Police assist an injured man near London Bridge after the suspected stabbing attack Photograph: Daniel Sorabji/AFP via Getty Images

More than 20 witnesses were taken to be debriefed at the police allocated building near the incident. Some of them looked shaken as they entered the building.

More arrived in marked and unmarked police vehicles as the afternoon wore on including restaurant and transport workers. None were willing to talk to reporters.

British Transport Police have urged the public not to be alarmed by the presence of more firearms police officers on duty in London over the weekend.

John Moseley contacted the Guardian community team to report what he saw.

I got off an overland train at London Bridge and went into the Tooley Pret à Manger to get a sandwich. When I came out with it, I heard shouting from the west side of the street looking towards the bridge.

A policeman, shouting, ran out of a pedestrian walking area on the river side of the street and tried to get across the street, somewhat held up, I think, both by pedestrians and a passing van.

When he got across, he ran into a Starbucks, seemingly in pursuit of someone. Another policeman came down the street at roughly the same place as he had crossed and seemed to be telling everyone to run eastwards on the street.

A cyclist on the other side of the street, the river side told me, seeming dazed, maybe a little shell shocked, that he’d seen a man get shot on London Bridge. From the way he described it, it sounded as if this man had been down on the ground, but appeared to be fiddling with something on his chest, as if he might be trying to set off a bomb, but, again, it wasn’t clear.

Updated

The fatal shooting of the suspect will now be investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Under the law they have to examine all police shootings and they will investigate independently.

Fears of an explosive device and uncertainty after the attack meant people fled in terror and took cover where they could, witnesses have told the Guardian.

Jo, from East London, was sheltered in a restaurant in Borough Market:

I was shopping in the area when they started to cordon it off. There was panic in the market and people started running. I saw two people fall over. I was walking down a side street trying to leave the area when all of a sudden people started running. The police then told people to get inside, so we sheltered in Le Pain Quotidien. They locked the doors and moved people away from the glass. The police have just let us leave.

Constanze, 26, from Elephant and Castle, is stuck in the News Building near London Bridge:

Our building is on lockdown. My team and I feel unsettled, scared and worried but we were luckily safe inside the building when it happened. No one has given us any sense when we will be able to leave. The announcements over the tannoy just say: ‘Police have advised the incident is ongoing and the building will remain on lockdown. We have been advised there is no indication the situation will change soon.’

Image of London Bridge incident sent in by Constanze from the News Building
Image of London Bridge incident sent in by Constanze from the News Building Photograph: Constanze

Aditi, 29, from New York, went into hiding in the attic of a cheese shop:

A policeman came to the crowd near Kappacasein Dairy and asked us to move indoors but at the time we couldn’t process that information or know what to do with it. I then noticed people starting to run very fast away from the entrance of Borough Market, so we ran down a side street and noticed people running into Neal’s Yard Dairy. We were one of the last to get in before they locked the door. We were taken to the attic and the staff said they had been trained for such an incident. We were there for around 30 minutes before the police gave clearance to exit and move further away from the market. My partner and I are rattled but OK. We’re just glad to be safe.

Image of people hiding in the attic of Neal’s Yard Dairy near Borough Market.
Image of people hiding in the attic of Neal’s Yard Dairy near Borough Market. Photograph: Aditi

Updated

Here are the main points from Basu’s statement:

  • A number of people were injured after reports of a stabbing near London Bridge. Their condition has not been disclosed.
  • The suspected knife attacker died at the scene after being shot by armed officers.
  • The attacker was wearing what police now believe was a fake suicide vest.
  • The attack is being treated as a terrorist incident. Counter-terrorism command is leading the investigation, but the police retain an open mind on any motive.
  • Police have appealed for information, video and photographs of the incident.
  • Police patrols will be increased across London and the rest of the UK.

Updated

Ahead of his briefing with Basu, Boris Johnson has put out another statement:

Here’s Assistant Commissioner Basu’s statement in full:

I can confirm that at approximately 2pm today Friday the 29th of November. Police were call to a stabbing at a premises near to London Bridge EC1. Emergency services attended including officers from the City of London police and the Metropolitan Police.

A male suspect was shot by specialist armed officers from the City of London police, and I can confirm that this suspect died at the scene.

A number of other people received injuries during this incident. As soon as we can provide further updates on their condition we will. And our heartfelt sympathies go out to everybody who’s been involved in this and is anxiously waiting for information on their loved ones. As soon as we can get that information we will get it to you.

As you would expect due to the nature of the incident, we responded as though this was terrorist related. I’m now in a position to confirm that it has been declared a terrorist incident.

We are working jointly with the City of London police as we continue to respond.

Officers from the met counterterrorism command and now leading this investigation, but I must stress we retain an open mind as to any motive. It would be inappropriate to speculate further at this time.

Due to reports that the suspect may have had an explosive device, specialists offices also attended the scene and wide cordons are in place to ensure there remains no further danger to the public.

However, I can confirm at this time, we believe a device that was strapped to the body of the suspect is a hoax explosive device. Officers continue to carry out meticulous searches in the area to ensure there is no outstanding threat to the public.

Those extensive cordons will remain in place for a considerable time, and I would ask the public please continue to avoid the area. Public Safety is obviously our top priority. We will be enhancing police patrols both in the city and the country.

I would ask anyone with information, image or footage of the incident that can be shared with our investigations aim to do so on the UK police image appeal website.

I would also ask the public to continue to remain vigilant and report any concerns that they have to the police.

I’m not going to take questions at this time. The Prime Minister has asked for a personal briefing and I’ll be heading with the Commissioner of the Met to Downing Street immediately.

Updated

Suicide vest was a hoax

Due to reports that the suspect was wearing a suicide vest a cordon remains around the area. But Basu said the police now believe the vest was a hoax suicide vest.

Terrorist incident declared

It has been declared a terrorist incident, Basu says.

Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, is giving a press conference outside Scotland Yard.

He confirms the suspect died at the scene.

Several people were stabbed by the suspect before he was wrestled to the ground and disarmed by members of the public, PA reports.

Footage on social media appeared to showed one man being pulled away by armed officers moments before the suspect is shot at point-blank range.

Another bystander could be seen carrying a large knife from the scene.

Police sources and witnesses said the suspect appeared to be wearing a suicide vest.

After being shot, he raised his arms towards his head before lying still.

Here’s the Guardian’s latest news story on the incident.

Updated

A witness who works in an office near where the incident took place said he was leaving Pret a Manger at around 2pm on Friday when he saw a struggle across the street.

I could see five or six people in a bundle, it looked like one of them had a makeshift weapon. Then all of a sudden everyone scattered and the police were there, I think it was three police officers. I heard two shots, one after the other. I think the person was on the ground and they shot him when he was on the ground.

Then I thought why am I watching this, it could be a terrorist and others could be at large, so I rushed back to my office.

Updated

During a campaign visit to Cardiff, the Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, expressed concern at the incident. She said:

Clearly, we don’t know the exact details of what has happened, and my thoughts are with everybody who has been caught up in that incident in whatever way.

Including, of course, the brave police who are dealing with it with professionalism and in the way in which they do become the first responders in these difficult times.

Updated

Underground trains are not stopping at London Bridge as the station remains closed.

Florence, 28, a student, was in the area when the incident happened. She said:

I was on a bread-making course in Borough market, and we were initially told to stay inside, but could hear a lot of commotion and panic outside. After about half an hour armed police told us to evacuate, and we were walked to safety about five minutes away.

They kept us all very calm, as ever, [I was] impressed by the response of the police. Police didn’t give us any information at the time. I felt pretty shaken when we were shut inside but safe once we got out.

Updated

The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has urged Londoners to “stay resolute in our determination to stand strong and united in the face of terror”.

In a statement he said:

The Metropolitan police have confirmed that as a precaution the horrendous incident at London Bridge is being treated as though it is terrorism-related.

I remain in close contact with the Metropolitan police and am being kept updated with events. It has been confirmed that people were injured in the attack. My heart goes out to them, their families and all affected.

Thank you to our brave emergency services who responded to today’s horrific attack. Every day they put their lives on the line for us – running towards danger in order to keep London safe.

We must – and we will – stay resolute in our determination to stand strong and united in the face of terror. Those who seek to attack us and divide us will never succeed.

The London Bridge area remains closed – please avoid the area at this time and follow Met police for further updates, and TfL for travel updates. If you are near the incident, please follow the directions of any officers on the ground.

Updated

Suspect killed

A suspect shot by police today at London Bridge has died, two sources with knowledge of the investigation say.

Updated

A witness said the man shot by the police could have been wearing an explosive vest.

Speaking to the BBC, Karen Bosch said:

I was on the bus coming southbound over London Bridge. We had just pulled away from the bus stop when the bus came to a sudden stop, because there were people running across the bridge into the road, sort of looking over their shoulders and filming behind them.

It looked like there was a fight going on ... people tussling with each other. And then you realise it was police wrestling with one tall bearded man.

I had my baby with me, so I moved her behind the stairwell to be safe. Then there was two shots or two loud pops, I think they were gunshots. And I also saw a spent Taser.

And then the guy was lying on the floor. He then pulled his coat back, which showed that he had some sort of vest underneath – [I don’t know] whether it was a stab vest or some sort of explosive vest. The police then really quickly moved backwards.

On the bus we were panicking because at this point we were almost as close as the police to him. And he was sort of lying there pulling his coat backwards and the police were shouting at him and staying back from him.

Updated

The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has thanked the police and the emergency services for their response.

Updated

A Downing Street source said Boris Johnson is on his way back to No 10 from his constituency where he will receive further updates on the incident.

Updated

Incident being treated 'as if it is terror-related'

As a precaution the incident is being treated by police “as if it is terror-related”.

Updated

If you’ve been affected by the incident and would like to share witness accounts or news tips, anonymously if you prefer, direct with our journalists then please do so via this form. You can also get in touch via WhatsApp by clicking here or adding the contact +44(0)7867825056.

We recognise it may not always be safe or appropriate to record or share your experiences – so please think about this when deciding whether to record and again when deciding whether to send your content to the Guardian.

Updated

Staff at Monument station confirmed five people had been injured in the attack.

The tube station has been closed off as armed police investigate.

Updated

Boris Johnson being updated

Boris Johnson said: “I’m being kept updated on the incident at London Bridge and want to thank the police and all emergency services for their immediate response.”


The home secretary, Priti Patel, said she was “very concerned”.

Counter terrorist officers involved in investigation

Police have nothing about the motive of the apparent attack, but counter terrorism officers are involved in the investigation.

Owen Jones, the Guardian columnist, said he arrived in the area minutes after the incident and saw people running away in fear. He said:

“I turned up as emergency services had arrived en masse in the area … Cordons were being put up and people were running away. The police were yelling ‘keep moving’ and people were running away looking frightened. I was by London Bridge about to the cross the bridge.

“One of my friends was evacuated from their office in the area … I saw lots of people running down the streets towards me … It was a bad atmosphere and everyone in the area are quite worried. In these circumstances, no one knows what is going on. It was just a very chaotic – where I was, people were scared. They were genuinely very scared.”

Updated

Amanda Hunter, who witnessed the shooting from a bus and videoed the aftermath, described what she saw to BBC News. She said:

I was coming home on the 21 bus and all of all a sudden it stopped. There was some commotion and I looked out the window and I just saw these three police officers going over to a man. It seemed like there was something in his hand. I’m not 100% sure, but then one of the police officer shot him.

From there, I was able to take a video of the scene.

We were stopped on the bus maybe for me a minute and a half and then we’re able to safely get off the bridge.

There was only three police officers at the time. But by the time I got off the bridge, that’s when I started to hearing the sirens.

I heard about three shots to get the man. Everyone was just kind of into shock.

Sources have confirmed that a suspect was shot by police. During the incident five people were injured, some are in serious condition.

More video appears to show members of the public tackling a man on London Bridge before police intervened. Police pulled people off the man and then appeared to shoot him.

Updated

'Major incident' declared

The emergency services say they are treating the situation as a “major incident”.

Borough market next to London Bridge has also been cordoned off, amid unconfirmed reports that a suspect was seen in the the market.

Updated

Location of incident

Locator map

Updated

One man detained, several injured

Scotland Yard has confirmed that police were called to a stabbing near London Bridge just before 2pm.

One man has been detained, and “a number of people” have been injured.

Someone was stabbed on London Bridge, a security source told Reuters.

London Ambulance have crews on the scene as more videos have emerged appearing to confirm police shooting someone on the bridge.

Updated

Here’s video of people running off the bridge and vehicles trying to turn around.

Updated

Witnesses say one person was shot by police.

Twitter user, Amanda Hunter, who was on a bus at the time has video of the aftermath of the incident. The BBC’s reporter at the scene also said he saw someone shot by police.

Updated

Images from the scene show a white lorry across both carriageways on the bridge.

Updated

London Bridge has been cleared and sealed off after shots were heard in the area.

Scotland Yard has confirmed that it is dealing with “an incident” on the bridge.

A BBC reporter in the area said he heard two shots fired. He said they appeared to have been fired by police officers.

Updated

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