Eleven killed and 48 wounded in London terror attacks

By Doug Newhouse |

UK Prime Minister Theresa May smallUPDATED: The UK continues to count the cost of terrorism again, following Saturday night’s terrible incident where three attackers deliberately drove into several pedestrians in a fast-moving white van on London Bridge, before turning knives on several people and stabbing them in the busy Borough Market area very close to the bridge.

 

Following TRBusiness’ original report (Sunday June 4, 07.21) seven people are now confirmed dead and 48 injured, while 21 are still on the critical list.

 

Four police officers were also hurt, with two sustaining serious injuries, while a member of the public was accidentally shot and injured after being caught in the crossfire when armed police fired 50 rounds, killing all three terrorists within eight minutes of the incident being reported.

 

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said the response had to be rapid, since all three terrorists were wearing suicide belts which were perceived to be further and immediate threats, although these were ultimately discovered to be fake.

 

Within 24 hours of the brutal attack, police arrested seven women and five men in a series of raids in the Barking area of East London, just as the Islamic State organisation claimed responsibility for the terrible act. One male has since been released.

 

London June 3 2017 terror attacks

Clockwise: UK Prime Minister, Theresa May; London Bridge; Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, Mark Rowley; and London Mayor, Sadiq Khan.

INJURED TREATED AT 5 HOSPITALS
Five London hospitals continue to treat the victims following condemnations of the attack by several leading figures, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

 

“Speaking while the incident unfolded on Saturday night, Khan described it as an ‘horrific terrorist attack at London Bridge and Borough Market’.

 

He added: “My thoughts are with everyone affected, and I’d like to thank the brave men and women of our emergency services who were first on the scene and will be working throughout the night. I am in close contact with the Met Commissioner and senior officers and am being kept updated on all developments. I will be attending the government’s emergency Cobra meeting later this morning [referring to Sunday morning/yesterday-Ed].

 

‘DELIBERATE AND COWARDLY ATTACK…’

Khan continued: “We don’t yet know the full details, but this was a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. There is no justification whatsoever for such barbaric acts.”

 

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, Mark Rowley

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, Mark Rowley said armed officers responded ‘quickly and bravely’, confronting all three male suspects who were shot and killed.

In a later more detailed statement on the series of events released yesterday, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, Mark Rowley said: “Since late yesterday evening [Saturday, 3 June], the Metropolitan Police Service has been responding to incidents in the London Bridge and Borough Market areas of south London.

 

“We are treating this as a terrorist incident and a full investigation is already underway, led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

 

“You will understand that our knowledge of the incident is still growing, but what we understand at the present time is at 22.08 hours yesterday evening we began to receive reports that a vehicle had struck pedestrians on London Bridge. The vehicle continued to drive from London Bridge to Borough Market.

 

“The suspects then left the vehicle and a number of people were stabbed, including an on-duty British Transport Police officer who was responding to the incident at London Bridge. He received serious but not life-threatening injuries. His family has been informed.

 

POLICE SHOT TERRORISTS WITHIN 8 MINUTES OF ALERT

“Armed officers responded very quickly and bravely, confronting three male suspects who were shot and killed in Borough Market. The suspects had been confronted and shot by the police within eight minutes of the first call. The suspects were wearing what looked like explosive vests, but these were later established to be hoaxes.

 

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London

London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the attacks.

“The ongoing operation is led by the Met, working closely with British Transport Police, City of London Police, the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade.”

 

Rowley said intially that six civilians had been killed before the three terrorists were shot dead, although the murder count has now risen to seven.

 

“We are reviewing and planning to strengthen our policing stance across London over the forthcoming days, and there will be additional police and officers deployed across the Capital.

 

REAL MUSLIMS CONDEMN THE ATTACKS

Meanwhile, Harun Khan, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain also issued the following statement: “I am appalled and angered by the terrorist attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market, in my home city. These acts of violence were truly shocking and I condemn them in the strongest terms.

 

Harun Khan UK Muslim Council

Harun Khan, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain.

“Muslims everywhere are outraged and disgusted at these cowards who once again have destroyed the lives of our fellow Britons. That this should happen in this month of Ramadan, when many Muslims were praying and fasting only goes to show that these people respect neither life nor faith.

 

“My prayers are with the victims and all those affected. I commend the work of our emergency services working hard to keep us safe and cope with the ensuing carnage. As ever, we urge everyone to assist the authorities so that these criminals can be apprehended and brought to justice.”

 

 

As reported yesterday, several world leaders have strongly condemned the attacks and sent messages of support and condolence to the UK Prime Minister Theresa May, including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, EU Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker and others.

 

UK PRIME MINISTER MAY SAYS ‘THINGS NEED TO CHANGE…’

UK Prime Minister Theresa May also wholly condemned Saturday’s attacks yesterday after heading up an emergency meeting of the UK’s COBRA high-security group. She said ‘things need to change’, with the government believing that the recent spate of attacks are merely inspiring other groups and individuals to follow suit.

 

“First, while the recent attacks are not connected by common networks, they are connected in one important sense. They are bound together by the single, evil ideology of Islamist extremism that preaches hatred, sows division, and promotes sectarianis

 

 

 

 

 

 

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