Police are investigating two incidents in London on Saturday, following a van that plowed into pedestrians on the London Bridge, and reports of stabbings from people in the nearby Borough Market area.
In a statement provided by Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, he notes: “At this stage, we believe that six people have died in addition to the three attackers shot dead by police.” That number rose to seven dead on Sunday, June 4, with 48 people being taken to the hospital following what’s being called a “brutal terrorist attack.”
The three attackers are suspects related to what happened on the London Bridge and Borough Market. They have not been identified. It’s also being reported that 12 people in east London have been arrested in connection with the incident.
A photo snapped by photographer Gabriele Sciotto appears to show at least one of the attackers after he was stopped by police.
British Prime Minister Theresa May released a statement on the situation, and said it is being treated as potential act of terrorism.
Details began pouring in on social media and witnesses on scene throughout the evening. BBC reporter Holly Jones says the van was probably traveling around 50 miles an hour when it mounted the curb and crashed directly into pedestrians.
“He swerved right around me and then hit about five or six people,” Jones said. “He hit about two people in front of me and then three behind. I’d say there are about four severely injured people. They all have paramedics assisting them at the moment.”
A witness by the name of Mark Roberts spoke with CNN, and he said that the van’s crash looked intentional.
“It looked to me that the van was aiming at the people,” said Roberts. “I froze, to be honest. As I was thinking … which direction should I run, the van swerved across the other side of the bridge from me.”
Footage of multiple police cars heading to the site of the incident has been posted by journalists on the ground, with police mounting curbs in their vehicles in order to get there as quickly as possible.
The London Ambulance Service released a statement several hours after the initial event took place, confirming they’d taken at least 20 patients to six different hospitals in the aftermath of the London Bridge incident. Other people were reportedly treated at the scene for less serious injuries.
Metro police have confirmed that a number of people were stabbed in the Borough Market area shortly after the crash. One of them was an on-duty British Transport Police officer who was responding to the incident at London Bridge. He received serious but not life-threatening injuries. Police reported shots were fired.
CNN obtained an eyewitness account that described “a man with a ‘massive knife’ entered the restaurant at Borough Market, just south of the bridge, and stabbed two people inside. The patrons sheltered in the basement and police then arrived at the scene.”
Metro police issued their “Run, Hide, Tell” directive to citizens as a safety percaution.
A third incident at Vauxhall occurred later in the evening, but Metro police have determined it is not connected to London Bridge and Borough Market.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation, and will continue to receive updates from national security team members when appropriate. The U.S. Department of State issued a statement saying the U.S. condemns these attacks.
Trump seemed to use the incident as inspiration for a new tweet about his proposed travel ban, which is currently locked in legal limbo.
Last month, Ariana Grande’s Manchester concert was hit with a terrorist attack that resulted in 22 people killed and more than 59 others injured from an explosion caused by a suicide bomber. Grande has made a strong effort to help families affected by the traumatizing event through her One Love Manchester benefit concert and recently visited recovering concert-goers at the hospital.
She offered some words on tonight’s terror attacks:
source: complex.com BY KYLE NEUBECK