Terror strikes London again

• Seven people were killed and at least 48 injured after a van and knife attack in the London Bridge area.
• The police have declared the incidents as terrorist attacks.
• The Conservatives, Labour and the SNP have suspended their national election campaigns for the day.
• Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command have arrested 12 people in Barking in connection with the attacks.

The police have confirmed that incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market at about 10pm last night were terrorist attacks. Seven people were killed and at least 48 injured after a white van mowed into pedestrians in London Bridge before three attackers emerged from the vehicle and stabbed a number of people. The attackers – who were wearing fake bomb vests – were subsequently shot dead by police. Theresa May described the attacks as ‘dreadful’ as the general election campaign was suspended for the day. Appearing on the BBC, David Davis — the Brexit secretary — said he expected the election in four days time to go ahead as planned. Cressida Dick, the police commissioner, says the incident is now ‘under control’ but said she did not know the identity of the suspects. She praised the police for responding to the incident and shooting dead the attackers within eight minutes. The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee later.

https://twitter.com/BBCNews/status/871169462552100864

After the stabbings in nearby Borough Market, police went into restaurants and ordered diners to take cover.

Police burst into London restaurant after terror attack. Officers can be heard asking people to “get down” #LondonAttack #LondonBridge pic.twitter.com/XmqXCXxiMj — The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 4, 2017

The Spectator‘s Will Heaven was on the scene around the time of the incident and spoke to Fraser Nelson in the immediate aftermath: He reports seeing injured pedestrians, first responders, armed police and people running north. https://twitter.com/WillHeaven/status/871119865272205312 https://twitter.com/WillHeaven/status/871121467118845952 https://twitter.com/WillHeaven/status/871113905686413312 In the aftermath of the attack, there were further reports of incidents across South London. The Metropolitan Police said an incident in Vauxhall is a stabbing and is not connected to the incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market. The Prime Minister is being regularly updated on developments. In a statement, Theresa May said:

‘This is a fast moving investigation. I want to express my huge gratitude to the police and emergency services who are on the scene. Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events.’

This blog will be updated as more details emerge.