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Several people have been injured and one man shot by police following a stabbing spree on London Bridge, which police said they were responding to “as though it is terror-related”.
Video shows a man, apparently the suspect, grappling with members of the public on the ground. As he tries to get up he appears to be hit by gunfire and collapses on the ground.
A man in a suit and jacket could be seen backing away from the man having taken a large knife. After at least two shots are heard, passengers can be heard screaming, with one shouting: “What the f***, they’ve killed him.”
Police evacuated London Bridge station and set up a cordon at Borough Market while nearby shops and businesses were evacuated. Station staff at Monument claimed five people had been injured.
London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing
Other footage showed police officers aiming their guns at a white lorry jackknifed across the bridge. Several officers surrounded the vehicle before moving to the rear to check its container.
The Metropolitan Police said a number of people had been stabbed and it was responding as though it was a terror-related incident.
The force said: “Police were called at 1.58pm on Friday, 29 November, to a stabbing at premises near to London Bridge. Emergency services attended, including officers from the Met and City of London Police.
“A number of people have been stabbed. We will provide further details of those injured when possible.
“A man has been shot by police at the location.
“At this early stage, the circumstances relating to the incident remain unclear. However, as a precaution, we are currently responding to this incident as though it is terrorist-related.”
The London Ambulance Service (LAS) declared what is called a “major incident”, saying in a statement: ”We have now declared a major incident and have a number of crews at the scene in London Bridge. We will share more information as soon as we have it.”
London Bridge incident: Police scrambled after stabbing
The Independent understands the man seen on the ground in footage is the person detained by the police.
Earlier, City of London Police had tweeted: “We are in the early stages of dealing with an incident at London Bridge. If you are near the scene, please follow the directions of any officer on the ground.”
London Ambulance Service said it had crews at the scene and the London Fire Brigade said it was assisting the police.
A witness who works nearby told The Independent they saw a body bag being carried to the scene.
One onlooker, Philip Crouch, 57, a trader at Borough market, said: “People came running through the car park, shouting and screaming. It was chaos. The noise of the screams was extraordinary, I’ve never heard anything like it. They were just panicked.”
Traders were told to leave by police officers with “huge guns”. Mr Crouch’s children, aged 20 and 22, barricaded themselves in a store room and are waiting to be evacuated.
He was working on the night of the 2017 terror attack and said today brought back “horrible memories”.
Another witness, Zack Shooter, said police almost knocked him over as they ran towards the stabbing. “Then loads of cars with sirens all rushed past me at full speed,” he added.
Nurse Jackie Bensfield, 32, described how she asked to be let off a bus on London Bridge after she heard “five or six” gunshots.
Ms Benfield, who was on her way home from work, said she exited the bus and “ran like hell” to escape the shots.
Connor Allen, who was in his van on the bridge when it was evacuated said: “Everyone just started running, you heard these pops and that was it. We just got out the van and started running.”
The News UK building opposite the Shard was put into lockdown amid the ongoing evacuation on the London Bridge area, with staff reporting that no one was being let in or out.
Boris Johnson, the prime minister, 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, added she was “very concerned”.
Mr Johnson was returning from his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency to Downing Street where he would get further information on the stabbing, his official spokesperson said.
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, tweeted: “Shocking reports from London Bridge. My thoughts are with those caught up in the incident. Thank you to the police and emergency services who are responding.”
Tobias Elwood, the former defence minister who helped tackle a terror attack outside Parliament in 2017, tweeted to say today’s incident was a “stark reminder of the dangerous and diverse threats we continue to face but also of the incredible bravery and professionalism of our emergency services in so swiftly closing this incident down”.
Aerial footage of London bridge
The stabbing came weeks after the UK terror threat was downgraded from severe to substantial, meaning further attacks are likely.
The head of UK counterterror policing said the change “indicates positive developments in reducing the threat from terrorism”.
Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said officers were still working on about 800 live counterterror investigations, after foiling 24 plots since the Westminster attack in March 2017.
The location will bring back memories for many Londoners of the 2017 London Bridge attack, which started just metres away.
That saw three Isis supporters plough a hired van into pedestrians on London Bridge, before going on a stabbing rampage in nearby Borough Market. They killed eight victims before being shot dead by armed police.
The attack, which was the third Islamist atrocity to hit the UK in 2017, caused barriers to be put up on London Bridge and other major crossings over the Thames.
A coroner’s report into preventing future deaths warned that others could die unless authorities made changes.
More follows
Video shows a man, apparently the suspect, grappling with members of the public on the ground. As he tries to get up he appears to be hit by gunfire and collapses on the ground.
A man in a suit and jacket could be seen backing away from the man having taken a large knife. After at least two shots are heard, passengers can be heard screaming, with one shouting: “What the f***, they’ve killed him.”
Police evacuated London Bridge station and set up a cordon at Borough Market while nearby shops and businesses were evacuated. Station staff at Monument claimed five people had been injured.
London Bridge attack: Terror police shoot man after stabbing
Other footage showed police officers aiming their guns at a white lorry jackknifed across the bridge. Several officers surrounded the vehicle before moving to the rear to check its container.
The Metropolitan Police said a number of people had been stabbed and it was responding as though it was a terror-related incident.
The force said: “Police were called at 1.58pm on Friday, 29 November, to a stabbing at premises near to London Bridge. Emergency services attended, including officers from the Met and City of London Police.
“A number of people have been stabbed. We will provide further details of those injured when possible.
“A man has been shot by police at the location.
“At this early stage, the circumstances relating to the incident remain unclear. However, as a precaution, we are currently responding to this incident as though it is terrorist-related.”
The London Ambulance Service (LAS) declared what is called a “major incident”, saying in a statement: ”We have now declared a major incident and have a number of crews at the scene in London Bridge. We will share more information as soon as we have it.”
London Bridge incident: Police scrambled after stabbing
The Independent understands the man seen on the ground in footage is the person detained by the police.
Earlier, City of London Police had tweeted: “We are in the early stages of dealing with an incident at London Bridge. If you are near the scene, please follow the directions of any officer on the ground.”
London Ambulance Service said it had crews at the scene and the London Fire Brigade said it was assisting the police.
A witness who works nearby told The Independent they saw a body bag being carried to the scene.
One onlooker, Philip Crouch, 57, a trader at Borough market, said: “People came running through the car park, shouting and screaming. It was chaos. The noise of the screams was extraordinary, I’ve never heard anything like it. They were just panicked.”
Traders were told to leave by police officers with “huge guns”. Mr Crouch’s children, aged 20 and 22, barricaded themselves in a store room and are waiting to be evacuated.
He was working on the night of the 2017 terror attack and said today brought back “horrible memories”.
Another witness, Zack Shooter, said police almost knocked him over as they ran towards the stabbing. “Then loads of cars with sirens all rushed past me at full speed,” he added.
Nurse Jackie Bensfield, 32, described how she asked to be let off a bus on London Bridge after she heard “five or six” gunshots.
Ms Benfield, who was on her way home from work, said she exited the bus and “ran like hell” to escape the shots.
Connor Allen, who was in his van on the bridge when it was evacuated said: “Everyone just started running, you heard these pops and that was it. We just got out the van and started running.”
The News UK building opposite the Shard was put into lockdown amid the ongoing evacuation on the London Bridge area, with staff reporting that no one was being let in or out.
Boris Johnson, the prime minister, 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, added she was “very concerned”.
Mr Johnson was returning from his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency to Downing Street where he would get further information on the stabbing, his official spokesperson said.
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, tweeted: “Shocking reports from London Bridge. My thoughts are with those caught up in the incident. Thank you to the police and emergency services who are responding.”
Tobias Elwood, the former defence minister who helped tackle a terror attack outside Parliament in 2017, tweeted to say today’s incident was a “stark reminder of the dangerous and diverse threats we continue to face but also of the incredible bravery and professionalism of our emergency services in so swiftly closing this incident down”.
Aerial footage of London bridge
The stabbing came weeks after the UK terror threat was downgraded from severe to substantial, meaning further attacks are likely.
The head of UK counterterror policing said the change “indicates positive developments in reducing the threat from terrorism”.
Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said officers were still working on about 800 live counterterror investigations, after foiling 24 plots since the Westminster attack in March 2017.
The location will bring back memories for many Londoners of the 2017 London Bridge attack, which started just metres away.
That saw three Isis supporters plough a hired van into pedestrians on London Bridge, before going on a stabbing rampage in nearby Borough Market. They killed eight victims before being shot dead by armed police.
The attack, which was the third Islamist atrocity to hit the UK in 2017, caused barriers to be put up on London Bridge and other major crossings over the Thames.
A coroner’s report into preventing future deaths warned that others could die unless authorities made changes.
More follows
