Quick-acting police officers shot dead a knife-wielding terrorist who stabbed two people to death just five minutes after receiving a 999 call.
The knifeman, strapped into a fake suicide vest, was restrained by members of the public before being taken out by heroic armed police.
Speaking to the press at 8.15pm this evening, the head of the Metropolitan Police Cressida Dick gave a brief time-line for the dramatic events that took place on London Bridge this afternoon.
The police were called at 1.58pm to reports of a man wearing an explosive device in Fishmongers' Hall on the northern bank of The Thames.
Within five minutes at 2.03pm armed officers had fired the fatal shots.
Ms Dick also confirmed reports that two members of the public had been killed and a further three injured in the attack.
"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," she said.
"We are also working at full tilt to understand exactly what has happened and whether anyone else was involved," the Met Police commissioner went on.
-
London Bridge hero describes how he tackled knife-wielding terror attacker
-
The Hague stabbing: Multiple injuries after 'knifeman attacks shoppers in city street'
"For this reason we expect cordons to remain in place around the London Bridge area for some time."
Work is still ongoing to identify the dead, Ms Dick said.
"It's an absolute priority for us to identify who they are and make sure that their families are informed," she continued.
"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."
At the end of her address Ms Dick spoke passionately about the strength of London and how terrorist ideologies should not be allowed to divide it.
"The empty ideology of terror offers nothing but hatred," she said
"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 very few who seek to divide us will never, ever succeed."
The chaos caused as the knifeman rampaged across London Bridge from Fishmongers Hall was experienced by hundreds of innocent bystanders.
A 31-year-old man who works in an office on Upper Thames Street, overlooking London Bridge, told MirrorOnline he heard multiple gun shots coming from the bridge.
“The first thing I saw was just police cars on the bridge and people were still walking around there," he said.
“This was before all the armed police came in. Then there were loads of police and loads of gunshots.
“The next thing I saw, about 10 or 15 minutes later, was a guy being dragged [by police], then later on I saw a woman being carried on a green sheet.
“She was being carried by four police officers and one appeared to be talking to her.”
The witness said he said saw police “drag” another man along the bridge.
“When the guy was being dragged there was a man walking behind him who was topless and had blood on him,” the witness said.
Source: Read Full Article