At least six people were killed and several others injured on Sunday (Saturday night GMT) in two terror attacks at central London landmarks in which police shot dead three suspects.
The attack that took place at London Bridge and Borough Market comes just days ahead of the general election on June 8.
The first incident was reported at London Bridge when a van swerved off the road into a crowd of pedestrians, BBC reported.
A white van driver came speeding probably about 50 mph veered off the road into the crowds of people who were walking along the pavement, it said.
Within minutes, there were reports of a second attack at Borough market on the South Bank of the Thames where three men started stabbing people including a young girl.
At least 30 people were taken to hospitals across London after the deadly incident which took place last night, leaving the whole nation in shock which still recovers from the Manchester arena suicide bombing nearly two weeks ago.
This is the third terror attack in the UK since March.
On 22 May, 22 people were killed and 116 injured in a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena.
The attacker, identified as 22-year-old Salman Abedi, detonated a home-made bomb in the arena’s foyer as crowds were leaving a performance by US singer Ariana Grande late in the evening.
On 22 March, six people died, including the attacker, and at least 50 people were injured in an attack near the Houses of Parliament.
Attacker Khalid Masood first drove his car at pedestrians on the pavement on Westminster Bridge before crashing into a perimeter fence. Masood, armed with a knife, then left the vehicle and ran towards Parliament, where he was shot dead by police.
Live updates:
#9:30 AM: PM Modi condemns London attacks, terms the incident 'shocking & anguishing'
#9:05 AM: London Ambulance Service update: Ove 30 people have been taken to five hospitals following bridge attacks
#8:30 AM: London's police say six people have died in addition to three attackers: AP
7:30 AM: London Mayor statement: 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.
My statement on the cowardly terrorist attack in London tonight: https://t.co/PaGXogN60N
#7:15 AM: World leaders condemn the attack:
#7:00 AM: US condemns the terrorist attack on London Bridge, Ivanka Trump tweets "Praying for the people of London. We stand in solidarity with our friends from the U.K. You are in our thoughts and prayers"
#6:30 AM: London police say incident at Vauxhall is not connected to the London Bridge or Borough Market incident
#6:25 AM: British Prime Minister Theresa May called the events a “potential act of terrorism”.“Following updates from police and security officials, I can confirm that the terrible incident in London is being treated as a potential act of terrorism,” May said in a statement.
Read | Just before United Kingdom blast, bomber said to have pleaded 'forgive me'
“The Prime Minister is in contact with officials and is being regularly updated on the incident at London Bridge,” Downing Street said.
Transport for London said the bridge has been closed in both directions due to a “major police incident”.
London Ambulance Service tweeted: “Multiple resources attending an incident at #LondonBridge, please avoid the area”.
Holly Jones, a BBC reporter who was present at London Bridge at the time of the incident said a van veered off the road into a crowd of pedestrians.
“A white van driver came speeding probably about 50mph veered off the road into the crowds of people who were walking along the pavement,” she told BBC News.
“He swerved right round me and then hit about five or six people. He hit about two people in front of me and then three behind,” she said.
A large number of police officers were seen gearing up with helmets and riot gear, believed to be on the hunt for suspects. There were also reports of some people being taken into police custody.
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