LAST UPDATE | 29 Nov 2019
A MAJOR SECURITY alert is continuing in London this evening after a man was shot dead by police responding to a terror incident at London Bridge at lunchtime.
Met Police have now confirmed that the male attacker was shot dead by armed London police. Several other people were injured in the initial attack.
Police were initially called out to respond to a stabbing at a premises near the landmark bridge.
A device strapped to the suspect’s body is believed to be a hoax explosive device, police said this evening.
Security has been stepped up across the UK capital this evening in response to the incident, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson is being briefed by senior officers.
Here’s how events played out:
Metropolitan Police has confirmed one man was shot by police during the incident.
It said it is responding to this incident as though it is terror-related.
Video footage has emerged appearing to show people struggling with a man at one end of the bridge. At the end of the footage, armed officers appear to shoot the man as he remains on the ground.
Police have not commented on the man’s condition.
Witnesses in the area at the time reported hearing several gunshots.
BBC correspondent John McManus earlier told BBC News that he was walking across London Bridge when he saw what appeared to be a fight with several people “attacking one man”.
Another eyewitness told Sky News that “it looked like four or five people” involved in what appeared to be a fight. She then heard someone saying “get back” and she ran from the scene.
“I heard sirens very quickly after the gunshots so I think the emergency response was very quick ,” she said.
“I didn’t know what direction the gunshots were being fired; whether they were being fired in my direction.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a tweet:
“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.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel urged people in the area to follow the advice of police:
Sky News reports its sources indicate there has been one fatality, but it is unclear whether the person who has died is a suspect or potential victim.
Dublin-based solicitor Wendy Lyons, who is in London, told TheJournal.ie that she is currently stuck in a pub near the Borough Tube station.
The doors of the pub have been locked and people are being kept inside for their own safety.
“We’re not going anywhere for a while,” she said, adding that it remained unclear when they will be able to leave.
She was heading towards the Borough Market area when she became aware of an incident, she said.
She said she saw helicopters hovering near the London Bridge area and then saw “a couple of police going by really really fast”.
Police are still going past in the direction of the incident, she said, while there are a steady stream of people walking away from the area.
She said everyone was waiting on more information.
“We’re stuck in here together.”
From the Irish embassy in London:
Here’s a map of the surrounding area. Office workers are continuing to be evacuated from nearby buildings, and a Sky News reporter is telling the channel the atmosphere at the nearby Borough Market is now becoming calmer.
Police are due to make a statement on the incident shortly.
What we know so far is that they were called to a stabbing near London Bridge just before 2pm today.
A number of people are believed to have been injured and one man was shot by police.
Police are currently responding to the incident a though it is terror-related.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said his “heart goes out” to the people who were injured in the attack.
“We must – and we will – stay resolute in our determination to stand strong and united in the face of terror. Those who seek to attack us and divide us will never succeed.”
The Met Police have given a statement at New Scotland Yard.
They’ve confirmed that the male suspect has died after being shot, and that a number of people have been injured. More information on this will be available later.
A device strapped to the body of the suspect is believed to have been a hoax device.
“We responded as though this was a terrorist incident,” the Met Police’s Assistant Commissioner said.
“I’m now able to confirm that this was a terrorist incident.”
Searches are continuing in the area to make sure there is no further threat to the public, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said.
He said police would be enhancing police patrols in the area and across the city.
He asked for people with footage of the incident to share it with police and asked for witnesses to get in contact.
He also said that the Met Police was to brief British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the incident.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tweeted out a statement as he returns to London. He’s to be briefed by police later.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that some people have been injured in the London Bridge attack, and says that some have been “seriously” injured. He says that when there is an update, the Met Police will provide it.
He thanked the emergency services for their quick response, as well as “members of the public who risked their own safety this afternoon. They are the best of us”.
The breathtaking heroism of members of the public who ran towards danger.
“Those who seek to attack us and divide us will never succeed.”
He asked “all Londoners to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity”.
“We’ve thwarted nearly 20 incidents of terrorism” since the 2017 attacks, Khan says.
“We’ve been here before.. don’t allow terrorists to disrupt our way of life. It’s important that we Londoners stand shoulder-to-shoulder.”
He asked the press to respect the privacy of those who have been injured today.
Boris Johnson is now being briefed by police.
Here are some key parts of Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu’s statement from earlier:
“A number of other people received injuries during the incident and as soon as we can provide further updates on their condition, we will. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to those anxiously awaiting news from loved ones.”
“As you would expect, due to the nature of the incident, we responded as though it was terrorist-related. I am now in a position to confirm that it has been declared a terrorist incident.”
“Due to reports that the suspect may have had an explosive device, specialist officers also attended the scene and wide cordons are in place to ensure there remains no further danger to the public. However, I can confirm that at this time, we believe a device that was strapped to the body of the suspect is a hoax explosive device.”
“I would ask anyone with information, image or footage of the incident that this be shared with our investigation team to do so on the UK Police Image appeal website. I would also ask the public to continue to remain vigilant and report any concerns they have to police.”
Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation can call the Met Police’s Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. Anyone who may have footage or images of the incident is asked to send them to police: www.ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk
A message from the new European Council President Charles Michel, who took over from Donald Tusk today.
We’re bringing the Liveblog to an end now -do keep an eye on the site for more updates throughout the evening.
If you’re in London, keep an eye on the London embassy Twitter account and the Department of Foreign affairs for more information.
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