WHAT WE KNOW: Updated 4.46am
POLICE IN LONDON say they are responding to ‘major incidents’ in the centre of the city, which have been confirmed as potential acts of terror.
Met Police say that that a van drove across London Bridge, mounting a pavement and hitting a number of pedestrians at 10.08pm. They say that they were then alerted to stabbings in Borough Market and are now responding to an incident in the Vauxhall area.
However, Vauxhall Station has reopened and it is believed the incident there was an unrelated stabbing.
In a statement, Met Police said:
“From 2208 hours officers responded to reports of a vehicle in collision with pedestrians on London Bridge.
“Officers have then responded to reports of stabbings in Borough Market,” at the south end of the bridge. “Armed officers responded and shots have been fired”.
Police boats were seen above the Thames in the area as emergency services responded.
Prime Minister Theresa May has confirmed that the incident is being treated as an act of terror. She will chair a meeting of the UK’s response group Cobra tomorrow.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said:
“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.”
Met Police have told the public to “run, hide and tell” if they are caught up in any of the incidents.
However, Met Police are asking the public to remain calm and vigilant.
London Ambulance Service Assistant Director of Operations, Peter Rhodes, said:
“We are responding to an incident alongside other emergency services at London Bridge.
“We have sent a number of ambulance crews, advanced paramedics and specialist response teams to the scene, with the first of our medics arriving in six minutes. An advanced trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance has also been dispatched by car.
“We are working closely with other members of the emergency services at the scene, with our priority being to get people to safety and ensure they receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.
“Our initial priority is to assess the level and nature of injuries, and ensure that those people in most need are treated first and taken to hospital.”
Witnesses
This video shows police ordering patrons of a bar in Borough Market to get down.
Eyewitnesses reported a number of injuries, and police confirmed at about 4am that six people had died and another 20 were injured. London Ambulance Service said its 80 medics brought 30 people to hospital and treated many more at the scenes.
Transport for London said on Twitter that the incident was “major”. They have also confirmed that London Bridge station has been closed.
A witness – who was in a taxi on the bridge at the time – tells Sky News he saw at least three people injured. From the response of the emergency service, he said it was clear that it was “far more serious” than a road traffic accident.
Witnesses on London Bridge reported seeing a van mounting the pavement and hitting pedestrians and a man with a knife running.
“There was a van that crashed into the fences on London Bridge. And then there was a man with a knife, he was running. He came down the stairs and went to the bar,” Dee, 26, who was visibly in shock and declined to give her last name, told AFP.
Gerard Kavanar, 46, said he had seen a chef with “blood on his shoulder” in the area.
BBC reporter Holly Jones, who was there at the time of the incident, said she saw a van driven by a man travelling “at about 50 miles an hour”.
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 about five people were being treated for injuries after the vehicle mounted the pavement and hit them.
She said she saw a man, who had his shirt off and was in handcuffs, being arrested by police.
Evacuations
Police continue to ask people to stay away from the areas affected by the night’s incidents. They have also evacuated local hotels, with images emerging of young children and people in their pyjamas waiting in line nearby.
Police have also asked for anybody with videos or photos that relate to last night’s attack to share them here.
With reporting from Susan Daly and Sinéad O’Carroll
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