AN INCREASE OF 600 armed police will be deployed to the streets of London from today as the capital city increases its counter-terrorism measures.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has welcomed the move, called ‘Operation Hercules’, which is part of the Met Police’s commitment to delivering extra armed officers to protect London against the threat of terrorism.

This comes after weeks of terrorist attacks across Europe, including the killing of an 84-year-old French priest by two armed men who “claimed to be from Daesh” – the Arabic name for the Islamic State group.

Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has announced that the first are now fully trained and operationally ready, and explained that this would result in armed officers working “alongside their neighbourhood and specialist colleagues, on proactive operations and targeted patrols, both on foot and in vehicles across London”.

He added:

Anyone who’s been following events in Europe over the past few weeks will understand why we want to show our determination to protect the public. We are deadly serious about the protection that we are offering the people of London and we will never be complacent.

“The reality of having to deal with armed and deadly attackers is that you need firearms officers who will use force to stop those attackers in their aim. Our firearms officers are the ones who will run towards the danger. They are our heroes.”

Police officers dressed in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) attend a simulated terrorist attack in the centre of London. Sean Dempsey / Press Association Sean Dempsey / Press Association / Press Association

Sadiq Khan reassured the public that this move was not in response to any extra intelligence, and that the security level for the city remained the same, but he did say that the threat in London was “severe”.

“…Especially in light of recent deadly attacks in Europe, it is important we are prepared should the unthinkable happen. We will see more armed officers on our streets, but there is no reason to be alarmed. All of our police officers are playing their part and working closely with all of our communities to prevent the possibility of an attack.”

In the wake of the attack in Nice which left 84 people dead, there has been an increase in attacks across Europe including an incident where an 18-year-old man shot and killed nine people in Munich.

Read: Anti-terror police warn UK Christians following French church attack

Read: Two suspected jihadists arrested in Brussels after terror raids