Three attackers drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before stabbing revellers nearby on Saturday night, killing seven people in what Britain called the work of Islamist militants engaged in a new trend of terrorism.
London Metropolitan Police said on Sunday 12 people had been arrested in the Barking district of east London in connection with the attack, which also injured at least 48 people, and raids were continuing there.
The attack occurred five days ahead of a parliamentary election and was the third to hit Britain in less than three months. Prime Minister Theresa May said the election would go ahead as planned on Thursday.
"It is time to say enough is enough," she said in a televised statement outside her Downing Street office, where flags few at half-mast.
"We cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are," May said, calling for a strengthened counter-terrorism strategy that could include longer jail sentences for some offences and new cyberspace regulations. On Saturday night, police shot dead the three male assailants in the Borough Market area near London Bridge within eight minutes of receiving the first emergency call shortly after 10pm local time. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Ariana Grande and other music stars were due to give a benefit concert at Manchester's Old Trafford cricket ground on Sunday evening to raise funds for victims of the concert bombing and their families. Police said the event would go ahead as planned, but security would be increased.Aerial shows London Bridge on lockdown after terror attack https://t.co/7jjjXzIUEE pic.twitter.com/5kIt41WUWz
— Ruptly (@Ruptly) June 4, 2017
Sen. Mark Warner on London attack: "The Muslim-American community is better integrated into US society; that's always been our secret sauce" pic.twitter.com/qKhOGMZc5c— CNN (@CNN) June 4, 2017
Fake explosive vests
The three attackers on Saturday night were wearing what looked like explosive vests that were later found to have been fake. May said the assailants' aim had been to sow panic. The BBC showed a photograph of two possible attackers shot by police, one of whom had canisters strapped to his body.
The London Ambulance Service said 48 people had been taken to five hospitals across the capital and a number of others had been treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Bishop of Southwark Cathedral on London attack: "This isn't in the name of God, this isn't what the Muslim faith asks people to do" pic.twitter.com/TgUQZcni8d
— CNN (@CNN) June 4, 2017
12 arrested
British police arrested 12 people Sunday in connection with the attacks, after raiding several addresses in Barking, a suburb to the east of the capital. "The investigation into last night's horrific attack in London is progressing rapidly as the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) continue to piece together exactly what occurred," the force said in a statement. It added that "a number of addresses" in Barking were still being searched.London attack: British Prime Minister Theresa May says that the internet provides a safe space for extremism and terrorism planning pic.twitter.com/da1RdsVsZ2— CNN (@CNN) June 4, 2017
World reactions
London Mayor Sadiq Khan described it as "a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night."
President Donald Trump offered the help of the United States and said: "Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the UK, we will be there - WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!"
Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there - WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2017
French President Emmanuel Macron said France was "more than ever at Britain's side" following the "tragedy".
Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "Today, we are united across all borders in horror and sadness, but equally in determination. I stress for Germany: in the fight against all forms of terrorism, we stand firmly and decisively at Britain's side."
Russian president Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences over attacks in London in a telegram to British prime minister Theresa May on Sunday, the Kremlin said in a statement.
"The President of Russia expressed his confidence that the build-up of joint efforts to fight forces of terror all over the world should become the common answer on what happened," the Kremlin said.
