London Bridge & Borough Market Terror Attacks: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

London Bridge attack

Members of the emergency services attend to persons injured in a terrorist attack on London Bridge (Getty Images)

London authorities are investigating an attack that left seven people dead in downtown London Saturday night. The three suspects were shot and killed by police. The attack is being treated as terrorist incident and being investigated by London’s Counter Terrorism Command, according to Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley.

The events started when a large white van careened off the road and hit several people, witnesses told Sky News. The van then drove to the Borough Market. The suspects left the vehicle and attempted to stab a number of people, including a British Transport Police Officer. The officer’s injuries were serious but not life threatening.

In addition to the six fatalities, more than 30 people were taken to five hospitals after the attacks, while others were treated at the scene, reports CBS Philly.

Here’s what you need to know:


1. A Van Plowed Into a Crowd on London Bridge

London Bridge attack

Debris and abandoned cars remain on London at the scene of an apparent terror attack on London Bridge in central London on June 3, 2017. (Getty )

Shortly after 10 p.m., a white van struck pedestrians on London Bridge.

BBC reporter Holly Jones was on London Bridge at the time of the incident and said the van was driven by a man who appeared traveling around 50 miles per hour, according to BBC.

“He swerved right round me and then hit about five or six people,” said Jones. “He hit about two people in front of me and then three behind.”

One witness, Brad Myers, who was taking pictures under the bridge at the time of the incident, told CNN that he saw a white vehicle slam into the guard rail, then plow into a group of pedestrians he’d been standing next to only a few minutes earlier.

“Someone jumped off the bridge and into the water below,” said Myers.

The white van in the picture below is believed to be the suspects’ van:

https://twitter.com/jo55adams/status/871116217641299968/photo/1


2. The Three Men Began Knifing People at Borough Market

london terror attack

Police respond to knife attacks at Borough market(Getty)

BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds said a security guard who oversees a number of pubs in the London Bridge area said he saw four people stabbed by three attackers, according to BBC.

A witness at the market named Ben, told the BBC that he saw someone get stabbed:

“I saw a man with a large blade, I don’t know the measurement,” said Ben. “He was stabbing a man. He stabbed him about three times fairly calmly. He was being stabbed quite coldly and he slumped to the ground.”

A witness named Gerard told the BBC that he saw men stabbing everyone they could and shouting “this is for Allah.”

“They stabbed a girl,” said Gerard. “So I follow them, toward Borough Market, they were running into the pubs and bars and stabbing everyone. They were running up, saying this is for Allah, and they run up and stabbed this girl 10, maybe 15 times.”


3. The Suspects Were Shot & Killed In Borough Market

london bridge terror attack

Police attempt to clear the area after the London Bridge and Borough market attacks (Getty)

Armed response officers dispatched to the scene shot and killed the three suspects in Borough Market, according to police.

The suspects had been confronted and shot by police within eight minutes of the first call, according to Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley. The suspects were wearing what looked like explosive vests, but they were later established to be hoaxes, according to Rowley.

A witness of the London Bridge incident said the attackers were yelling, “This is for Allah”, according to CBSPhilly.

Several outlets posted the following picture of one of the suspects who was shot by police:

https://twitter.com/Ata_Memz/status/871164835756724224/photo/1

The suspects have not been identified at this time.


4. Donald Trump Pledged All Support to London & the U.K

London Bridge, Borough Market attacks

Police respond to London Bridge and Borough Market attacks (Getty)

President Donald Trump tweeted that the United States will do whatever they can do to help and that “we are with you.”

Prime Minister Theresa May released the following statement after the attack:

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. This is a fast moving investigation. I want to express my huge gratitude to the police and emergency services who are on the scene. Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events.

Prime Minister May is expected to release another statement in the morning.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also released a statement after the attack:

We don’t know the full details, but this was a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. There is no justification whatsoever for such barbaric acts.


5. The Terror Attack Comes After the Manchester Concert Bombing

london bridge terror attack

Police attempt to clear the area after the London Bridge and Borough market attacks (Getty)

The attack comes nearly two weeks after the deadly suicide bombing at Manchester Arena in Manchester. The bombing left 23 adults and children dead and injured 116 others.

Police have arrested 17 people in connection with the bombing so far.

In March, a car drove into a group of pedestrians on Westminster Bridge. Four people were killed on the bridge. The attacker, 52-year-old Khalid Masood, got out of the vehicle and fatally stabbed an unarmed police officer. He was then shot and killed by a police officer. Fifty people were also injured in the attack.