A group of hero bystanders tackled a knife-wielding stabbing suspect in a terrorist attack near London Bridge. Video captured the moment that police surrounded and then shot the suspect, who was on the ground, as one of the bystanders walks off with the knife. You can watch two videos from the scene later in this article, but be aware that they are disturbing. Both actually capture the moment police shoot the man dead as he lies on the pavement. There is also graphic language.
The suspect was identified as Usman Khan, who has a previous terrorism conviction.
“As you would expect, due to the nature of the incident, we responded as though it was terrorist-related,” police Commander Neil Basu wrote in a statement. “I am now in a position to confirm that it has been declared a terrorist incident. We are working jointly with the City of London Police as we continue to respond.” According to BBC, two people were killed and three more were injured. A criminal justice event was unfolded at the hall where the stabbings took place, including Cambridge University students, BBC reported.
According to The Telegraph, the suspect “was a convicted terrorist who was wearing a tag” and “was known to police and had connections to Islamist terror groups.”
The London Bridge terror attack left multiple victims injured, the Metropolitan Police in London, England confirmed on November 29, 2019. Eyewitness reports on Twitter indicated that hero bystanders tackled the man. Photos showed the suspect’s body crumpled on the pavement. Here’s one of the main videos that emerged:
Another video shows a heroic Polish chef identified by The Times of London as Luckasz wielding a narwhal tusk against the suspect.
Polish man attacking the London bridge terrorist with a narwhal tusk.
Somebody give this dude a suit of shining armor already.
The Polish don’t mess around 🇵🇱
His name is Luckasz. Share this act of bravery!
History will not forget this man.
Basu said in the press conference the suspect was wearing a fake suicide vest. “I can confirm that we believe a device was strapped to the body of the suspect was a hoax device,” Basu, head of UK counter-terrorism policing, said.
You can read Basu’s full statement here. A truck was jack knifed on the bridge, according to Sun.
@HBOBlog shared another video on Twitter and wrote, “Please stay away from #LondonBridge! I just saw a man with a knife being shot in the head by police. Please be careful London!” Here’s that video. It has been viewed more than 500,000 times on Twitter. “He has a knife,” people say in the video.
The account that shared the video, @HLBlog, defines itself as “Travel blog by Yaya & Lloyd.” The man running the account wrote that he personally took the video, writing, “I’m safe. I did take this video it was me who saw this in front of me. ?”
One man shared a photo of the hero bystander on Twitter and wrote, “This man was walking behind us on the other side of London Bridge when the attack began. He ran through traffic and jumped the central partition to tackle the attacker with several others. We ran away but looks like he disarmed him. Amazing bravery.”
Basu said in a press conference: “A male suspect was shot by specialist armed officers from City of London police and I can confirm that this suspect died at the scene.”
Here’s what you need to know:
Police Say They Responded to a Stabbing Attack & They Are Investigating It as Terror-Related
Forensics officers make their way near London Bridge in central London, on November 29, 2019, after reports of shots being fired on London Bridge.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Cressida Dick, said in a statement: “I am deeply saddened and angered that our city has again been targeted by terrorism. It is with the heaviest of hearts that I must now inform you that, as well as the suspect who was shot dead by police, two of those injured in this attack in the London Bridge area have tragically lost their lives.”
She added: “My heart goes out to their loved ones and to the three further injured victims who I understand are being treated in hospital, and of course to everybody who has been affected by today’s terrible and mindless events.”
According to Dick, “The attack started at Fishmonger’s Hall in the City of London. My understanding is that police were called at 13:58hrs and City of London police officers had bravely and professionally confronted the suspect by 14:03hrs, just five minutes later.”
She added: “I also want to thank the members of the public who have helped, either by showing extraordinary courage by stepping in or by following the instructions they’ve been given by officers at the scene and in the area. This support from our public assists us more than you could know.”
She added: “In the coming days you will see more police, both armed and unarmed, patrolling our streets to help reassure those who are understandably concerned. Similarly our Counter Terrorism detectives will be working round the clock to identify those who have lost their lives, to support all the victims and their families. We are also working at full-tilt to understand exactly what has happened and whether anyone else was involved. For this reason we expect cordons to remain in place around the London Bridge area for some time.”
Dick said: “The empty ideology of terror offers nothing but hatred and today I urge everyone to reject that. Ours is a great city because we embrace each other’s differences. We must emerge stronger still from this tragedy. In doing that we will ensure that the few who seek to divide us will never, ever succeed.”
Met Police also said in an earlier statement that they were treating the attack as a terror-related incident.
“Police were called at 1:58pm to a stabbing at premises near to London Bridge,” Met Police wrote in a statement. “Emergency services attended, including officers from the Met and @CityPolice. A man has been detained by police. We believe a number of people have been injured. Further info to follow.”
Basu’s statement gave more details: “I can confirm that at approximately 2pm today, Friday, 29 November, police were called to a stabbing at a premises near to London Bridge, EC1. Emergency services attended, including officers from the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police,” he wrote.
“A male suspect was shot by specialist armed officers from City of London Police and I can confirm that this suspect died at the scene. 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.”
The man’s name was not released. “At this stage, the circumstances relating to the incident at #LondonBridge remain unclear,” police said earlier before the updated statement. “However, as a precaution, we are currently responding to this incident as though it is terror-related,” the police wrote. “One man has been shot by police. We will provide further information when possible. A number of people have been stabbed. We will provide further information when possible.”
Police were called at 1:58pm to a stabbing at premises near to London Bridge.
Emergency services attended, including officers from the Met and @CityPolice.
A man has been detained by police. We believe a number of people have been injured. Further info to follow.
Guy Lawrence told the Sun he saw the man, armed with two knives, running out of Fishmonger’s Hall, being chased by citizens with a stick and fire extinguisher.
He claimed one member of the public was seen running after the suspect, one armed with a 6ft stick and another with a fire extinguisher.
The British Transport Police wrote on Twitter, “We continue to assist @metpoliceuk and @CityPolice with the incident at #LondonBridge. London Bridge mainline station is closed. Tubes are not stopping at London Bridge Underground station.”
TFL Traffic News, an official government feed, wrote, “UPDATE: London Bridge remains closed in both directions between Fenchurch Street to the north and Southwark Street to the south. There are long delays in both directions on Tower Bridge Road and on Southwark Bridge Road. Use alternative routes.”
Office workers peered outside windows.
Office workers peer out of the windows of Leadenhall Market near London Bridge in central London, on November 29, 2019.
People shared accounts on social media. “I was on London Bridge guys. I’m fine. But it is NOT something I ever want to experience again. #LondonBridge,” wrote one man.
The mayor of London wrote in a statement that “Metropolitan Police have confirmed that as a precaution the horrendous incident at London Bridge is being treated as though it is terrorism-related.”