Police in London are responding to Jihadist terrorist attacks today in at least three parts of London. The attacks come less than two weeks after the deadly terrorist bombing of a concert in Manchester, England, killed at least 23 adults and children and injured at least 116 others.
The attacks were reported at London Bridge, in nearby Borough Market, and in Vauxhall. Little information is known for certain at this time, as police are working to contain the situation which began at about 10 p.m. London time (5 p.m. EST) when a white van reportedly drove across London Bridge at a high rate of speed, striking pedestrians.
Three men of reported “Mediterranean origin” are said to have shouted “This is for Allah” as they jumped from the van and began randomly stabbing people with a long hunting knife. Some unconfirmed reports say that several people had their throats cut and as many as seven — including a police officer — were killed in the attack on London Bridge.
BBC reporter Holly Jones was on the bridge when the attack began. She reported that the van “veered off the road into the crowds of people who were walking along the pavement.” The van missed Jones “and then hit about five or six people.”
There were also unconfirmed reports of rapid gunfire on the bridge, which may have been when armed police responded to calls of the attack. There are other unconfirmed reports that police shot and killed two of the attackers.
Shortly after the attack on London Bridge, police responded to reports of multiple stabbings in nearby Borough Market. One witness reportedly said one of the men had some type of canisters attached to his midsection as he was stabbing multiple people in that attack. Armed police also responded to that attack and there are reports of shot fired.
Police also say they have responded to a third attack in Vauxhall in south London, where Scotland Yard says police told people to “run, hide, and tell.” Police cleared bars and other businesses in the area.
Train stations in the affected areas were closed by police. In one instance, 50 armed officers reportedly entered Monument station with police dogs and told everyone to run. Police have also told anyone living near the area around London Bridge — which is cordoned off — to stay somewhere else tonight, if they are able.
Prime Minister Theresa May released a statement saying, “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.” In a statement, police told people to “remain calm, but be alert and vigilant.” The statement also says, “We are using all necessary skills and resources at London Bridge, Borough Market and Vauxhall.”
Senator Sam Dastyari of Australia was in a restaurant near London Bridge during the attack. In an interview with ABC he said the scene was “horrific.” He also said he had spoken with London mayor Saddiq Khan after the suicide bombing in Manchester and that Khan told him, “the reality was we had to be ready for these kind of incidents now.”
Of course, there would be far less need “to be ready for these kind of incidents” if common sense took precedence over political correctness. Khan — who is a Sunni Muslim — has made a habit of accusing anyone who shows any concern about the influx of Muslim immigration into England of being “Islamophobic.”
President Donald Trump responded to reports of the attacks in London by tweeting, “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!” He also used Twitter to point out that his executive order restricting travel to the United States from nations known as hotbeds of terrorism would help protect America from the types of attacks in Manchester and London. He tweeted, “We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!”
Photo of medical attention being administered near London Bridge: Press Association via AP Images
