London bridge terror attack kills 7, injures 48
A violent terror attack as described by the police claimed 7 lives and injured 48 on Saturday night when a van crossing London Bridge crashed into pedestrians close to the Barrowboy & Banker Pub around 10 p.m.
Witnesses told the media that a van had knocked down ‘five or six people’. And, the police said that three men had utilized a van and knives in this incident.
As per the account of the local witnesses, the attackers exited the vehicle and chased the others in a ‘rampage’ in which several people ran for their lives. One of the witnesses said that he saw a lady being stabbed about 10 or 15 times by the attackers, who he said had screamed ‘This is for Allah’.
Thereafter, the men ran down a flight of stairs and started stabbing people at different restaurants and pubs in Borough Market that is a fruit and vegetable market.
The witnesses went on to add that people had started throwing chairs and pint glasses at the men. The policemen said that the attackers were clad in fake explosive vests. Eight minutes after the police were summoned to the market, the three suspects were shot dead by the police.
The police officers then fired 50 rounds at the men, injuring a civilian non-critically in this process.
A short while after midnight, the attack was declared as a ‘terrorist attack’ by the police. ISIS has claimed responsibility for this attack.
This is the third terrorist attack on Britain in the last three months, including the one on Westminster Bridge in March that killed five as well as the bombing near Ariana Grande concert in Manchester less than two weeks ago. In the Grande concert attack, 22 were killed while several more were injured.
According to the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, the threat level to the country is ‘severe’ rather than ‘critical’.
The U.K. has planned to hold a general election on Thursday.
On Sunday, the police had arrested 12 from the region of east London neighborhood of Barking. And, police said that they have been continuing their searches in the buildings located nearby. As per the reports of a reputed media network, the police have already raided a flat that was suspected to be owned by of the attackers.
In a certain flat in Barking that was raided, a man named Furqan Navi mentioned that he had come across a photo of one of the men who was shot dead by the police. He said that he did recognize one of them as his neighbor.
He went on to add that the man resided there along with his wife and two children.
He had been staying there for three years and seemed to be quite friendly. Navi said that he did not know anything more about that man.
Another neighbor said that he had actually seen the man who was shot, about two days ago. He appeared as a friendly person and was fond of playing with kids and it seemed that he was in his 20s. Another neighborhood woman also acknowledged the fact that she had seen the man with his wife and child, and that he would drop them off home before looking for a parking spot.
She never has the slightest idea that the man was capable of such atrocity. She said that he used to wear Islamic robes and his wife wore a full-face veil always.
The policemen had also conducted a search of a building in the East Ham neighborhood of London on Sunday. As per a report a news agency, 21 of the victims continue to be in a critical condition.
Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada said that the victims also included a Canadian citizen.
Out of the injured people, there was a British Transport Police officer who was grievously injured when he was fighting the attackers, and he was armed with a baton. Another journalist named Geoff Ho, was reportedly stabbed in the throat when he made attempts to assist a wounded bouncer.
The police officials asserted that the wounded citizens include citizens of Spain, Germany and France.
Theresa May suggested stronger offences for ‘terrorist-related offences’. US President Donald Trump tweeted on Saturday stating that the United States would extend its cooperation in support of the victims of London terror attack.
