U.K. election pauses, for second time, after London attack

For the second time in two weeks, Britain’s election campaign paused Sunday for grief and reflection in the aftermath of a deadly attack – and the issue of security vaulted back to the top of the political agenda.

The main political parties suspended national campaigning after seven people were killed and almost 50 hospitalized in a vehicle and knife attack Saturday night in the bustling London Bridge area. The election campaign was earlier halted for three days in the wake of the May 22 concert bombing in Manchester, which killed 22 people.

Prime Minister Theresa May said Thursday’s election wouldn’t be halted by the latest attack, because “violence can never be allowed to disrupt the democratic process.’’

That sentiment was echoed by opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who said “those who wish to harm our people, divide our communities and attack our democracy will not succeed.” Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said “the remainder of this campaign must be a collective showing of defiance and pride in our democratic values.’’

Only the right-wing U.K. Independence Party, who had no members of Parliament in the 650-seat House of Commons before the election was called, declined to pause campaigning. Leader Paul Nuttall said “I refuse to suspend campaigning because this is precisely what the extremists would want us to do.’’

But even with campaigning suspended, May made a stronglyworded statement in front of her 10 Downing St. office, arguing that “things need to change’’ in the fight against terrorism.

May said Britain was facing a new threat from copycat attacks, and “it is time to say ‘enough is enough.’” She called for international agreements to curb online extremism, said longer jail sentences might be needed for terrorism offences and argued that there is “far too much tolerance of extremism in our country.’’