LONDON TERROR ATTACK KILLS 7, INJURES 48
Van veered off the road and barreled into pedestrians on busy London Bridge
The death toll from a terror attack at the heart of London rose to seven Sunday as Prime Minister Theresa May convened an emergency security cabinet session to deal with the crisis.
The assault began Saturday night when a van veered off the road and barreled into pedestrians on busy London Bridge. Three men fled the van with large knives and attacked people at bars and restaurants in nearby Borough Market, police and witnesses said. The attack unfolded quickly, and police said officers had shot and killed the three attackers within eight minutes.
The violence turned a summery night in an area packed with revelers into a scene of panic and chaos, with officers running through crowded streets screaming for people to flee. Lifeboats on the River Thames helped evacuate the area, which is popular with tourists. It remained closed off Sunday and police urged residents and tourists to stay away.
Emergency officials said 48 people were treated at London hospitals and a number of others
Last night saw another appalling and tragic incident in London, something we hoped we would not see again. LONDON POLICE COMM. CRESSIDA DICK
suffered less serious injuries.
The Metropolitan Police force declared the attacks "terrorist incidents," but there was no immediate claim of responsibility. Britain was already on edge after a suicide bombing two weeks ago at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, in northwest England, that killed 22 people and injured dozens of others.
“Last night saw another appalling and tragic incident in London, something we hoped we would not see again,” said Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, who called on the public to remain calm and vigilant. She said many people risked their own safety to help others and treat the seriously injured and to confront the attackers./