Twelve arrests made as police swoop
PRIME MINISTER: IT IS TIME TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
POLICE investigating the London Bridge terror attacks which left seven people dead and dozens more injured have arrested 12 people.
They were detained after an armed raid in Barking, east London, yesterday after the van and knife rampage by three terrorists who were shot dead by police. Scotland Yard said the investigation into the “horrific attack” at London Bridge and Borough Market was progressing rapidly with officers searching several addresses in the area.
The arrests in connection with the attacks came as Prime Minister Theresa May warned that Britain is in the grip of a spate of copycat terror plots and it emerged that an off-duty Metropolitan Police officer was among the 48 people injured by the terrorists.
The attackers brought carnage to the streets of the capital brandishing 12-inch knives, shouting “this is for Allah”.
Police were called at around 10.08pm on Saturday to reports of a vehicle striking pedestrians on London Bridge. The white van then continued to drive to Borough Market.
Three men then left the vehicle and began to stab and injure people, including a British Transport Police Officer and the Scotland Yard officer, neither of whom is believed to be in a life-threatening condition. A number of the 48 injured are suffering serious and life threatening injuries.
The suspects were con- fronted and shot by police at Borough Market within eight minutes of the first emergency call being made.
The trio were wearing what appeared to be explosive vests, with police later confirming they were fake. Mrs May said they were “worn only to spread panic and fear”.
It was the third terrorist outrage to hit the country this year following the Westminster and Manchester attacks which all together have killed 34 people but it is not thought there is any direct link between them.
Speaking outside Downing Street, Mrs May said the UK has made “significant progress” in disrupting plots and protecting the public since the emergence of the threat from Islamistinspired terrorism but that it is time to say ‘enough is enough’. She added: “Everybody needs to go about their lives as they normally would. Our society should continue to function in accordance with our values.
“But when it comes to taking on extremism and terrorism, things need to change.”
Meanwhile, there were calls for the restoration of control orders for terror suspects and the Prime Minister has promised to review the UK’s counterterrorism strategy, with the prospect of enhanced powers for police and security services and tougher jail sentences for extremists.
Mrs May also paid a private visit to King’s College Hospital in south London – which has been caring for 14 patients – to meet some of the victims and staff who have been treating them.