THE HEROES WHO STOOD UP TO TERROR
Horror attack on London Bridge ended by incredible bravery of passers-by
Two dead in lunch time knife rampage
Killer wearing fake suicide vest shot dead
Humble hero tells of taking on terrorist
MEMBERS of the public who risked their lives to disarm a killer terrorist on London Bridge were praised for their “immense bravery” last night.
Dramatic mobile phone footage showed a group of around six men bravely bundling the knifeman to the floor after he ran amok at around 2pm yesterday, killing two people. The victims have yet to be identified.
In a chilling echo of the 2017 London Bridge attack, the lone wolf – wearing a fake suicide belt – randomly slashed at passers-by with two large kitchen knives.
The video showed a man in a suit snatching away one of the bloodstained weapons while several other people pinned the terrorist to the ground.
One young man was so determined to overpower him, he had to be dragged away by a police marksman.
Armed officers – who were on the scene within five minutes – shot the terrorist dead moments later, fearing his bogus explosives belt was genuine and he was about to detonate a bomb.
London tour guide Stevie Hurst was among those who helped disarm the killer.
Screaming
He said he “felt compelled” to abandon his Mini Cooper and help bring the man down.
“There was a small handful of people already on him and a couple more intervened,” he said.
“We saw the knife was still in his hand. I just put a foot in to try and kick him in the head.
“Everyone worked together until police arrived.
“As the police were dragging us off, the man on the floor rolls on to his back and that’s when they scream, ‘Bomb!’
“That’s when everyone starts to step back.The guy tries to get up.
“The funny thing is when we were kicking him, the guy was screaming, ‘Get off me, get off me’, as if we were going to let him go.”
Stevie, who said the incident took place in front of a bus full of children, added: “I don’t look at what I done as heroic – it was stupid, to be honest.
“As the night’s progressed, I’ve started to get a bit more shaky.We could have died on that bridge.
“The first guys there were heroes beyond belief.”
Three other people were seriously injured in the attack, outside historic Fishmongers’ Hall, on the north side of the bridge. One was reported to be a child.
Last night, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said the force was still working to identify the two people killed in the outrage.
She said: “It’s an absolute priority for us to identify who they are and make sure that their families are informed.
“If you are concerned about anyone who was there today, please try to contact them.And if you cannot, then get in touch with us.”
“We are working at full tilt to understand exactly what has happened and whether anyone else was involved.
“I also want to thank the members of the public who have helped, either by showing extraordinary courage by stepping in to tackle this attacker or by following the instructions they have subsequently been given by officers at the scene and in the area.
“We expect cordons to remain in place around the London Bridge area for some time.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson led tributes to both the police and the courageous Londoners “for their immense bravery”.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also praised the “breathtaking heroism” seen on the city’s streets. He said: “What’s remarkable about the images we’ve seen is the breathtaking heroism of members of the public who literally ran towards danger, not knowing what confronted them.
“It’s another example of the bravery and heroism of ordinary Londoners, risking their personal safety to try and save others.”
Last night, there was speculation that the man in a suit who snatched one of the terrorist’s knives was an ex-serviceman or police officer.
One witness said: “He ran through traffic and jumped the central partition to tackle the attacker with several others. We ran away but looks like he disarmed him. Amazing bravery!”
Security experts said last night there was no doubt the man, who appeared to be in his 20s, was on a suicide mission.
The attacker is believed to have first run amok by Fishmongers’ Hall, where the University of Cambridge was yesterday holding a staff conference.
Last night a university spokesman said: “We are gravely concerned at reports that University of Cambridge staff, students and alumni were caught up in the incident at London Bridge. We are urgently seeking clarification and further details. Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by these terrible events.”
Scotland Yard chiefs yesterday appealed for anyone with mobile phone or dashcam footage of the incident to get in touch.
Detectives will now seek to discover if the terrorist had any accomplices and why he was driven to kill, knowing he would likely be shot dead by police.
Earlier this month, the UK’s official terror threat was lowered from severe to substantial meaning an
attack was “likely” rather than “highly likely”.
But lone wolf incidents like yesterday’s atrocity are almost impossible to prevent.
The drama evoked memories of the 2017 attack when three terrorists slaughtered eight people and injured 48 others after going on a van and knife rampage which started on the bridge.
Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, were all shot dead by armed police.