Panic, horror at London Bridge World leaders condemn deadly attack
WITNESSES described scenes of panic and chaos in the heart of London on Saturday night following a series of vehicle and knife attacks that left at least seven people dead and dozens more wounded.
The attack began when a white van veered off a road in the UK capital and barrelled into pedestrians on London Bridge.
Three men then fled the van with large knives and attacked people at packed bars and restaurants in the nearby Borough Market.
“There was a van that crashed into the fences on London Bridge. And then there was a man with a knife, he was running. He came down the stairs and went to the bar,” Dee, 26, who was visibly in shock and declined to give her last name, told the AFP news agency.
Mark Roberts, a 53-year-old management consultant, told the Reuters news agency that at least six people were hit on the bridge.
“It looked like he was aiming for groups of people. I froze because I didn’t know what to do,” he said. “It was horrendous.”
Colum O’Dwyer, who was having dinner at a restaurant near Borough Market, described scenes of panic and hysteria.
“We saw a father and a son running frantically. We saw the bouncers and the security guards from the nearby pubs and restaurants running into the market, and then running back out in pursuit of quite a large guy, who ran into a pub right beside us,” he told Al Jazeera.
“We saw somebody inside the pub, knocking over the chairs we had dinner on,” O’Dwyer added.
“We heard people talking about someone either trying to stab them or stabbing them . . . Hysteria pretty much kicked in at that point.”
Al Jazeera’s Charlotte Bellis was near the bridge at the time of the incident.
“Paramedics had [those injured] on their sides, it was a bloody scene,” she said.
“Some were injured about 50 metres behind the van, some were injured about 10 metres from where the van stopped.”
Al Jazeera’s Sarah Kern, who was also close to the scene at the time, said she heard about five or six gun shots and saw crowds fleeing.
“They were running down the street. I saw someone in a T-shirt covered in blood.”
A restaurant worker said he saw three men wielding BRITISH and world leaders have condemned an attack in London that killed at least seven people and wounded 48, only days before the UK’s general election.
Prominent figures, including celebrities, across the globe expressed in unison expressed their solidarity after the attack.
Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed that the “terrible incident in London” was being treated as “a potential act of terrorism” and said she would hold emergency ministerial talks. A spokesman for May later said that the ruling Conservative Party had suspended national campaigning yesterday ahead of the June 8 vote. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said that the Labour Party was also suspending campaigning: “Brutal and shocking incidents reported in London. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. Thank you to the emergency services.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the attack was “a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night”, calling on people to stay calm and vigilant. He also said he did not think Thursday’s election should be postponed because of events in London.
“One of the things that we can do is show that we aren’t going to be cowed, is by voting on Thursday and making sure that we understand the importance of our democracy, our civil liberties and our human rights,” Khan said.
Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party, which also suspended campaigning, said: “Dreadful news from London. My thoughts are with all those affected.”
big knives attack people at random.
“Three people, just in front of us. They don’t care about nothing, just going like this,” he said, gesturing back and forth.
At least three people were stabbed, he said, adding: “Are they crazy, or are they on drugs?”
Gerard Vowls told The Guardian newspaper that he saw a woman being stabbed by three men at the south end of London Bridge. He said he threw chairs, glasses and bottles at the attackers in a bid to stop them.
“They kept coming to try to stab me. They were stabbing everyone. Evil, evil people,” he told the newspaper.
“I want to know if this girl is still alive. I’ve been walking around for an hour and a half crying my eyes out. I don’t know what to do.”
Several leaders across the world were also quick to condemn the attack.“Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the UK, we will be there — WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!”, US President Donald Trump said in a tweet.
The US State Department called the assaults “cowardly attacks targeting innocent civilians” and added: “The United States stands ready to provide any assistance authorities in the United Kingdom may request.”
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker also took to Twitter: “Following latest #London incidents with horror. Thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Please stay safe.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said that “in the face of this new tragedy, France is more than ever at Britain’s side. My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “Awful news from London tonight. We’re monitoring the situation.”
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull offered his condolences: “Prayers and resolute solidarity are today as always with the people of Britain in the face of the shocking terrorist attacks in London.”
Bill English, prime minister of New Zealand, said his country’s “thoughts are with the victims of today’s attack, along with their families and friends. Our hearts go out to you. Too many lives are being taken by terrorists set on inflicting pain and suffering on innocent people.”
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the
London Bridge: Deaths after car and stabbing attacks Alex Shellum at the Mudlark pub near the scene of the attack said a woman had come into the bar “bleeding heavily from the neck”. “It appeared that her throat had been cut,” he said. Italian photographer Gabriele Sciotto, who had been watching the Champions League final at the Wheatsheaf pub in Borough Market, said he saw three men shot just outside the pub.
He captured a picture of one of the attackers wearing what appearred to be canisters strapped to his chest.
The 25-year-old Sciotto said he was on his way home when he saw a man running toward him telling him to turn around and run because there was a terrorist attack. attacks in London, saying they caused shock and anguish, adding that his thoughts are with the families of the deceased and offered prayers for the injured.
Harun Khan, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain has said that he was “appalled and angered” by the attack, adding: “That this should happen in this month of Ramadan, when many Muslims were praying and fasting only goes to show that these people respect neither life nor faith.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced her sympathy: “Today, we are united across all borders in horror and sadness, but equally in determination. I stress for Germany: in the fight against all forms of terrorism, we stand firmly and decisively at the side of Great Britain.”
“This crime is shocking in its barbarism and its cynicism,” Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote in a telegram to British Prime Minister Theresa May, according to the Kremlin.
Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila: “Shocked and saddened by the news from London. Strongly condemn the attacks. Our thoughts go out to everyone affected.”
“These acts of violence were truly shocking and I condemn them in the strongest terms.” @MuslimCouncil @harakha statement #LondonBridge
US pop star Ariana Grande whose concert in Manchester last month was the scene of a deadly suicide bombing, tweeted simply: “Praying for London.” — Al Jazeera
At first, “it didn’t look too dangerous”, he said. The men went into Borough Market, but they turned around and ran toward the Wheatsheaf Pub after being confronted by a police officer. Sciotto said suddenly a lot of police came from the other direction.
The attackers “had no clue what they were doing. They were scared. The police were scared.” He took the photograph after the men had been shot. In his picture, a man wearing combat trousers, with a shaved head and the canister belt, could be seen on the ground with two more bodies behind him.
Police said the three suspects were shot within eight minutes of the first call to the emergency services. — Al Jazeera.