Arab News

Timeline of terror in London

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LONDON: The terror attack in a London nightlife hub on Saturday unfolded in just a few minutes, bringing terror to a bustling part of the city filled with football fans watching the Champions League final. Here is a timeline of the night, in which three assailants went on a stabbing rampage after smashing into pedestrian­s with a van, killing a total of seven people before being shot dead by police: 10:07 p.m. (2107 GMT): The London Ambulance Service receives a first call to an emergency incident on London Bridge, a crossing between the City of London financial hub to the north and the trendy Borough area to the south. 10:08 p.m.: Police are called to reports of a van hitting pedestrian­s on London Bridge. A BBC reporter at the scene said she saw a van traveling at around 80 km/ h and casualties on the street. Witnesses say they rushed to help five or six people who were hit by the van, including a woman who was thrown into the air by the force of the impact. The van comes to a stop outside The Barrowboy & Banker pub on Borough High Street and witnesses see three assailants armed with knives rush out, headed for the packed bars and restaurant­s in the area. 10:10 p.m.: Police officers arrive at the scene, according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan. 10:14 p.m.: scene. 10:16 p.m.: Armed officers kill the three attackers outside the Wheatsheaf, a trendy pub dating back to the 19th century on the edge of Borough Market. Italian photograph­er Gabriele Sciotto takes a picture of the scene showing the three assailants on the ground. One of them appears to be wearing military trousers. The three were also wearing belts with canisters attached to them that looked like suicide vests but were in fact “hoaxes,” the police said. 11:30 p.m.: British Transport Police report “multiple casualties.” 11:46 p.m.: Police release an urgent message urging people to run to a place of safety, turn their phones to silent and call the police only if safe to do so. It is the first time police have released this particular message, which was designed in the wake of Paris ter- Paramedics arrive at the ror attacks in November 2015. 00: 25 a. m.: London’s Metropolit­an Police Service declares the events at London Bridge and Borough Market as “terrorist incidents.” 00:38 a.m.: Prime Minister Theresa May condemns “a terrible incident” and says: “Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events.” 4 a. m.: National counter- terrorism policing chief Mark Rowley says six people have died and three assailants have been shot dead by police. He says one of the injured is a member of the British Transport Police who was stabbed in the face. Around 8 a.m.: An emergency ministeria­l meeting hosted by May begins after the Conservati­ves and main opposition Labour parties suspend campaignin­g ahead of a general election on Thursday.

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