moved in and haul off, officers moved in and haul off, dragged off the man who is fighting we believe the assailant, and then the are fired. so it seems as though somebody was fighting with the assailant, the man who was carrying out the stabbing before the armed police moved in. stay with us, andy, if you would. let's recap on our main story this afternoon. the metropolitan police say a man has been detained and a number of people injured after a stabbing at london bridge in the heart of the capital. london ambulance service has declared a major incident. a bbc reporter at the scene said he saw a struggle between a group of men and heard shots being fired. the bridge has been sealed off and members of the public are being directed away from the area. emergency services are at the area. emergency services are at the scene. we can show you some of the scene. we can show you some of the latest images sent in by someone

who works nearby. they show people running across the bridge in panic, as you might expect. reuters, a reputable news agency, is saying that they understand somebody has been stabbed in the area and that police have, as andy moore, our correspondent was saying, have detained a suspect. other reports say they have shot a suspect. let's talk now to someone who is in the area. thomas dunford. thank you for joining us here on bbc news. what can you see at the moment? well, we have just been moved. can you see at the moment? well, we havejust been moved. i am in william street, overlooking the bridge. i saw two bodies get dragged from the bridge. one guy was getting resuscitated. my understanding is he passed away. they put a sheet over

him. we havejust been ushered down towards tower bridge. i have seen five territorial vans. i don't know what is going on. it is worth that they are for rewinding. we understand this incident started to u nfold understand this incident started to unfold just after understand this incident started to u nfold just after two understand this incident started to unfold just after two o'clock this afternoon local time here in london. where were you at that point? at that point i was in my office. i saw everything outside my office window. i saw the police vans, i saw the bodies getting dragged out at about quarter past two. police running towards london bridge with guns. i am pretty sure we heard gunshots as well. right. i was am pretty sure we heard gunshots as well. right. iwas going am pretty sure we heard gunshots as well. right. i was going to ask you what you thought you might have heard. we did speak to another eyewitness earlier who thought that they had heard as many as seven or eight shots. does that sound similar to your experience? yeah, within the

space of 20 seconds there were multiple gunshots. yes. emergency services very quickly on the scene. we know the london ambulance service has declared a major incident. and people ushered off the bridge very quickly. what was the mood like? what people fairly calm? or were people rather more panicking? they we re people rather more panicking? they were panicky. there were people in the cafe opposite us, and at first they closed all the doors and the policeman opened the doors and made everybody spread out. all in all it was very panicky. they got everybody out of the area very quick. we are looking, as you speak, add an image that you have sent in to us, which i assume you filmed on your phone. can you just exactly explain to us when thatis you just exactly explain to us when that is in relation to the bridge? from that image, if you go to the left, that is london bridge. that is

pretty much looking at the end of london bridge. when did you take this film? probably about 45 minutes ago. if you were to look at the scene now, does it still looked like that? i have been evacuated from the area now. iam now that? i have been evacuated from the area now. i am now about tower bridge. yes, you said. when you said you were ushered away from the area, was that by the police and if so, what did they say to you? they communicated with the receptionist in my office. we were told to evacuate the building. they made us sprint right as soon as we got downstairs. away from the building. it must be rather frightening. do stay in touch with us. for now, thank you very much for getting in touch. let's talk now to mike king... no, while we wait to talk to mike king, who i also think is in

the area, let's bring in our correspondent, andy moore, who is watching these pictures and keeping abreast of any developments. what are you seeing and hearing, andy? first of all, the official information from the metropolitan police is worth repeating. they were called to an incident at 1:58pm. they said it involved a stabbing. they said it involved a stabbing. they say several people have been injured. they talk about a man being detained. london ambulance service saying they declared a major incident. i am looking through lots of eyewitness video from the scene. iam of eyewitness video from the scene. i am looking at some other video which shows what appears to be a member of the public, as i said, somebody in civilian clothes, for all we know it may be a police officer who was in civilian clothes, we just officer who was in civilian clothes, wejust don't officer who was in civilian clothes, we just don't know, but it appears to bea we just don't know, but it appears to be a member of the public wrestling with a man on the floor. the man on the floor appears to be

dressed in black clothes, appears to be bearded. the member of the public, who is wrestling with him, is pulled off. and then the police fire a is pulled off. and then the police firea number of is pulled off. and then the police fire a number of shots. so, it is worth remembering that micro here we go. we can see some of that video now. this is what i was talking about. it was john mcmanus now. this is what i was talking about. it wasjohn mcmanus who said it appeared to be a fight. we can see a member of the public are being pulled off. it isjust see a member of the public are being pulled off. it is just after this the man is shot. then you can see, yes... we are seeing it again. that member of the public is being pulled off the man on the ground. we are not showing the shooting, obviously. the man is shot and disabled. after that, it is interesting, the armed police stand back at some distance. they don't administer any first aid to the man on the ground. they are obviously concerned. there may be

explosives on the man. there may be some further danger. this hasn't officially been declared a terrorist incident. but it is worth remembering this is on london bridge, the scene of a terrorist incident in 2017, which involved stabbings and which involved the terrorist are being shot. there are some elements that are certainly similar. andy moore, stay with us. i would like to talk to mike king, a parish church counsellor. i understand that a number of people have sought shelter in the church, is that correct? not in the sense that they fled into the parish church, they were directed inside by police outside, directing people —— there are a number of officers near to us. —— offices. everybody has been ushered into offices and buildings nearby. we have had a numberof buildings nearby. we have had a number of people in with us. how many have you seen number of people in with us. how many have you seen ci’oss number of people in with us. how many have you seen cross your

threshold? yes, literally they have crossed my threshold. we have seen people directing people away from the scene and directing people to go into shelter into offices and buildings around the ourselves included. and did you see or hear anything of the incident as it started to unfold just over an hour ago? no, iwas started to unfold just over an hour ago? no, i was literally started to unfold just over an hour ago? no, iwas literally about started to unfold just over an hour ago? no, i was literally about to leave when i was told to go back inside that there was an incident on london bridge. we had heard the noise of what i thought was firecrackers going off. these days firecrackers going off. these days firecrackers going off. these days firecrackers go off everywhere. it is hard to know what is what sometimes. when you say you were told to stay inside, who told you that? the police officers on the road. i went out to investigate, to let them know the situation here, that we were open and anybody could come in if they wish to. he asked us to stay inside for the time being. mike king, just to stay on the line. while you are speaking we are watching a video which has emerged showing police officers aiming guns ata showing police officers aiming guns

at a white lorry, that appears to have jackknifed across london bridge. you are watching these pictures alongside me. the footage which seem to show several officers surrounding the vehicle before moving perhaps to the back of the vehicle, possibly to check its container. you can see there are london bosses on either side of the lorry, where there are clearly three police cars in front of the lorry. this is what appears to be a jackknifed white lorry across london bridge. and this footage showing officers surrounding it and three police cars parked next to it. we arejust police cars parked next to it. we are just looking at that picture as you are talking, mike king, who is ina you are talking, mike king, who is in a nearby church. what are people saying to you that you have perhaps

met over the last hour? nothing, unfortunately, concerning the incident except there had been an incident except there had been an incident on london bridge. that was the only information we had. we assumed the worst, naturally, by the noise of police sirens and emergency vehicles and what appeared to be an overhead helicopter. right, 0k. mike king, we will leave it there for now. thank you for talking to us. we are grateful. now. thank you for talking to us. we a re grateful. clearly now. thank you for talking to us. we are grateful. clearly this is an ongoing and unfolding situation. thank you for your time talking to us on thank you for your time talking to us on bbc news. let us talk now to hour security correspondent, gordon corera. he is at the scene. what more can you tell us, gordon? yes, i am at london bridge now. just on the river. i have just am at london bridge now. just on the river. i havejust spoken am at london bridge now. just on the river. i have just spoken to a witness who was in his office by the bridge. he said he saw the shots being fired against this individual,

multiple shots, he said, as the individual was lying down on the bridge. he didn't see how the individual arrived at the bridge but he said he saw a group of policemen, they could have been as many as ten, and then the shots being fired. then, later on, he saw people being brought out of a building who may have been injured. he didn't want to give his name orfurther details. he looked quite shocked by what he had witnessed on the bridge on the north side of the bridge, which is close to where i am standing now, about 100 yards away, where i can see a lot of buses stop. there is a black police boat a couple of hundred yards in front of me in the water. and helicopters circling above as well. clearly quite a lot of activity. still ongoing even though the incident seems to have been —— seems to be over now. gordon, have

you had any chance to speak to your contacts about who might be responsible for this in any way, or is it too early? it is too early. it happened in the last hour and a half. i think they will be wanting to assess that, certainly. it looks like it could well have been a terrorist incident. but it is or was difficult to speculate too soon and to be sure about that until more detailed comes in. no official word, no real guidance on that. clearly a lot of the protocols you would expect, a lot of activity, according to come probably moved out of offices, being moved out of the area by police of humic —— a few minutes ago. still got a lot going on. clearly police have dealt with this pretty quickly and decisively, it looks like, in terms of what an eyewitness told me in terms of the shots being fired. the individual on the ground seems to have been done

on the bridge when that happened, the eyewitness told me. gordon, would you just stay where you are, i wa nt to would you just stay where you are, i want to break off because we have been hearing from the prime minister. borisjohnson been hearing from the prime minister. boris johnson has been hearing from the prime minister. borisjohnson has said, "i am being kept updated on the incident at london bridge and want to thank the police and all emergency services for their immediate response." emergency services for their immediate response. " that emergency services for their immediate response." that is a statement of just immediate response." that is a statement ofjust put out by the prime minister, boris johnson. statement ofjust put out by the prime minister, borisjohnson. the home secretary, priti patel, has added that she was very concerned. and borisjohnson saying he's been kept updated on the incident at london bridge and want to thank the police and all emergency services for their immediate response. gordon, what is the scene as it is at the moment? we know that the bridge is closed. we know that all the emergency services are there,

police, fire and ambulances. the area has clearly been evacuated. the incident, as you —— as far as you are aware, is actually over, is it? it is always hard to be sure. but just judging it is always hard to be sure. but justjudging by the kind of activity iam seeing justjudging by the kind of activity i am seeing now, does look like the kind of urgent activity you would expect if they thought this was an ongoing incident. —— it doesn't look. i am ongoing incident. —— it doesn't look. iam maybe ongoing incident. —— it doesn't look. i am maybe a couple of hundred metres from where the shots appear to have been fired on the bridge itself, and we are not being moved back any further. the police look relatively calm. there are a couple of officers in front of me. so there isa of officers in front of me. so there is a lot of activity. the helicopters you can probably hear above me. also, the boats on the river, doesn't look like they are doing urgent searches. lots of traffic stopped on the bridge. a lot of office workers being moved as i

walked down towards the river. a lot of police and fire engines on the move. but just of police and fire engines on the move. butjustjudging by the way people are acting now, the consensus seems to be that it is over. nobody is giving us a sense we have to move, or there is an urgent need to move. that might suggest they do think it's contained and over. gordon, clearly details are still emerging. this has all happened only just within the last hour or so. it does seem that police were on the scene does seem that police were on the scene and managing the incident incredibly swiftly. is there anything we can perhaps read into that? no, i think anything we can perhaps read into that? no, ithink partly anything we can perhaps read into that? no, i think partly we are in the centre of london in a place where there have been incidents before. so you would expect there to before. so you would expect there to bea before. so you would expect there to be a state of readiness from police for this kind of incident. i mean, it is the kind of incident that

weeks have sadly seen before. it is something they have prepared for. you would expect there to be a lot of police in this area. they do appear to have moved quickly to deal with it. and had armed officers on the scene pretty quickly. i don't exactly when it began. the person i spoke to saw the shots, he thinks it happened around ten past two but he can't be sure about that. he saw some injured people being moved about 20 minutes after that. it is ha rd to about 20 minutes after that. it is hard to know when this exactly started. there is certainly a lot of activity. this is the kind of incident which police and other services have been, unfortunately, prepared for and they have seen it here and in other places in the past. gordon corera, thank you for that update. to get back in touch if you hear anything else. for now, thank you. let's talk now to farid

qureshi, who was at the scene when the commotion began. thank you for joining us. can you tell us what you saw? actually, i was here outside the hospital. i saw a police helicopter and the people running from the scene. i tried to speak to them but they were afraid they didn't want to speak to me. then one of them said they heard shots. then police suddenly appeared. they were moving the people. then they cordoned off the area. i can still see the police are here and the area is cordoned off. the london bridge hospital is also cordoned off. i was waiting here for the pakistani prime minister. he was due to arrive here foran minister. he was due to arrive here for an engagement. we can still see the people here, the police, the emergency services, a lot of people outside london bridge hospital. as

you are talking to us, we are watching some of the pictures that you took, some film that you talk and have kindly made available to us. and have kindly made available to us. from what you are saying, if this —— this happened about eight minutes past two. it sounds like the people you saw running towards you we re people you saw running towards you were frightened. how would you describe what they were saying? they we re describe what they were saying? they were frightened. i can see —— clearly see they didn't want to speak. they were heading towards the station. none of them wanted to speak, wanted to stop and tell us what was happening. just one person said he heard shots and they started running from the scene. then we saw the police following them. the police were trying to move the people from the area. the area is

cordoned off now. police and emergency services are here. helicopters can be seen. the scene is still on. the people are here, the police are here to stop them. are people able to get in and out of the hospital? yes, some of them entered the hospital but none of them were injured or hurt. they were just afraid. they were leaving the scene. just afraid. they were leaving the scene. they wanted to get into a safe place, maybe. some of them went to the station. now the station is also closed. and nobody can go from this road to the station. farid qureshi, we are going to leave it there for now. thank you very much indeed for talking to us. the press association is reporting that station staff at monument station claimed that five people have been

injured in this attack. the tube station has been closed off. farid qureshi was saying london bridge is also closed, as armed police investigate. our correspondent, tom symons, is at london bridge. what more can you symons, is at london bridge. what more can you tell us, tom? well, we have come as you say, taken up this position in the city of london just north of the northern end of london bridge, where this incident looks to have happened. the police have done what they always do in these situations, put in an enormous cording, a safety zone around this area. as we were coming up to the point where we are now, one of the office rs point where we are now, one of the officers said this is a potential firearms incident, make sure you ta ke firearms incident, make sure you take hard cover if needed. clearly thatis take hard cover if needed. clearly that is the scale of what we are dealing with. having said that, what we have been able to confirm from pieces of video sent to us that we think tally with each other, there is always a question about pieces of

video from open media, shows a group of passers—by presumably, i can't be sure, but it looks like passers—by, holding down a man, a firearms officer than moving in towards this group and it looks as if he is telling them to get out of the way, to get a clear, and then it looks as though a shot is fired. you can see a puff of smoke. the man on the ground falls still. luckily we have john mcmanus one of our reporters who wasjust over the john mcmanus one of our reporters who was just over the road when this happened. can you confirm for us, can you, the account we are putting together from these bits of video?” witnessed some of that myself, tom. i was walking from the south side to the north side. on the other side of the north side. on the other side of the road just after two o'clock i could see a commotion. somebody said, it looks like there is a fight going on. it seemed to be several men trying to hold somebody down. it looked like a rugby scrum. they started to run away from that person. i noticed then that armed police had suddenly arrived in the

northern side of the bridge. all of the traffic stop. the police were armed. they were shouting at the person on the ground, telling us to get off the bridge. that is when i heard what sounded like two shots fired in the direction of this person. as i was leaving the bridge i could see that person was lying prone on the ground. they didn't seem prone on the ground. they didn't seem to be moving. i couldn't see if it was a man or a woman. i was on the other side. i and all the other people on the bridge ran off to the north side of the bridge. police moved us right back. as we were moving even further back, hundreds of metres back, i heard several, what sounded like several more shots, and police are still moving us shots, and police are still moving us away from the direction of the bridge. after the shots were fired, could you see what the man was doing on the ground? was he still, was he moving? he was absolutely still, he wasn't moving at all, if he was a man. i couldn't tell from where i was. i was on the opposite pavement. i couldn't quite see if it was a man ora i couldn't quite see if it was a man or a woman. they were slumped right

next to the wall of the bridge. they we re next to the wall of the bridge. they were not moving. but as i said, we and everybody else on the bridge, clearly many tourists, taking in the view of tower bridge, were moving off the bridge very quickly while this was going on. police vehicles all over the place. we have seen unmarked vehicles moving towards the london bridge area. the court and is pretty big. there is probably a five to ten minute walk, don't you think? yes, the bridge was packed with traffic, pedestrians, it is one of london's busiest bridges. stretching from the city of london to the south side of the river. london bridge station is a major terminus here in london. always a very busy station. lots of people heading in that direction when this began to unfold. as we were moved off the bridge, police started putting up their cordons and moving us away. they have moved us quite far back, hundreds of metres from the north side of the bridge. all the traffic

was stopped. i saw buses stopped. people had to get off. taxis turned around. drivers redirected and people told to walk in this direction away from the bridge as fast as they can. we are now pretty far back from where the incident happened on the bridge itself. i'm interested to go back to the beginning of the incident. what was the first thing you notice? did this group of people seem to know the man? were they trying to restrain him? can you give us a general view? the first thing i noticed were a couple of people running past me very quickly. at first i didn't think anything of it. i thought, this is a busy bridge, people are in a rush. ithought this is a busy bridge, people are in a rush. i thought they were running to catch a train at london bridge. then i realised something was going on on the other side of the bridge, on on the other side of the bridge, on the other side of the road from me. i think there was some shouting, but i don't want my memory to play tricks with me. i think there was some shouting but there were definitely several people piled on top of a person and a man from my

side of the bridge ran across to join them. at that point the traffic had stopped on both sides of the bridge and that is when i realised they were police there. they were armed, they were pointing their guns in the direction of this man, who was at this point on his own at the bridge. i heard those shots fired. what i very clearly think were shots. just because the police are moving around us, we are going to hand back shortly to the studio. but as you hand back shortly to the studio. but as you can see, hand back shortly to the studio. but as you can see, the situation is still developing where we are. tom symons and john mcmanus, thank you both for that update. i should say that the reuters news agency is quoting the police in london. it is saying the circumstances regarding the incident at london bridge are unclear. but as a precaution police are currently responding as though it is terror —related. that is not the same thing as saying it is a

terrorist attack. but the police are saying that as the circumstances regarding the incident are unclear, asa regarding the incident are unclear, as a precaution they are currently responding to it as though it is terror —related. kirstenjones had just walked off the bridge when the incident occurred. shejoins just walked off the bridge when the incident occurred. she joins us just walked off the bridge when the incident occurred. shejoins us now. tell us what happened to you, if you would? yeah, hi. iwas tell us what happened to you, if you would? yeah, hi. i was walking onto the bridge from the north side, walking towards monument station. there was a police van hurtling down the road, city of london police sprinting and shouting. we thought, perhaps some day has been hit by a car. as we got towards the station and onto the bridge people were starting to run. there was quite a lot of panic. then we heard about two, three, maybe four very loud gunshots, and that is when the police really started screaming at people to get off the bridge and run. people to get off the bridge and run. try to get into the safest

nearest building for security. so police were shouting at people. tell usa police were shouting at people. tell us a bit more about what they were saying and what the general mood of people was and how they reacted?m was panic, really. people were very panicked. you've got to remember loads of people around here are tourists. the lunchtime rush was over. i was having a later at lunch today. i regret having that now. it was very today. i regret having that now. it was very panicked. the police were screaming at people to run. there wasn't much more than that. just keep safe, run. and what did you do, apart from, keep safe, run. and what did you do, apartfrom, i keep safe, run. and what did you do, apart from, i assume, keep safe, run. and what did you do, apart from, iassume, ron? keep safe, run. and what did you do, apart from, i assume, ron? yes! i was with one of my work colleagues. we just was with one of my work colleagues. wejust grabbed was with one of my work colleagues. we just grabbed each other‘s cans and bring to the nearest building. where was that? the sky gardens. we went straight down the street. where was that? the sky gardens. we went straight down the streetm that where you are at the moment? we are now out of the building but we have been advised not to go anywhere south of that road, and we are in

fenchurch street. we are around the market, which is believed to be safe. there are a lot of police cordons. we know the underground stations are closed. the bridge is closed. the court and from what tom and john were telling us, is very wide. are people tending to stay put? or they trying to get out of the centre of town? i think those with less understanding who perhaps have not been to london bridge, try to get past that way, trying to ask police what is going on. they are being ushered in opposite direction. those with an understanding of staying put. they are following that advice to stay away. i hesitate to say but it must have been and must

still be very frightening. what was going through your mind? yes, i suppose it is a shock, isn't it? i live and work in london. there are a lot of potentially scary situations that happen that are then turn out to bea that happen that are then turn out to be a false alarm or something like that. so initially i thought the best and thought perhaps it was just an accident. then it was only when the police started shouting that, yes, we got very shaken and we ran away. yes, i'm sure. i presume that where you are in the vicinity, imean that where you are in the vicinity, i mean how many police and emergency services can you still see? we are ona services can you still see? we are on a side street at the moment. there are no police in our direct area. there are an awful lot of sirens going on. i was on the corner by fenchurch street. they have been clearing the road repeatedly for a number of ambulances to go up and down, which isjust very

frightening. you wonder how many people have been hurt. yes, kirsten jones, we are very grateful for your time. thanks for talking to us. thank you very much. i want to repeat the news that we understand one man has been shot by police near london bridge in an incident which police are responding to. they are responding to it as though it is terror —related. we do not have any confirmation of that at the moment. karen bosch is able to join us now. karen, did you see what happened, and if so, what did you see?|j karen, did you see what happened, and if so, what did you see? i was on the bus coming south bound over london bridge. we had pulled away from the stop when it came to a sudden stop because they were people running across the bridge onto the road. looking over their shoulders and filming behind them. it took it look like there was a fight going on, people sort of tussling with each other. and then you realise it

was police wrestling with one tall bearded man. i had my baby with me so bearded man. i had my baby with me soi bearded man. i had my baby with me so i moved her behind the stairwell to be safe, but then there were two shots, or two loud pops, to be safe, but then there were two shots, ortwo loud pops, i to be safe, but then there were two shots, or two loud pops, ithink they were gunshots, and i also saw a spent taser and then the guy was lying on the floor. he then pulled his coat back, which showed that he had some sort of vest underneath. whether it is a stab vest or some sort of explosive vest, the police then really quickly moved backwards away. of course on the bus we are panicking because we are almost as close as the police to him. he was lying there, pulling his coat backwards, and the police were shouting at him and staying back from him. there were no emergency vehicles at this point. our side of the bridge was traffic flowing, the bus stopped and radioed in, as soon

as the traffic cleared, the bus pulled away, when i was three reform and it's a way we started to hear sirens and a helicopter overhead. my goodness, so from the sound of it you were literally yards from where this incident unfolded. we were on the opposite carriageway, but may be four or five metres. just so i've got all the facts here correct, karen, you had your one—year—old baby with you in a pram? that's right, yes. and you looking out of the window. just rewind, because the detail you were describing to us is absolutely extraordinary. so what was the first thing that you saw, or did you hear something first? the first thing i saw was people starting to run into the road, and at first you think they are just normal annoying london pedestrians, but they looked scared, and they we re but they looked scared, and they were running and looking over their shoulder and filming, and then it looked like there was maybe a tussle ora

looked like there was maybe a tussle or a fight, so if you mend together, all with dark jackets, and or a fight, so if you mend together, all with darkjackets, and in the end i sort of realised that they we re end i sort of realised that they were police officers with dark jackets, and three armed police officers, they all had guns, and then one guy in a big blackjacket, a tall guy with a beard, and i didn't quite see, they must have been a car going past. the next thing i saw he was lying on the floor and there were two loud pops. rightful stop here you are with your baby, was your first thought to try to get off the bus? not really. i was scared because they might be more terrorists, you don't know how many there are on the bridge, so it felt a bit safer inside the vehicle, which could potentially drive away with in it. so after i heard the two pops, i thenjust with in it. so after i heard the two pops, i then just try to get her, because i saw this vest on the guy, andi because i saw this vest on the guy, and i thought if he explodes, will the baby be ok? so ijust try to get her behind the stairwell so at least

she was protected. and then we waited, because the traffic was clearing ahead, and as soon as there was a space, we clearing ahead, and as soon as there was a space, we just urged the bus driver to drive on, which he did and dropped us off at the south end of the bridge. we ought to just reiterate what we are hearing from the metropolitan police, that they are saying the circumstances regarding this incident are at the moment unclear, but as a precaution they are responding to it as though it is terror —related. we do not know, i should say, whether the people involved in this incident, at the moment, are terrorists. so you then all are on this bus. you shout at the driver, what, to drive on, and then what happened? then the driver did. the traffic on the bridge cleared and he drove to the end and stopped at the side of the road and let us all off at the south end of the bridge. and wejust try to get away from there as quickly as possible. the last london bridge tax

there was a few different tackles so we just thought let's get away from here —— the last london bridge attack. one of the ladies on the bus with me said she had seen people running out of the building with blood or stab wounds on them, so we knew something had happened on the north side so the south seemed safer. what of that lady say to you? one of our fellow passenger said she had seen people coming out of the building on the north end of the bridge with blood on them and what looked like stab wounds. so we knew something had happened at the north side, so we felt safer going towards the south, getting off that side. 0k, the south, getting off that side. ok, so you are running, i assume? there are a group of you, where did you go to and where you being directed by the police? what sort of information where you being given? there was no police there yet, there we re there was no police there yet, there were only three police officers and they were all directly engaging with presumably a terrorist and there was no one there yet. when i was on

borough high street, i heard the first ambulance coming up borough high street. right, and what is the situation now, karen? so as quickly asi situation now, karen? so as quickly as i possibly could, i only live five minutes away, it is a residential, quieter streets, and before i was three or four minutes away, there was a helicopter overhead, and you could hear sirens starting together. 0k. how are you feeling? a little shaken but so relieved to be inside the house. the baby slept through the whole thing and has no idea that i was so frightened. 0k, and has no idea that i was so frightened. ok, that is good news. make yourself a strong cup of tea. thank you, karen, for talking to us. let's recap this unfolding story. the metropolitan police say a man has been detained and a number of people injured after a stabbing at london bridge in the heart of the

capital. police say the circumstances relating to the incident remain unclear, but as a precaution, they are responding to the incident as though it is terror —related. the london ambulance service has declared a major incident. the bridge has been sealed off, and members of the public are being directed away from the area. emergency services are at the scene. now this video was sent into us, which appears to show member of the public wrestling a man on the floor. armed police, we think, then moved m, armed police, we think, then moved in, pull the civilian away and then shots were fired at the man. and this is what we believe is the same incident, but from a different angle. you can watch this here with me. so as i say, there was a tussle, then we think these men tried to intervene, they then appear to have been sent away by armed police, and

shots were fired. now this footage has also emerged of what appears i think we might be able to show you the footage of a jackknifed white lorry across london bridge. here you go. this is worth looking at closely, because in this footage you can see armed police surrounding the vehicle. it would appear that they move to around the back of the vehicle, almost as if, there you are, you can see them now, moving around to the back of the vehicle, possibly to check what is in the container, and you can see on the right hand side in front of the driver's cab there, three police ca rs driver's cab there, three police cars parked on the bridge, and you can also see london buses there, which we werejust can also see london buses there, which we were just listening to karen bosh who was on one of those buses on london bridge when the

incident was unfolding, and they all got off the bus as quickly as they could come as you would imagine. the prime minister boris johnson could come as you would imagine. the prime minister borisjohnson has tweeted that he is being kept updated on the incident and has thanked the police and the emergency services for their immediate response. let's talk again to our correspondent andy moore, who is monitoring of elements here with me in the studio. have you got any further updates to add ? in the studio. have you got any further updates to add? it is becoming clearer to me the timeline involved in this. police say the incident began at 1:58pm in premises near london bridge, so it suggests that may be inside somewhere. separate of that, we have heard reports that they may have been some people stabbed at monument tube station, which is nearby. so it

seems that the incident ended on london bridge, it may not have begun there. in fact, london bridge, it may not have begun there. infact, again london bridge, it may not have begun there. in fact, again from the reports from john mcmanus, he said he saw that fight at about ten past two. so that is sometime after the incident started, and it is interesting seeing the video we can see at the moment, of this fight. you can see the fight on the background. what is interesting is in the foreground on the left—hand side, you will be able to see in a minute there is a man walking away from the scene, on the left there, and he is carrying a knife, in a suit and and he is carrying a knife, in a suitand a and he is carrying a knife, in a suit and a jacket, and he is carrying a knife, and we presume he has taken that knife off the suspect in order to disarm him. maybe we will see that again. you can see it in his hand. the fight is in the background, it seems that civilians are trying to intervene to an arm the man. it seems they succeed, because just, you will see a man retreating on the left—hand side,

and in his right hand is a knife, it looks like a kitchen knife, about six inches long. yes, there he is. there, a man in a suit and a jacket, and at that stage, that is when the armed man into —— the armed police intervene, they pull the man of the man who was being disarmed. karen was talking about a tall bearded man. she said after the shots were fired, he was prone on the ground, trying to pull back his coat, and it appeared he was wearing some sort of vest. we don't know what that was, but she feared it might be a suicide vest. the police officers obviously feared it might be a suicide vest, because they were treated some distance, and again, this is reminiscent of the 2017 attack on london bridge and borough market, where the terrorists there had the coy suicide vests. they were com pletely coy suicide vests. they were completely false, but they wanted to give the impression that they were

carrying vests. also i should note that the terrorist threat in the uk was recently reduced. i think that was recently reduced. i think that was just a was recently reduced. i think that wasjust a month was recently reduced. i think that was just a month ago. was recently reduced. i think that wasjust a month ago. —— decoy suicide vests. we have heard from the prime minister borisjohnson, the prime minister borisjohnson, the leader of the oppositionjeremy corbyn has also just tweeted, shocking reports from london bridge. my shocking reports from london bridge. my thoughts are with those caught up with the incident. thank you to the police and emergency services who are responding. that tweet from the last few moments with the leader of the opposition, jeremy corbyn. the leader of the labour party, i should say. there is the tweet from jeremy corbyn again. let'sjoin say. there is the tweet from jeremy corbyn again. let's join thomas islands, our correspondent again, who is at london bridge, and i don't know if you are hearing my conversation there with andy, tom,

but it was interesting, the way we have started possibly to piece together the order of events. that in other words this incident may have started in premises nearby, and actually possibly ended on london bridge. i don't know if you can corroborate that in any way? not at this stage, but i do have a sense that this is something that took some minutes to unfold. that wasn't just something that happened quickly, and the reason i'm thinking thatis quickly, and the reason i'm thinking that is because there are two, possibly three armed officers on the scene. possibly three armed officers on the scene. now they are, unless there was a lucky break for the police and that they just happen was a lucky break for the police and that theyjust happen to be nearby, and that is possible, because there area and that is possible, because there are a lot of armed units around london at the moment, they will have had to have come in. so it is possible whatever‘s going on was going on for some time, that passes by, pedestrians or what was happening, it looks like they got on top of this man, held him down, and then what we have seen in these videos unfolded after that. clearly,

the police believe there was a threat to life. they have the right to use reasonable force in that situation, and that does include using their weapons to shoot somebody, and that they felt they have the right to do that at that stage. it seems pretty clear to me that looking at those videos that they are moving that final pedestrian, that final passer—by out of the way so that he is clear so that they can take the shot. there is also an officer to the left of one of the pictures i have seen who is using or trying to use a taser. soa is using or trying to use a taser. so a lot of forces deployed, potentially to try to stop a situation that could have been a lot worse. and a very large operation, you can probably see the helicopter in the sky, roughly over the bridge as we speak. what happens in these situations is the police have to be sure situations is the police have to be sure that the area is safe. one person may be down on the ground, he may be out of action, but other people could be in the area. we know the london bridge attack, which was two years ago now, very close to

here at the south end of london bridge involved three attackers, as andy correctly pointed out, they had fa ke andy correctly pointed out, they had fake suicide vests, so we know that is something that does happen. they we re is something that does happen. they were all over the area, and the operation to hunt down anybody else who might be there, there wasn't anybody else, but they had to be sure anybody else, but they had to be sure it was safe, that took some time to complete. also a word about the kind of officers involved. we have in london some firearms officers full stop we also have a different type of firearms officer called a counterterrorism firearms officer who are trained to deal with more serious incidents, especially involving guns. they would have been brought in if they were nearby, and to be fair, one of their bases is fairly near to here, so it is not too far away, and they will be deployed quickly as well. and i have also seen dogs, we have seen dogs deployed in the area again to do thisjob of searching. deployed in the area again to do this job of searching. we deployed in the area again to do thisjob of searching. we have deployed in the area again to do this job of searching. we have seen armed officers going down onto the river bank to make sure there is

nobody down there. i haven't got any visibility, i can't see the south end of the bridge, but we were told area that the london bridge south side, which is the borough market side, which is the borough market side where the attacks happened in 2017, that they were being cleared earlier as well, that's we have said many times now, a big cordon, the whole of this area of the city very seriously disrupted by what is on here. as we can see, that is a fire brigade command unit being brought in. i have seen an ambulance control unit brought in as well, so i think we will be here for some time. unit brought in as well, so i think we will be here for some timem unit brought in as well, so i think we will be here for some time. it is interesting, tom, because our security correspondent frank gardner has just passed on some interesting information. he says that whitehall officials have told him that the police action at london bridge today was not intelligence led. it was a p pa re ntly was not intelligence led. it was apparently spontaneous and reactive. counterterrorism police are leading the investigation, supported by m15,

the investigation, supported by m15, the security services. and it is interesting, isn't it, that we are being told by the metropolitan police, tom, that they are treating this as if it was a terror incident, but that isn't the same as saying it is, is it? absolutely. there are alternative possibilities, one is that this is some kind of gang—related incident. there are far more stabbings relating to gangs than there are two terrorism in london, so that is a possibility, but it does look a little like a terrorism incident, wejust can't be sure terrorism incident, wejust can't be sure at this stage. it is very interesting what gordon is reporting from intelligence sources, because we have seen incidents in the past when the police come the security services, the authorities of various sorts have been following people and have moved in to make arrests, and they have been some struggle or some fight as a result of that. they make arrests because suspects are moving into areas where they fear they might be some sort of an attack. at any one time, there are thousands of

people that the security services are watching, and some are being followed. if he is hearing that from his sources, this does suggest this was some sort of an incident that the police and the authorities did not know about, as it started to unfold. but just to not know about, as it started to unfold. butjust to come back to what i said right at the beginning, i would have thought that we will find this was going on for some time before this man was restrained by this group of pedestrians and shot by the police. tom symons, at london bridge, we will talk to you in a little while. thank you. we are expecting an update from the metropolitan police at scotland yard in the next ten minutes or so, and we will of course bring you that as soon as we we will of course bring you that as soon as we get it. in the meantime, an eyewitness, thomas dunford, spoke to us just an eyewitness, thomas dunford, spoke to usjust a an eyewitness, thomas dunford, spoke to us just a little earlier, and this is what he says he saw. we have just been moved, so i was on king william street, overlooking the bridge. i saw two bodies get dragged

from the bridge, one guy was getting resuscitated, but from my understanding i think they passed away, because they put a sheet over him. we were evacuated from the building and we have just been ushered down towards tower bridge, and thenl ushered down towards tower bridge, and then i have just seen five territorial vans zooming past because i don't know what is going on. it is worth therefore rewinding. we understand this incident started to unfold just before two o'clock this afternoon, local time here in london. where were you at that point? at that point, i was in my office, so i saw everything outside my office window, in terms of all the police vans, and i saw the bodies getting dragged out probably around quarter past two, and police running towards london bridge with a gun. and i'm pretty sure we heard gunshots, as well. iwas gun. and i'm pretty sure we heard gunshots, as well. i was going to ask you what you thought you might have heard. we did speak to another

eyewitness a little earlier who thought they had had as many as seven or eight shots. does that sound similar to your experience? yeah, within the space of like 20 seconds there were multiple gunshots that we had. and then emergency services very quickly on the scene. we know the london ambulance service has declared a major incident. and people are shut off the bridge very quickly. what was the mood light. were people fairly calm or were people rather more panicking? panicky. there were people in the cafe opposite us, farmerjoe's, and all at once they were very panicky but as soon as the police dealt with it quite well, they got everyone out of the area quite quick. we are looking as you speak at an image you have sent us, which i assume you filmed on your phone. can you just

explain to us exactly where that is in relation to the bridge? from that image, if you were to go to the left, that is london bridge. so that is pretty much looking at the end of london bridge. and when did you take this film? probably about 45 minutes ago. so if you were to look at the scene now, ago. so if you were to look at the scene now, does it still look like that? i have been evacuated from the area now. i that? i have been evacuated from the area now. lam now by that? i have been evacuated from the area now. i am now by tower bridge. right, yes, you said. and when you say you are ushered away from the area, say you are ushered away from the area , was say you are ushered away from the area, was that by the police, and if so, what they say to you? so, they communicated with the receptionist downstairs in my office, who communicated with us that we need to evacuate the building, and then as soon as evacuate the building, and then as soon as got downstairs, they said sprint right. and that was thomas dunford, an eyewitness, who spoke to us dunford, an eyewitness, who spoke to us just dunford, an eyewitness, who spoke to usjust a dunford, an eyewitness, who spoke to us just a little earlier. kerstin

jones was at the scene when the incident began and she brought us this update. actually i was walking onto the bridge from the north side, walking towards monument station, and there was a police van hurtling down the road and city of london police sprinting and shouting and we thought perhaps someone has been hit bya thought perhaps someone has been hit by a car. as we look further towards the station and onto the bridge, people were starting to run full stop there was quite a lot of panic. then we heard two, three, maybe four very loud gunshots and that is when the police really started screaming at people to get off the bridge and really run and try to get into the safest a nd really run and try to get into the safest and nearest building with security. so police were shouting at people, tell us a bit more about what they were saying and what the general mood of people was and how they reacted. it was panic, really. people were very panicked. you have to remember most people around here are tourists. the lunchtime rush is

over. i was lucky enough to have a bit of a later lunch today and i regret having that now. it was very panicked. the police were really screaming at people, run, run, run. there wasn't much more than that, just keep safe, run. and what did you do, apart from, i assume, just keep safe, run. and what did you do, apart from, iassume, run? yes. i was with one of my work collea g u es yes. i was with one of my work colleagues and we just grabbed each other‘s hands and ran to the nearest building. and where was that? the sky garden. we ran straight down the street. that is where you are at the moment, is it? we are now out of the building that we have been advised not to go anywhere south of that road, which i believe is fenchurch street. we are now with a lot of members of the public around leadenhall market, which is believed to be safe, and there is a lot of police cordons around the streets.|j was going to say, we know that the underground stations are closed, the bridge is closed clearly, the corden, from what, symons and john

mcmanus, our correspondence, was telling us, is very wide. so are people tending to stay put, or are they trying to get out of the centre of town? i think those with less understanding who perhaps haven't been towards london bridge are trying to go back that way or are trying to go back that way or are trying to go back that way or are trying to question police to say what is going on, can we get that way? but of course they are being ushered in the opposite direction. those of us with an understanding are staying north and following that advice to stay away. i hesitate to say, but it must have been and indeed must still be very frightening. what was going through your mind? yes, well, i suppose it is the shock, isn't it? i live and work in london, but there are a lot of potentially scary situations that happen that then turn out to be a force alarm or something like that, so force alarm or something like that, so initially i thought the best, and

thought perhaps it is a small accident, and it was only when the police started shouting that, yes, we got very shaky and we ran away. yes, i'm sure, and i presume that way you are and in the vicinity, i mean, how many police and emergency services can you still see? we are ona services can you still see? we are on a side street at the moment so there are no police in our direct area. there are an awful lot of sirens going on. i was on the corner by fenchurch street and they have been clearing the road repeatedly for a number of ambulances to go up and down, which isjust very frightening. you wonder how many people have been hurt. we are hearing the prime minister boris johnson is returning to number ten downing st from his constituency to receive further updates on this incident. we have also received a

tweet from the former defence minister, tobias ellwood. you may remember he was the man who helped tackle a terror attack outside parliament in 2017. he has treated... the metropolitan police, as we know, have said a man has been shot by officers near london bridge in an incident which they say they are responding to as though it is terror—related. police are expected to speak in the next five minutes, and our correspondence, sarah campbell, is at scotland yard. sarah, before we do hear what the latest update is from the police, what have they been saying so far? yes, well, indeed. iwas only

what have they been saying so far? yes, well, indeed. i was only half a mile from london bridge. we are expecting to hear from the metropolitan police in the next few minutes but really up until now they have been urging people to follow their twitter feed. i would just read you those messages because that is the only official information we have at the moment. police were called at 1:58pm at a stabbing at a premises near to london bridge. the emergency services attended, including officers from the met and city police was not a man has been detained and we believe a number of people have been injured. so over the last hour or so, that has been updated with a little bit more detail. in the last half hour they said at this stage the circumstances relating to the incident remain unclear, however as a precaution we are currently responding to this incident as though it is terror— related. incident as though it is terror—related. one man has been shot by police. we'll provide further info when possible and just in the last couple of minutes,

police have confirmed a number of people have been stabbed. they are as well on this twitter feed urging people to use common sense and restraint in circulating pictures and videos of this incident. of course, london is very, very busy today. it is black friday. there are a lot of people in the city. a lot of people were passing on london bridge when this incident happened and have been sharing information they know about, sharing pictures of they know about, sharing pictures of the incident as they saw it. but as i say, we are expecting to get further details from the metropolitan police in the next few minutes. they said it would be out for pm, so we are just waiting here until somebody comes out to tell us those details, but as we know, a numberof those details, but as we know, a number of people have been stabbed. one man has been shot by police. they say as a precaution, we are currently responding to this incident as though it is terror— related. incident as though it is terror—related. so that is what we know at the moment. while we wait for this update from the

metropolitan police at scotland yard where you are, we have a tweet from them, as you were saying. "a number of people have been stabbed. we will provide further information when possible". we also have information from our security correspondent, frank gardner, who earlier was telling us that the police response to this was very much reactive and spontaneous. they were not as far as he is aware responding to a known threat. frank gardner our security correspondent is saying whitehall officials are telling him the identity of the suspected attacker was not initially known. an investigation is under way. some interesting lines coming out. it was also interesting, i thought, that we are beginning to piece together the order of events, which it appears

this incident may have started in premises a little way away from london bridge, and that possibly the incident itself actually ended on london bridge, which might explain the presence of those police officers that we are watching in that piece of film there. it is four o'clock. you are watching bbc news. let's remind you of our main story. the metropolitan police say a man has been detained and a number of people have been stabbed at london bridge in the heart of the capital. police say the circumstances relating to the incident remain unclear. but as a precaution, they are or responding to the incident as though it is terror—related. london ambulance service has declared a major incident. the bridge has been sealed off and members of the public are being directed away from the area. emergency services are at the scene. this video was sent into us which

appears to show member of the public wrestling with a man on the floor. armed police then move in. pull the passer—by away. and the shots were fired at the man. this is what we believe is the same incident from a different angle. the video appears to show a knife being taken away. as a man was being wrestled to the ground. if we just stay on this footage you will be able to see that. there it is. that manjust walking away there in the dark coat or jacket walking away there in the dark coat orjacket and walking away there in the dark coat or jacket and tie, walking away there in the dark coat orjacket and tie, he does appear to be holding a knife in his hand. removed from that scene. we also have some footage of what appears to bea have some footage of what appears to be a jackknifed white lorry across london bridge. now armed police, as

you can see here, are at the front of the lorry. but then they start to move around the side of the lorry. and towards the back. as if they are perhaps investigating a container and what might or night not be inside. —— might not be inside. we have been speaking to people this afternoon who are on bosses who were told to get out and get away from the scene as quickly as possible. reports of the police shouting at them, just get out, get away. the police cars you can see, three police cars you can see, three police cars. parked on the bridge. in front of this white lorry, which, asi in front of this white lorry, which, as i say, you can see is across both carriageways. the prime minister, borisjohnson, hasjust carriageways. the prime minister, boris johnson, has just tweeted that

he is being kept updated on the incident. he wants to thank the police and emergency services for their immediate response. we have also heard that he is returning to number orfrom also heard that he is returning to number or from his constituency —— number10. number or from his constituency —— number 10. jeremy corbyn, the labour leader, has tweeted. .. police are due to give an update from new scotland yard in the next few minutes. we will bring that to live, of course, just as soon as it gets under way. our correspondent, sarah campbell, is at new scotland yard, where we are expecting a briefing from the metropolitan police. in the meantime, sarah, remind us of what we know so far?

yeah, obviously as with an incident like this, there will be lots of information circling on social media. police have warned against taking that as read. but what i can give you is the official information from the met police twitter account, which is the best source we have at the moment. we are expecting shortly to hear from the moment. we are expecting shortly to hearfrom a member of the met police. what we have so far, the first message put out, police were called at 1:58pm to a stabbing at premises near to london bridge. that is around half a mile away from where i am. emergency services attended, including officers from the met and from city police. a man has been detained by the police and we believe a number of people have been injured. there have been various tweets since then. that was about an hour ago. police used common sense and restraint, they

say, in circulating pictures. there area say, in circulating pictures. there are a lot of details online. 42 minutes ago the police said the circumstances at this stage relating to the incident remain unclear. however, as a precaution, we are currently responding to this incident as though it is terror—related. one man has been shot by the police. just a few minutes ago they confirmed that a number of people have been stabbed. the met police say they are going to update as and when they have information. as i say, we are expecting to hear from a information. as i say, we are expecting to hearfrom a member of the met police here at new scotland ya rd the met police here at new scotland yard in the next few minutes. sarah, we will come back to you as soon as that starts. in the meantime, i want to bring you a statement from the mayor of london, sadik khan. it is quite a lengthy one. i do think it is worth reading in full. "the metropolitan police have confirmed that as a precaution the horrendous incident at london bridge is being

treated as though it is terrorism —related. i remain in close contact with the metropolitan police and and being kept updated with events. it has been confirmed that people were injured in the attack. my heart goes out to them, their families and all affected. thank you to our brave emergency services who responded to today's a horrific attack. every day they put their lives on the line for us, running towards danger in order to keep london safe. we must, and we will come and stay resolute in our determination to stand strong and united in the face of terror. those who seek to attack and divide us will never succeed. the london bridge area remains closed. please avoid the area at this time and follow met police for further updates. and tfl transport for london for travel updates. if you

are near the incident, please follow the directions of any officers on the directions of any officers on the ground.". that is a statement from the mayor of london, sadiq khan. there has been a metropolitan police tweet about the incident in which they have set a number of people have been stabbed. we will provide further information when possible. just to repeat that tweet from the metropolitan police. a number of people have been stabbed. there we go. we will provide further information when possible. so we are waiting for that statement, a further update on the stabbing attack from new scotland yard. in the meantime, car when bosh was on a bus on the bridge when the incident occurred.

so, i was on the bus coming south bound over london bridge. we had just pulled away from the bus stop when the bus came to a sudden stop because they were people running across the bridge into the road. they were looking over their shoulders and filming behind them. it looked like there was a fight going on. that there were people hassling with each other. then you realised it was police wrestling with one tall bearded man. i had my baby so i moved her behind a stairwell to be safe. then there we re stairwell to be safe. then there were two shots, two loud pops. i think there were gunshots. i also saw a spent taser. the guy was lying on the floor. then pulled his coat back, which showed that he had some sort of vest underneath. whether it was a stab vest or some sort of explosive vest, police quickly moved backwards away. we are panicking at

this point because we are almost as close as the police to him. he was sort of lying there pulling his coat backwards and the police were shouting at him and standing back from him. there were no emergency vehicles at this point. our side of the bridge the traffic was pretty much flowing. and then as soon as the traffic cleared the bus driver had pulled away. when i was about three to four minutes away, we started to hear sirens and a helicopter overhead. my goodness, from the sound of it you were literally yards from where this incident unfolded. we were on the opposite carriageway but maybe four to five metres. just so have got the fa cts to five metres. just so have got the facts correct, you had your one—year—old baby with you in a pram? that's right. and you are looking out of the window. just rewind. the detail that you are

describing to us is absolutely extraordinary. what was the first thing that you saw? did you hear something first? no, the first thing i saw was people running into the road. at first you think they are just normal annoying london pedestrians. but they looked scared. and they were running and looking over their shoulder and filming. and thenit over their shoulder and filming. and then it looked like there were maybe a couple fighting, a few men together well with dark jackets. in the end i sort of realised that they we re the end i sort of realised that they were police officers with dark jackets, three armed police officers, they all had gone micros. one guy in a big blackjacket, a tall guy with a beard, i didn't quite see, they must have been a car going past. the next thing i saw what he was lying on the floor and there were two loud pops. here you are with your baby. was your instinct to try to get off the bus? not really. i was scared because they may have been more terrorists.

you don't know how many are on the bridge. ifelt a bit you don't know how many are on the bridge. i felt a bit safer inside the vehicle, which could potentially drive away with us in it. what i did was, after i heard the two pops. then i tried to duck i thought, if the guy with the vest explodes, will the guy with the vest explodes, will the baby be ok? we got behind the stairwell josie the baby be ok? we got behind the stairwelljosie would be expected. we waited because the traffic was clearing ahead. as soon as there was a space, clearing ahead. as soon as there was a space, we clearing ahead. as soon as there was a space, we urged the bus driver to drive on, which he did. we ought to reiterate what we are hearing from the metropolitan police, that they are saying the circumstances regarding this incident are at the moment on clear. but as a precaution, they are responding to it as though it is terror—related. we do not know, i should say, whether the people involved in this incident at the moment are terrorists. you then all are on this

bus. you shout at the driver to drive on. then what happened? then the driver did. the traffic on the bridge cleared and he drove to the end and stopped. we got off at the south end of the bridge. we will try to get away from there as quickly as possible. with the last london bridge attack there were a few different attackers. one of the ladies on the bus with me that she had seen people running out of a building with blood or stab wounds on them. we knew something had happened on the north side. just say that again, what did that lady say to you? one of our fellow passengers said she had seen people coming out of the building on the north end of the bridge with blood on them and what looked like stab wounds. we knew something had happened at the north side. we felt safer going towards the south. getting off that

site. you are running, i assume. there were a group of you. where did you go to and what you been directed by the police? what sort of information where you been given? they were only three officers and they were all directly engaging with presumably a terrorist. there was no one else there yet. when i was on borough high street i heard of the first ambulance coming up for high street. right. what is the situation now, karen? as quickly as i possibly could i got in... i only live five minutes away in the residential streets. before i was three to four minutes away, there was a helicopter overhead. you can hear sirens starting together. ok. how are you feeling? a little shaken but so relieved to be inside the house. the baby slept through the whole thing and had no idea that i was so

frightened. that was current boss talking to us a little earlier on. we have heard from the prime minister and jeremy corbyn, the labour leader. during a campaign leader to cardiff the liberal democrat leader, jo swinson, has expressed concern at the incident at london bridge. she said, "clea rly incident at london bridge. she said, "clearly we don't know the exact details of what has happened. my thoughts are with everybody who has been caught up in that incident in whatever way, including, been caught up in that incident in whateverway, including, of course, the brave police who are dealing with it with professionalism and in the way in which they do become first responders in these difficult times." reaction there from the leader of the liberal democrats, jo swinson. let's return to scotland yard. we are expecting an update from the metropolitan police. they have said that a man has been detained and a number of people injured after a stabbing at london

bridge. they say the circumstances relating to the incident remain unclear but as a precaution they are responding to it at that as though it is terror—related. we will bring you that update from the metropolitan police in new scotland ya rd metropolitan police in new scotland yard as soon as we get it. in the meantime, these are live pictures at the scene. there is an extensive cord and around london bridge and the surrounding area, which has been evacuated. all emergency services are at the scene. police, ambulance services and the fire services. that is the scene there in the heart of london. andy moore is still with us and has been monitoring the situation. andy, you are beginning, i think, to piece together perhaps what might have happened? yes, a

timeline. we know from the police that the incident began at 1:58pm in premises on the north side. we have just heard from that eye witness saying they were injured people coming out of the building on the north side of the bridge. some reports suggest that might be the underground. we heard a report that some staff had been injured at monument underground, which is about 100 yards away. it might actually be london underground. it might be london underground. it might be london bridge, sorry. certainly in premises. we saw the end of the incident in various videos, which was probably about ten minutes later. so that is why people were initially surprised the police were there on the scene so quickly. because the alarm was actually raised some time in advance of that. that is why the armed police were able to get there so quickly. what we are hearing from police is that

one person has been shot. and detained. they are talking about a stabbing. they talk about a number of people injured. we have not got any details. but we have had disturbing eyewitness reports about people being seriously injured. we had some reports of people being taken away under a cover. we don't know if that means fatalities or not. we don't know at this stage. it is certainly very worrying. we have also had that very strong statement from the mayor of london, sadiq khan, talkingabout and horrendous attack. he reiterated the police position. they don't know at the moment. they are keeping an open mind. certainly has language suggested that he was regarding it asa suggested that he was regarding it as a terrorist incident. and that he was calling upon all londoners to pull together in connection with this incident. yes, it was interesting, and i think worth

reminding ourselves of that tweet from the former defence minister, tobias ellwood, who helped tackle a terror attack outside the house of commons in 2017. he tweeted that today's incident was a stark reminder of the dangerous and diverse threats we continue to face but also of the incredible bravery and professionalism of our emergency services in so swiftly closing this incident down. we have been watching pictures. i don't know if you have got any further details about this white lorry that appears jackknifed across the carriageway. --? no, we don't. i was talking about incidents on the north side of the bridge. this is more towards the centre of the bridge after the traffic has built up. it may be that this is unrelated. police know there is an ongoing apparent terrorist incident. there appears to be a vehicle jackknifed across the bridge. you would obviously be very interested

in that vehicle. it may be this is unrelated. and that the police are just very cautious and want to know what is going on with that vehicle. we talked about the emergency services. i am struck by the bravery of passers—by, who obviously intervened. i have heard reports of passes by intervening with stakes to try and bring down this guy. they we re try and bring down this guy. they were certainly resting with him, struggling with him before the police arrived. we saw that extraordinary video of one city gentleman in a suit with a knife in his hand, obviously in cooperation with his colleagues managing to disarm the knifeman. he is retreating from the scene with what appears to be a kitchen knife, a knife with a blade about six inches long. it is clear to me that the general public were tackling this knifeman before the police arrived. a police cordon is now in place. with the bridge and indeed part of

borough high street shut off. police on the scene saying there is absolutely no access under any circumstances. we certainly have seen vans circumstances. we certainly have seen vans of police entering from the south side, as you were just describing it there. london bridge station has also been closed. some frightening witness testimonies, clearly every frightening incident. but as you say, the emergency services very quickly on the scene? that's right. to go back, as you referred to, some very frightening eyewitness evidence. we heard from the lady on the bus with her baby. she talked about the armed police being moved in. she said the man on the ground, she described him as tall and bearded. he was dressed in black clothing. she said after he was shot, he appeared to be pulling back his clothing to reveal a vest

of some sort. she couldn't see what it was or what she said it might have been a stab proof vest. she was certainly concerned that it might be an explosive device. she was trying to retreat to a safe area. police also had the concern that it might be an explosive device of some sort. because immediately after shooting that man, they retreated to a safe distance. normally they would try to see the condition of the man, try to administerfirst aid. see the condition of the man, try to administer first aid. they were obviously concerned for their own safety. it is worth reminding people of course that london bridge was the scene of course that london bridge was the scene of a terror attack in 2017, when eight people were killed. that involved an attack initially by a vehicle on the bridge when several people run down. then the terrorists went into borough market and attacked people with knives before being shot dead very quickly by

armed police. those terrorists had fa ke armed police. those terrorists had fake explosives devices there too. there are some similarities with this incident. a knife was involved, stabbing was involved, it was resolved by police shooting the person died, and that maybe there may have been some sort of explosive device, whether fake or not, involved. u nfortu nate device, whether fake or not, involved. unfortunate memories of that 2017 incident. but there have not been many terrorist attacks since then. of course there were a spate of terrorist attacks in 2017. earlier this month of the official terror level was reduced one notch. andy, stay with us. we are still waiting for that news conference, that update from new scotland yard. just to remind you what we know so

far, the metropolitan police say a man has been detained and a number of people injured after a stabbing at london bridge. police say the circumstances relating to the incident remain unclear. let's listen in. thank you for coming. ican let's listen in. thank you for coming. i can confirm that about 2pm today, friday the 29th of november, police were called to a stabbing at a premises near to london bridge. emergency services attended, including officers from the city of london police and the metropolitan police. a male suspect was shot by specialist armed officers from the city of london police and i can confirm that they suspect died at the scene. a number of other people received injuries during this incident. as soon as we can provide further updates on their condition,

we will. our heartfelt sympathies go out to everybody who has been involved in this and is anxiously awaiting for information from their loved ones. as soon as we can get that information we will get it to you. as you would expect, due to the nature of the incident, we responded as though this was terrorist related. i am now in a position to confirm it has been declared a terrorist incident. we are working closely with the city of london police as we continue to respond. officers from the met‘s counter terrorism command are leading this investigation but i must stress we retain an open mind as to any motive. it would be inappropriate to spike it further at this time. due to reports the suspect may have had —— an explosive device, specialist officers also attended the scene and cordons are in place to ensure there remains no further danger to the public. however, ican remains no further danger to the public. however, i can confirm at this time we believe a device strapped to the body of the suspect isa strapped to the body of the suspect is a hoax explosive device. officers

continue to carry out meticulous searches in the area to ensure there is no outstanding threat to the public. there was extensive cord ands will remain in place for a considerable time but i would ask the public, please continue to avoid the public, please continue to avoid the area. public safety is obviously our the area. public safety is obviously our top priority. we will be enhancing police patrols both in the city and across london. i would ask anyone with information, image or footage of the incident that can be shared with our investigation team to do so on the uk police image appeal website. i would also ask the public to continue to remain vigilant and report any concerns they have to us. i now i would ordinarily take questions. i am not going to take questions at this time. the prime minister has asked for a personal briefing. i will be heading with the commissioner of the met to downing street. thank you. we will update you when we can. so that

was neil basu, the head of the uk counter terrorism and assistant commissioner of the metropolitan police. confirming that a man was shot and the suspect died at the scene on shot and the suspect died at the scene on london bridge. he said that the incident has now been declared a terror incident. and also that the suspect had what appeared to be some sort of vest, which was a cause for concern as well. i am joined now i think by our correspondent, sarah campbell, who is at new scotland yard. we werejust campbell, who is at new scotland yard. we were just listening to that briefing from there. worth you just

reminding us of what he said exactly, sara h ? reminding us of what he said exactly, sarah? yeah. yes indeed. 2pm is when the police incident started, or certainly when the police were called to attend this incident near london bridge. they confirm it was a male suspect. he was shot by city of london armed police. they confirmed the suspect died at the scene and also that there were a number of others injured. clarifying they don't know yet, they are putting together the information on those people injured. as soon as there is any more information on those others, the metropolitan police will let us know. the other main headline from that press conference was that this has been confirmed as a terrorist incident. city of london police confirming it is being led by the counter—terrorism group. they are keeping a motive, they are keeping

open mind as to what the motive might be. other things you have been speaking about on the air, reports that they suspect was wearing some sort of suicide vest. police said there was a device strapped to the man's body. but when they investigated it, this was confirmed to bea investigated it, this was confirmed to be a hoax device. a hoax explosive device. neil basu reiterated there are such as still being carried out in the area of london bridge. to see whether there are any other threats. members of the public are being advised to stay away from london bridge. those searches will continue for some considerable time. also asking for any member of the public with any video or any photographs of the incident, and as we know there are many on social media, they are being asked to send those to the metropolitan police to help with their investigation. they are also asking members of the public to

remain vigilant at this time. of course, this is black friday today. it is very busy in the capital. there are lots of people around. and clearly this incident will be of huge concern to a great deal of people. people asked to stay away from the london bridge area as those searches are continuing. just to give you those headlines once again from that press conference, a male suspect was shot. he died at the scene. suspect was shot. he died at the scene. a number of other people have been injured in this incident. and it has been officially declared a terrorist incident. sarah campbell, our terrorist incident. sarah campbell, our correspondent, at new scotland yard, with that update from the metropolitan police. we will be back with sarah if there are any further updates. in the meantime, let'sjoin tom symonds, who is in the london bridge area. clearly where you are, tom, the area is completely cordoned off. as we can see, tom, the area is completely cordoned off. as we can see, emergency vehicles behind you. interesting

that we now have confirmation this has been declared a terror incident? yes, i think they would have looked at the bodies —— body of the man and looked at what he was wearing, probably been through his pockets, tried to work out from anybody who saw this, what he was doing. and as you have heard, they have decided to declare this a terrorist incident. with the caveat that they can't say anything about the motive for the attack. that is really important. we don't know further what the police are saying. if it is true, and it is are saying. if it is true, and it is a terror attack, clearly this is, well, we are here again, in a situation where this city is dealing with an attack, presumably on people just passing by or in the area working, shopping, eating or drinking, in an area where there has been a terrorist attack before. 2017, the attack on the south end of london bridge and borough market an

area of food stalls south of there. the police, this is a huge chord and, when we arrived, we were a lot closer, we were pushed back and as i was passing, one of the officers said we should consider where we went for cover if needed. so that made it clear to me that in the early stages, the police weren't sure early stages, the police weren't sure whether there was anybody else out there who might cause a threat to the public. and also, let'sjust look at the actions of the firearms officers, officers we now know where city of london police, rather than metropolitan police, we are actually in the city of london here. if this group of men or people holding down this man on the pavement were trying to hold onto him, he was then shot by the police, the police have reasonable force to protect their lives and the lives of people in the area. regardless of whether that was and we now know it wasn't a suicide

vest or a bomb vest of any sort, they had the right to take the shot and to put him out of action. the other thing is to say that we have seen other thing is to say that we have seen fake suicide vest used before, in the london bridge attack, the three attackers were wearing some sort of improvised belts with water bottles to make it look like they we re bottles to make it look like they were carrying explosives. it is obviously a very scary thing for those involved in that incident for those involved in that incident for those group of people, for them to ta ke those group of people, for them to take on, on a friday afternoon here in the city of london. as you are speaking, we are watching live pictures of the area, of the bridge, taken from the helicopter. can you give us a little more sense of what is happening in the surrounding area? yes, clearly we can't see too much of it. i am putting this together from other supporters we

have out and about, for pictures we are being sent and that sort of thing but it is a pretty standard cordon. you can see this major road heading towards london bridge, which is down there behind those police vehicles you can see behind me. we have a police helicopter up that is almost certainly over the bridge. they are making sure there is nobody else in the area who will pose a threat to people. there will be firearms officers brought in all over the place, proper sweeps of the area. we saw in the london bridge attack, teams of firearms officers going from street to street, from bar to going from street to street, from barto bar, going from street to street, from bar to bar, there aren't many houses, checking the offices, checking every where there could be somebody hiding. they also are of course need to be concerned about vehicles. there is a lorry on the bridge they will have to look at and make sure they are it is not in some way involved. of course when people are ina way involved. of course when people are in a trafficjam on the sort of thing get out and get out of the area, so it might well be nothing to do with it. whenever this sort of

thing have to use a knock on alerts going on around the city. there was a period where oxford circus was partly closed. there were reports of an explosion at london bridge. none of that was anything to do, it wasn't an explosion and none of the reports were anything to do, as far as we know, with what has happened here, but the police have to be sure that this is over and that is why the cordons are here and why it is such a big operation for them. have you had a chance to talk to anyone, just wondered what the mood is, we talked to several eyewitnesses over the course of the afternoon and it has clearly been terribly frightening for those who were involved. yes, for those people involved, this will be something they will remember for the rest of their lives. it is quite possible that although people have been stabbed, and the police have said that, that they prevented further loss of life. so there may be some incredible stories of heroism that

come out of this, certainly those holding him down, the last man we see in one of the videos, everyone else has got out of the way, he is clearly holding onto this man to stop something happening, at least thatis stop something happening, at least that is the way it looks. it doesn't look to me like he is a plainclothes police officer, but it is possible. terrorist subjects can be followed sometimes but we hearfrom our security expert gordon corera that this was not part of a planned operation, but he was holding that man down and was almost dragged out of the way by the armed officers so they can take their shot. but there will be a lot of people who were not involved in the incident itself but who will be involved in all of this, andi who will be involved in all of this, and i have to say they tend to take it in their stride. people just get on with their lives, they want to know how to get home and to their offices and to the pub, frankly, when the sort of thing goes on. we have seen enough terrorist incidents in london that we have learned to live with it. we will leave it there for now. thank you very much for that update. we know that the prime minister borisjohnson that update. we know that the prime minister boris johnson has that update. we know that the prime minister borisjohnson has returned from his constituency to downing

street, and we also know that the head of uk counterterrorism neil basuis head of uk counterterrorism neil basu is on his way there to give him a briefing on what has happened. let's give you an update on this story this afternoon, because police have now declared a terrorist incident, after a man was shot dead at the scene, and a number of people stabbed. this was at london bridge in the heart of the capital. in a news conference, within the last hour, police said a hoax explosive device was strapped to the suspect‘s body. the bridge has been sealed off, and members of the public are being directed away from the area. emergency services are at the scene. this video was sent into us. this appears to show a member the public wrestling with a man on the floor.

armed police then seemed to move in, pull the passer—by away, and then shots were fired at the man. this is what we believe to be the same incident, but it is from the other side, from a different angle if you like, and the video again appears to show the brawl at that end. but if you keep watching closely on the left—hand side, you will see a man ina dark left—hand side, you will see a man in a darkjacket start left—hand side, you will see a man in a dark jacket start to left—hand side, you will see a man in a darkjacket start to move away. can you see him? and in his hand seems to be a large knife that he is taking away as that man is being wrestled with there on the bridge. other footage has emerged wrestled with there on the bridge. otherfootage has emerged of wrestled with there on the bridge. other footage has emerged of what appears to be a jackknifed lorry across london bridge. this of course may be completely unrelated to the incident, we simply don't know at the minute, but you can see armed

police surrounding the vehicle, and thenif police surrounding the vehicle, and then if you watch the figures closely, you will see that they start to move alongside the vehicle, and look in the container perhaps to ascertain what might or might not be inside. you can see buses parked on the side of the bridge there. we know from eyewitnesses that we have spoken to that they were ordered to get off buses as quickly as they could, and you can see those three police cars parked on the bridge in front of the van, but as i say, we don't know how this fan relates to the incident at the moment. the prime minister has tweeted that he is being kept updated on the incident, and wants to thank the police and emergency services for their immediate response. we know their immediate response. we know the prime minister has returned now

to downing street for that update with the head of the uk counterterrorism police. and jeremy corbyn, the labour leader, has tweeted shocking reports from london bridge. my thoughts are with those caught up in the incident. thank you to the police and emergency services who are responding. the mayor of london sadiq khan has also released a statement thanking the emergency services, who responded to today's horrific attack, saying they put their lives on the line for us running towards danger in order to keep london say. the mayor went on to say we must stand strong in the face of terror, and that those who seek to attack us and divide us will never succeed. an updated statement from borisjohnson, never succeed. an updated statement from boris johnson, the never succeed. an updated statement from borisjohnson, the prime minister, who has returned from his

constituency and is now in number ten downing st. he has tweeted... my my colleague ben brown is at the scene. my colleague ben brown is at the scene. hejoins us now. what are you hearing and seeing, ben? well, rebecca, this area is in lockdown, as you would expect at the moment. you can see the bridge behind me, lots of buses and coaches just parked there, completely empty. it is quite an eerie site. and buildings around here on lockdown. all the streets around here cordoned off as well. it is very difficult actually to get this far, and i suppose for people who live and work around london bridge, all of this

brings back horrific memories of two yea rs brings back horrific memories of two years ago and that attack that left eight people dead, with the three attackers shot dead by armed police on that occasion. we don't know much more than you have just been outlining. the metropolitan police saying the suspected attacker has been shot. as you have seen on that social media video, a number of people are piling on top of the attacker and trying to wrestle him to the ground, and then being pulled off him by armed police. extraordinary scenes, really, and they were pulled off almost one by one, and then that shot was fired by one, and then that shot was fired by one of the armed officers. the police telling us that they are treating this as terror—related, certainly for the time being, as a precaution. the london ambulance service describing this as a major incident. in terms of the number of casualties, so far we have been told five. but that may be changing. but

at the moment five casualties. the attacker shot, and this of course a major incident. and a lot of people around here have been telling us that the police did respond extremely quickly. the city of london police and metropolitan police joining london police and metropolitan policejoining forces, london police and metropolitan police joining forces, and responding to this emergency really very quickly indeed. of course they are on high alert in areas of central london, like london bridge, but this whole incident causing, as you'd expect, chaos. it isjust approaching rush—hour now. london bridge station is closed, no trains running through there. we have seen lots of people leaving work and looking pretty confused because it is quite hard to walk down any street without running into a police cordon. that is the latest from here at london bridge. ben brown, for now, thank you. the white house has said that president trump has been briefed on the attack at london bridge. that is a spokesperson for

the president. we know that boris johnson is at number ten downing st, and being briefed on the incident by the head of uk counterterrorism policy and the assistant commissioner of the metropolitan police, neil basu. it is worth just reminding ourselves what he said. he said that there were fears that a man was wearing a bomb vest, an explosive device. and specialist officers when they attended the scene officers when they attended the scene ensured that there would be no further danger to the public, but he was able to confirm that the device was able to confirm that the device was strapped to the body of the suspect was a hoax explosive device, but we did hear that neil basu, the head of the uk counterterrorism policy had said that it is now, the incident, is confirmed as a

terrorist incident. he said that police were called at around 2pm this afternoon to a stabbing at a premises near london bridge. and we understand that one person has been killed. let's head over to new scotla nd killed. let's head over to new scotland yard now. where i understand we may be waiting for another update, either from the police, or possibly from the mayor of london, sadiq khan. obviously this is a fast developing story. i think our correspondent sarah campbell is here. no, here is the mayor of london. the metropolitan police have confirmed that the horrendous stabbing at london bridge has now

been declared as a terrorist incident. in close contact with senior officers here at new scotland yard, and! senior officers here at new scotland yard, and i have been fully kept updated with events, and have been kept updated this afternoon. it has been confirmed that a number of people were injured in the attack, some seriously. my heart goes out to them, theirfamilies some seriously. my heart goes out to them, their families and some seriously. my heart goes out to them, theirfamilies and all some seriously. my heart goes out to them, their families and all those affected. as soon as it is possible to provide an update on their condition, the met police will do so. condition, the met police will do so. i would ask you all to please respect the privacy of those affected. the emergency service responders attended the scene, including officers from the city of london and metropolitan police. a male suspect was shot by specialist armed officers from the city of london police, and died at the scene. london police, and died at the scene. i want to thank our brave emergency services, who responded to today's horrific attack. every day, they put their lives on the line for

us, running towards danger in order to keep us safe. i would also like to keep us safe. i would also like to thank members of the public, who risked their own safety this afternoon. they are the best of us. terrorism is cowardly and evil. we must and we will stand united and resolute in the face of terror. those who seek to attack us and divide us will never succeed. i would ask all londoners to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to the police. i would like to take some questions. there was a big van parked across the road. images similar we saw two london bridge a couple of years ago. do you know any more about the role of that vehicle? i have been kept updated all afternoon but i think it is important that neil basu answers

information about that. it is important the police have the time to carry out investigations and will a nswer to carry out investigations and will answer questions in due course. from the video footage circulated, it is clear members of the public got involved very quickly, it would appear. can you expand on these people that clearly have gone above and beyond potentially heroes here today? firstly can i say anyone who has images of this afternoon either on their phone or other devices, please share that with the police. there is a website set up where you can share those images and it is really important you do so. i would also ask you to respect the identity of the armed officers and please do not put in the public domain their identity. but also what is remarkable is the breathtaking heroism of members of the public literally ran towards danger, not knowing what confronted them. we do knowing what confronted them. we do know from the statement given by the assista nt know from the statement given by the assistant commissioner neil basu that there appears to have been a device on the suspect. members of the public didn't realise at the time that was a hoax device, and

they really are the best of us. another example of the bravery and heroism of ordinary londoners running towards danger, risking their own personal safety to try and save others, and i want to extend a personal thank you on behalf of all londoners. and also it shows the best of us. you are here just a couple of years after you do this four times. how does it affect you personally as mayor of a city where the terrorism threat has not gone down? i am mayor of the greatest city in the world and one of our strengths is our diversity, but we do know there are people out there who hate our diversity, hate what we stand for, and are trying to seek to divide us. what was amazing about todayis divide us. what was amazing about today is we saw in the one individual, the suspect, the worst of humanity, but we also saw in the response from members of the public but also our emergency services the very best of humanity. and the message i want to send notjust to

londoners, notjust of the visitors to our city but around the world is we are resolute, we stand united in the face of terrorism, and we will not allow anybody to divide us. what do you feel as mayor, when you get that call, when you hear another incident, of the seriousness?” that call, when you hear another incident, of the seriousness? i know speaking to colleagues around the world, mayors of other great cities that we are all targets for terrorists. the fact is that since the four terrorist incidents in 2017, because of the excellent work of the police and the security services and because of the intelligence provided by members of the public we have thwarted more than 20 attempts at terrorism on innocent citizens, and what is really important is that we all remain vigilant. if anybody sees anything suspicious, please report it to the police, are on the side of caution. i would it to the police, are on the side of caution. iwould rather it to the police, are on the side of caution. i would rather people over report of the police and the expert stand under report, but it is also really important we allow the fees to carry out their investigations andi to carry out their investigations and i would ask members of the press

to respect the privacy of all those who have been injured today and theirfamilies as who have been injured today and their families as well. in practical terms, just wonder what does that mean for people going about their lives in london? how frightened should people be? this is christmas time, running up to christmas, watch practically do people need to do and know? we know a couple of weeks ago the threat levels were reduced from severe to substantial. we also know one of the things terrorist try to do is to disrupt our way of life and to stop us going about our normal business. today is a day when many of our shops will be extremely busy, and we know unfortunately because of this terrorist attack travel has been disrupted in london. at london bridge, the tubes and the trains still not stopping at london bridge and many of the buses have been diverted. the advice from the police and the counterterrorism experts is this appears to be an isolated incident. the police are not looking for anybody else. if that changes, of course the police would let people know but i would remind members of the public that we have

been here before. in previous decades our city has been under attack from terrorists and one of the things that we have always wa nted the things that we have always wanted to do is to stand resolute and not allow terrorists to disrupt our and not allow terrorists to disrupt our way of life, as we approach christmas, but also not allowing anyone to divide our communities. it is really important that we as londoners stand shoulder to shoulder with one another and stand resolute in the face of a terrorist or individual or others who seek to divide us. will be threat level be raised again? they regularly review threat levels. colleagues will be aware it was reviewed recently, reduced from severe to substantial, we constantly keep these things under review and it is really important we recognise this was one individual, and that there was huge bravery from members of the public, as well as the first responders, but at this time my thoughts and prayers are with all those injured and those

affected by the incident this afternoon. thank you all very much. so that was a statement from the mayor of london, sadiq khan, speaking there outside new scotland yard. he confirmed that the stabbing isa yard. he confirmed that the stabbing is a terrorist incident. he said a number of people had been injured, some seriously, and he reiterated that police had shot dead a man on london bridge. sarah campbell, we did hear her voice there, asking the city, four. shejoins us from new scotla nd city, four. shejoins us from new scotland yard, and it was striking, sarah, how he praised the breathtaking heroism, as he put it, of the members of the public who ran towards the suspect. yes, absolutely. he obviously said a

thank you to the brave emergency services, yes, but as you say, he said thank you to members of the public, he says, who risked their own lives. this is obviously very early days, but looking at the pictures, the film that has been posted on social media, it does appear that a number of members of the public really did put their lives on the line, as the mayor of london suggest there. of course we now know that there was a suicide vest, a hoax suicide vest, strapped to the man's body, but presumably those people who were tackling him on the ground didn't know that at the time. the mayor there talked about breathtaking heroism, running into danger, said incidents like this bring out the best in us. he said you saw the very best of humanity today. so yes, as we say, praising the emergency services. it was the city of london armed police who shot the suspect dead on london

bridge. but he had been clearly tackled by members of the public, and the mayor praising their heroism, and i'm sure more details will be coming out over the next few minutes, the next few hours, as to what exactly went on on london bridge. other things that the london mayor said. obviously talked about the fact there will be huge disruption at london bridge. the station remains closed. it is a port for many people to get home on a friday. as i have said, it is black friday, so london is probably busier than usual, the streets are packed, and many of those people will be wondering now how they are going to get home. the mayor saying that people need to remain vigilant, reiterating that plea from the police for people to send in any photographs, any videos, any information that they might have, relating to that incident. of course the london bridge area remains closed off. the sense is that the situation is now safe, if you like.

they are not looking for anybody else, but obviously those searches are very else, but obviously those searches are very important, to make sure that any information crucial to the investigation is found, and of course logistically, that means huge problems for people who live and work in and around the london bridge area, because that is an area to be avoided at the moment. but certainly again, the headlines really from sadiq khan, the mayor of london, thank you to the emergency services who dealt with the situation, but a huge thank you to those people who put their lives on the line. huge thank you to those people who put their lives on the linelj huge thank you to those people who put their lives on the line. i was struck, sarah, as well, by the question you raised, we are in the run—up to christmas now and this is going to be very frightening, not only to people who live in the capital, but also to people who are coming to visit it over the festive season, isn't it? it is only two and a half yea rs season, isn't it? it is only two and a half years since london bridge, that very area, was the subject of an horrendous terrorist attack back

injune 2017, in which 80 people we re injune 2017, in which 80 people were killed, and which —— in which eight people were killed. the three perpetrators were killed as well. for many people in that area that will bring unwelcome memories of that but absolutely, for many people coming to london, thinking about christmas shopping, thinking about spending new year here perhaps, this isa spending new year here perhaps, this is a memory, i thought they would not want to be having at the moment that perhaps this is a dangerous place to come to. what the mayor said very clearly is we have been here before, he said, and we must stand resolute. there are people, he set out there, who do hate diversity but incidents at this also bring out the best of humanity. so very much trying to save this issue has been dealt with, and hoping that people are going to be able to go on, go about their daily lives, but of course when an incident like this happens, it does what a terrorist —related incident does, it spreads terror. people this evening will be extremely frightened that what has

happened. sarah campbell at new scotla nd happened. sarah campbell at new scotland yard, thank you for that update. i want to now bring you a statement that has just been released from the white house, saying that president trump has been briefed on the attack at london bridge and is monitoring the situation, and the united states strongly condemns all horrific acts of violence on innocent people and we pledge ourfull of violence on innocent people and we pledge our full support to our ally, the united kingdom. our correspondence andy moore has been following the story with us all afternoon. i think we have also got some live pictures we can look at, and e. i think it is worth you piecing together what we think the order of events might have been. police say the incident started at 1:58pm in premises. they are not specific but they talk about premises near london bridge. eyewitnesses talk about people

emerging from a building on the north side of the bridge who were injured in some way. then we saw the suspected terrorist being tackled by members of the public, and that was some time later. the shots were actually probably about ten minutes after that. breathtaking heroism, we heard from sadiq khan. i have heard accounts of people tackling that suspected terrorist with sticks, fire extinguishers, we believe one of those people at least may have been injured in trying to tackle the terrorist, and of course they knew he was armed with at least one knife, possibly two. we can see some of the members of the public here tackling the knifeman. in fact the last person is hauled off by the armed police before they shoot the suspect. our thoughts turn now to

those who are injured. this is some more video of the same incident. you can see in the distance members of the public tackling of the knifeman. you will be able to see at some stage just a little bit later on, somebody has taken a knife, just one knife away from the terrorist. i have seen images of another night. and if you just look on the left—hand side in the distance there, you can see a man running away on the left—hand side. in his right hand is a knife, and that appears to be just a passer—by in a suit taking a dangerous weapon away from the scene. as i said, our thoughts now turn to the injured and we heard from the first time they are from sadiq khan that some of those have been seriously injured. i have seen images of a woman being taken have seen images of a woman being ta ken away have seen images of a woman being taken away on a makeshift stretcher. i have seen images of the ambulance service appearing to give cpr to somebody on the ground. andy moore,

our correspondence, somebody on the ground. andy moore, our correspondence, thank you for that update. as british police have confirmed they have shot dead a man on london bridge. you are watching bbc news. tonight at 5pm... police declare a major terrorist incident in central london. a man has been shot dead by armed officers after an incident near london bridge. police say the male suspect was wearing a hoax explosive device on his body — he died at the scene. a male suspect was shot by specialist armed officers from the city of london police, and i can confirm that the suspect died at the scene. officers were called to reports of a stabbing just before 2pm this afternoon. a number of people have been injured. the mayor of london has praised the public‘s response. what is remarkable about what we have seen is the breathtaking

heroism of the people who run towards the scene not knowing what would confront them. i will be reporting live from one of the police cordons close to london bridge. this is causing rush—hour chaos. urging people to keep away from the cord on. we will have the latest from there tonight.

good afternoon, welcome to the bbc news at 5pm. our main story: police have declared a major terrorist incident in central london, after a man was shot by armed officers attending an incident near london bridge. police say a male suspect died at the scene, and a hoax explosive device was found on his body. officers were called to reports of a stabbing just before 2pm. a number of people were injured and london ambulance service declared a major incident. this video was sent to us, which appears to show a member of the public wrestling with a man on the floor. armed police then move in, pull the civilian away — then shots were fired at the man. and this what we believe is the same incident from a different angle. the metropolitan police counter terrorism command is now leading the investigation. we begin tonight with the latest on

the afternoons events from caroline davies. around 2pm. films from the upper deck of a bus, several peoples appear to be pinning down a man. other people the police appeared to pull one man in jeans other people the police appeared to pull one man injeans away. moments later, the police fires at the man on the floor. one bbc reporter was on the floor. one bbc reporter was on the floor. one bbc reporter was on the bridge at the time. a number of shots were fired at this man. everybody has been told to move back. there are more shots going on. i can't see what is happening now because we have been moved out of the way. another witness was on a tower overlooking the bridge. we thought it was gunshots of firework works. a couple of minutes later i heard gunshots and people started to

run. office workers and tourists we re run. office workers and tourists were evacuated from the bridge while tourists and cars stayed caught in a backlog. lee speaking earlier confirmed that a number of people had been stabbed, and one man has been shut by the police. they declared it a terrorist incident. the prime minister thanked the police and emergency services for their response. jeremy corbyn also tweeted. the details of what happened on the bridge, the exact number of people injured and how seriously is not entirely clear as the investigation continues.

give us a sense of what you saw gordon. there was accordion. you could see all of the activity but i also spoke to an eyewitness who had seen also spoke to an eyewitness who had seen the shots being fired around nine minutes past two. he thought that he had seen the individual, he'd seena that he had seen the individual, he'd seen a knife, and then he had seen he'd seen a knife, and then he had seena he'd seen a knife, and then he had seen a large number of offices and shots being fired at the individual who has since died. we understanding from a statement by the police that i had those where city of london armed officers killing the person who is believed to be involved in that incident. what we saw as i think a very swift response by the police and emergency services. is this a sign that there is readiness and a plan of action for an event like this? line it looks like the

first called to the emergency services was a roundabout 2pm when it started. the witness i spoke to said the first shots were fired at about ten past two. click to the scene about ten past two. click to the scene and very decisive. it is the kind of event that they have. there was no intelligence in this. it came out of the blue and that sense as you can tell because the threat level is low a few weeks ago. and members of the public do seem to have been involved in restraining this member of the public. they were being pulled off by the police officers so the police officers could shoot. the reason why they we re could shoot. the reason why they were so could shoot. the reason why they were so keen to shoot rather than detain is because that person had what looked like an explosive vest on them. we have been told that it was fake, but that clearly alarmed police that there was that possibility. that is often when they will take a lethal shot against an

individual, if they think there is a threat to life to others. even the existence of that again, that speaks to the bravery of any individuals that got involved. that is why the mayor has been pointing that out. yes the heroism, and we have seen that from the picture we have seen. we do not know the extent of the casualties yet, but we know that some individuals have been injured. on the north side of the bridge, it looks as if the person must have come out and gone across the bridge. still waiting to hear more details about that. police and security services will likely be examining the body now trying to establish identity, trying to establish if they knew anything about him, links, connections, anybody out there who might be at large and might pose the ridges —— residual threats. might be at large and might pose the ridges -- residualthreats. in might be at large and might pose the ridges -- residual threats. in terms of the met saying that we are

declaring this terrorist incident but we are keeping an open mind, what does that mean? it looks like a terrorist incident and they have to treat it like that. that is what it means. the use of a fake explosive vest. it's one of the typical things we have seen in the past from attackers linked to the islamic state. of course, they cannot be sure of that until they identify the individual, and instilled till they fully understand it. they have to proceed within element of caution but... certainly, it looks like, as they've called it, a terrorist incident. thank you very much indeed. just to tell you that we are expecting a statement from boris johnson in the next few minutes. we will bring you that as and when we get it. but now we will go straight

to the scene itself and to my colleague who was there. there is controlled chaos around here close to london bridge at the moment, as you would imagine. we are right next to one of the police cordons, there are to one of the police cordons, there a re lots of to one of the police cordons, there are lots of them sealing off streets and roads, right around london bridge and the station is completely closed. we have been looking at the bridge on buses and coaches that we re bridge on buses and coaches that were on the bridge at the time and they are empty. the buildings are in lockdown. let's show you the same. as commuters tried to make their way home, they are all being filtered down little lanes. you can see them crowding down, and many are not quite sure which way to go to get home. they are heading for a cannon street station at the moment. still a huge amount of police activity at the moment. there are police cars

roaring up and down the roads, and there are police boats on the river and helicopters as well. the police are treating this as a terror —related incident at the moment, and this is a major incident. i'm talking now to john this is a major incident. i'm talking now tojohn mcmanus, a colleague and bbc reporter. he was in the area at the time. you saw it as it was unfolding. telus why you we re as it was unfolding. telus why you were here and what you are doing and what you saw. sometime after 2pm, i think it was about to —— ten past two this afternoon, i notice people running very quickly past me going in the opposite direction. i looked across the road to the western side of the bridge, and i saw what appeared to be a fight going on, and people around me thought it was a fight as well. there was some commotion around me and it appeared that there was a scrum of people jumping onto somebody on the other side of the bridge. i then realised

that there were armed police just in front of me, training their guns on this person who was on that side of the bridge. we were all told to clear off the bridge immediately, and as! clear off the bridge immediately, and as i was doing that two shots when i rang out. i didn't see them being fired or the impact, but after they were fired, that person who had been on that side of the bridge lay prone on that side of the bridge. we now know that he died at the scene. we were all cleared away from the bridge very quickly. there was some panic. as we were pushed away from the bridge, i had several, what appeared to be several more shots also ring out, but we were pushed very far back, hundreds of metres away from the bridge. quite a sudden incident, and seem to be open —— over very very quickly. the area was

closed down and police cordons everywhere. hundreds of people rushed away from the bridge and write the way through the city of london. what runs through your mind when you're hearing what i clearly shots and emits that panic and chaos? there were several people running past me. you thought are they running towards london bridge station and are they going to miss the train, and then you realise that something is going on. i thought it was just this fight, and then it turns into something much more serious. to see i think two police officers with their guns trained on somebody on the bridge was surreal. i don't remember feeling scared. somebody on the bridge was surreal. i don't rememberfeeling scared. i remember obeying the police orders immediately to get off the bridge as soon as immediately to get off the bridge as soon as possible. as did all the people around me. lots of tourist go to the tower bridge and —— to the

bridge to get views of tower bridge. i think you can see the dome of st paul's cathedral from there. there we re paul's cathedral from there. there were many tourist on the bridge as well who i suspect were very frightened and, like me, unclear about what was going on. the police seem about what was going on. the police seem to react very quickly to this. they seem to be there very quickly. i remember two police with their guns aimed at this person on the other side of the bridge. as we were pushed off the bridge, suddenly many more police arrived, there was silence everywhere. there were police on foot clearing us all away. i don't know what happened to initiate that response. we have seen the police report saying that they we re the police report saying that they were called at around tpm, to reports of stabbings. i don't recall any of that, but i recall what appeared to be a fight, which seem to be serious. and members of the public trying to get involved as

well. yet we have seen pictures of the police having to pull people off an attacker. extraordinary bravery, as it appears. there were somebody on my side of the bridge who jumped over the barrier and ran across the road to try to help out, but everybody quickly cleared away, from what i remember, when the police ordered everybody away from the bridge. thank you john. let's just show you the scene here close to london bridge. these commuters are trying to make their home, as we we re trying to make their home, as we were saying earlier on. as they do though, we have had a political reaction, borisjohnson though, we have had a political reaction, boris johnson has though, we have had a political reaction, borisjohnson has issued a statement, and pretty patel has said she is very concerned. jeremy corbyn has said she —— he is shocked by

what has happened. a number of casualties, as we understand as many as five people with stab wounds, describing it as a horrendous attack and must stay resolute in the face of terror. around the bridge, memories are very raw of terror. around the bridge, memories are very raw of the attack two years ago, june 20 217, of that horrific attack. that is the news close to london bridge. back to you, jane. just in the last hour or so, we did have a statement from the metropolitan police. we heard from assista nt metropolitan police. we heard from assistant commissioner neil basson who updated journalists at scotland ya rd who updated journalists at scotland yard about the police operation this afternoon. let's hear some of what

he had to say. i can confirm that at approximately tpm, today, police appeared at and stabbing on the premises near to london bridge. the emergency services attendant, including offices from the metropolitan police. a male suspect was shot by officers from the city of london police and i can confirm that the suspect died at the scene. an... as soon as we can provide updates on their condition, we will. our hearts go out to everybody who has been involved in this and are anxious to wait for news of their loved ones. as soon as we have information, we will get it to you. as you would expect, due to the nature of the incident, we respond as though this was terrorist related. i can now confirm that it has been declared a terrorist incident. wejoin with

has been declared a terrorist incident. we join with their city of london police as we continue to respond. i must stress that we retain an open mind as to any motive and it would be inappropriate to speculate further at this time. due to reports that the suspect may have had an explosive device, specialist officers also attended the scene and wide cordons are also in place to ensure that there is no danger to the public. however, i can confirm at this time, we can that the device strapped to the body of the suspect was a host —— hoax device. we continue to carry out searches of the area to ensure there is no outstanding threat to the public. i would ask the public to please continue to avoid the area. the public safety —— safety is obviously our public safety —— safety is obviously our top priority. we will be enhancing police controls in the city and across london. i would ask

any buddy with information, image or information connected with the incident that mac i would also ask the public to continue to remain vigilant and report any concerns that they have to the police. i would ordinarily take questions but iam not would ordinarily take questions but i am not going to take questions at this time. the prime minister has asked for a personal briefing and i will be heading there immediately. we will update you when we can. that was assistant commissioner of the police. several key strands to what he was saying there, sarah, including that the fact that the suspect appears to have been wearing a hoax explosive device. he finished that press conference saying he was

going to give the prime minister a briefing. i can tell you he hasjust walked back to scotland yard. let's just go through the main points of what he said. the police were called at tpm this afternoon. as you say, a male suspect was shot dead by city of london armed police. he was wearing a hoax suicide vest, discovered after he was shut, but as you say, this would have been after he had been tackled very bravely by members of the public. it has been declared a terrorist incident and counterterrorist officers are now leading the investigation. we do know that a number of other people have been injured. in the last hour, london's mayor gave a statement here at scotland yard. he confirmed that some had been seriously injured. he stressed that there was a need for privacy at the moment for those

people who have been injured, for those families. presumably the emergency services are trying to get hold of those families and tell them what has happened. the mayor says that his heart goes out to them. let's go to his statement. he said i wa nt to let's go to his statement. he said i want to thank our brave emergency services who responded to today's attack. everyday they put their on the line going towards danger to protect us. statements this afternoon from the metropolitan police, the london mayor, clearly lots of people wanting more information and policing they will give that out when they were able to. over the course of the afternoon, as we look at the scene at london bridge tonight, everything

cordoned off, normally on a friday night at rush hour everything would be extraordinarily busy. you can see from that last angle just how quiet it is. of course, everybody is trying to get home from work as well at this time on a friday night. if you don't know it, london bridge is very much overlooked and surrounded. you get a sense there of an awful lot of office blocks as well as shops and restaurants. many people able to see what was happening from their offices. shang griffiths who is the education officer from... she told us what she was able to see from the windows of her office. i am on “— from the windows of her office. i am on -- i'm on the ninth floor the building. we do werejust on -- i'm on the ninth floor the building. we do were just told we went into lockdown. we have a view

over the bridge. we could see no people on the bridge no pedestrians. there were about eight red buses halted in the bus lanes. there were four or five halted in the bus lanes. there were four orfive or six police halted in the bus lanes. there were four or five or six police cars with lights flashing, along the bridge. larry set right angles across the bridge across the three lanes. a lot of police people walking around. you said you were up on the ninth floor. did you hear anything?” said you were up on the ninth floor. did you hear anything? i didn't, but somebody else who works with us, who has now come back. she was outside and heard gunshots. and people started running. she came back. she said she heard about for gunshots before she came back in. for people

who live in london, they will be well aware of london bridge, but perhaps the people who don't, and you work there, can you give us a sense of how busy it is? it is really, really busy. of course there was another serious terrorist attack not so long ago. it was like a sort of balustrade along the bridge so that people couldn't drive on the road. but it is constantly busy. buses, cars, bicycles. it is one of the busiest bridges in london, and at the moment there are no pedestrians or cars. everything is halted. right back as you are looking out of the window, can you

see police around somebody lying on the ground ? see police around somebody lying on the ground? i amjust see police around somebody lying on the ground? i am just wondering if you can see anything that suggests the incident is over or if it is potentially carrying on?|j the incident is over or if it is potentially carrying on? i can't see anything from where i am. i can see groups of police entering the bridge in between two police vans. there are probably around 15 police standing at the south end of the bridge. there are police now running up bridge. there are police now running up the bridge. two police are running up to the bridge. they look like they're going to one of the ca rs like they're going to one of the cars parked on the bridge. like i say, it was only about five minutes into this building into lockdown. clearly they are trying to keep people away from the bridge. lets

get the latest from my correspondent andy moore. let's take a moment to reflect on the human impact here. we had very strong comments from the mayor of london talking about peoples bravery. explain what he was talking about there. he talked about the worst of humanity, a single knifeman. and he talked about the best of humanity, the passers—by who tackled that knifeman. and the police who went into danger and shot him. it is amazing that a number of men attacked the knifeman. i have heard reports of some of them using sticks or fire extinguishers. we saw images of one gentleman in the suit carrying a knife away from the scene. carrying a knife away from the scene. we know a number of people we re scene. we know a number of people were injured, and the mayor told us

for the first time that we know that some of them are seriously injured. we have an eyewitness who says that those people who tackled the knifeman was wounded but he was walking wounded. i have seen a woman carried away on a makeshift stretcher. i've seen images of people surrounding a man administering cpr. the police declared it a major incident, and this sense ambulance crews and first response teams within seven minutes. they also say that an advanced trauma team from air ambulance was dispatched by air, and they are obviously working closely with members of the emergency services. right back when we watch these images, and when we see people who we re images, and when we see people who were watching them in the last couple of hours, there is something

still staggering watching it, that ona human still staggering watching it, that on a human level, you cannot get over what appears to be an extraordinarily brave act. that is what is so remarkable. yes, just retreating out of shot a few seconds ago... we arejust retreating out of shot a few seconds ago... we are just about as he it again. in the background it is what is described as a fight by our correspondent on the scene. a number of men having on the ground. they don't know whether he has an explosive vest and whether it is fa ke explosive vest and whether it is fake or not. on the left—hand side, you can see a man, and he is the one carrying the knife away from the scene. carrying the knife away from the scene. you can carrying the knife away from the scene. you can see carrying the knife away from the scene. you can see him now on the left—hand side with the knife in in the right hand. there is another knife left at the scene. extraordinary heroism, breathtaking heroism from members of the public,

before it seems the armed police arrived on the scene. we know from the police that the incident actually started at 158. it was at another location. they talk about premises near london bridge. this is where it ends about ten or 12 minutes later. we don't know what happened in the intervening time, but we heard one witness says she saw people come out of a building with injuries before these injuries here that we see now. as you suggest, there is clearly a lot of information that we don't know. i know you will stay with us for now. thank you very much. it is worth just hearing some of that statement that the mayor of london made within the last hour. as we know he has been playing service to the emergence see services and those that licked risk their lives this afternoon. what is remarkable about

the images that we have seen is the breathtaking heroism of members of the public who literally ran towards danger, not knowing what confronted them. we do know that there appears to have been a device on the suspect. members of the public didn't realise at the time that that was a hoax. they really are an example of the bravery and heroism of ordinary londoners running towards dangers —— danger. i want to say thank you for them because it shows the best of us. let's return to the scene. my colleague ben brown is there. we are at one of the police cordons. there are a lot of police cordons. there are a lot of police cordons. there are a lot of police cordons around here. it is causing, as you would imagine, chaos at rush hour here in the city of

london. you can see people trying to get home, past the police lines and get home, past the police lines and get to cannon street and this kind of attack we have had the westminster bridge attack, the london bridge attack rate herejust two years ago injune 2017, when eight people lost their lives after those three attackers drove the van at speed over london bridge and carried out that attack. i suppose what happened here today really rekindled those very raw memories of that attack just a couple of years ago. but as we have been hearing, there has been extraordinary bravery by passersby, who witnessed what happened. other people completely shocked by what they saw, and what they heard, when they heard those gunshots. and we have been hearing from one eyewitness, noah, who actually took sanctuary in a nearby restau ra nt. there is a rush of people coming in,

and then everybody basically dove under the tables. we were told to keep away from the windows, people who came from the outside were saying that shots were fired. at that point, obviously, we didn't know if it was police firing or somebody else. we were then advised by the staff, the manager here, jordan, who very bravely ran and shut the doors and made sure everything is locked, so nobody could come in. to move away from the front of the restaurants, which is literally sat on the bridge to the back here. and everybody seems to be calm and in good spirits back here, just looking for more information on the phones, and getting some water and any, basically a people are just asking if people are ok, and if anything is needed. and the police have been into the restaurant and told people to stay put? nobody, no police have come into the restaurant that i've seen so far, but i think they might have contacted the restau ra nt

they might have contacted the restaurant either by phone or in some way turning us to stay in until further notice, and there seems to be some sort of commotion happening right now on the station side i'm not sure what that is. the police are present. you say a commotion, can you give us any further details, what can you see noa? we just saw a couple of people running past, which police are telling people to stay away, people coming from the station. the cars just came onto the bridge, so, iassume station. the cars just came onto the bridge, so, i assume it's police. how many people are there in the restau ra nt how many people are there in the restaurant with you, would you estimate? i guess around maybe seven people. quite a large number than. yum exar, can you repeat that, people are saying to move away from

the windows again. quite a large number there, and as the mood fairly calm? it is, it is rather calm, yes. imean, calm? it is, it is rather calm, yes. i mean, some people seem a bit distressed, but they are being looked after by friends or staff, and the rest of them are just trying to stay close and keep calm. yes, just remind us, again, what it is that people said to you who rushed into the restaurant after the incident unfolded. they basically went to get under the tables, shots have been fired. we have heard gunshots. and they ran in because the restaurant was actually on the bridge is a two? it's on the bridge, yeah, so they ran in and the staff here went to the door and shut it and locked it. so that was noa there, an eyewitness talking about her experience of what happened. well, just here, you can see people trying to get home, scenes of chaos,

it has to be said. but londoners here are pretty, and pretty phlegmatic after what's happened here. shocking events in the capital, and this news that a man has been shot dead by armed police, and as several other people have been injured. well, there is huge police activity still this evening, british transport police are saying they are going to increase the number of officers they have on duty in the capital over the weekend, including firearms officers, but we are seeing police cars racing up and down the roads around here, police boats on the river times, and helicopters as well. so a lot of activity after what's happened here this afternoon. jane, back to you. you will make ben, thank you very much. and brown there at the scene. welcome if you are justjoining much. and brown there at the scene. welcome if you arejustjoining us here in bbc news. we are bringing you continuing coverage of events at london bridge in the centre of the capital here tonight. welcome if you arejust capital here tonight. welcome if you are just joining capital here tonight. welcome if you arejustjoining us. i'm

capital here tonight. welcome if you are justjoining us. i'm jane capital here tonight. welcome if you arejustjoining us. i'mjane hale, let's just give you a recap of everything we know about events so far in the last three hours. police have declared a major incident after a man was shot by london officers attending the london bridge. a male suspect died at the scene, and a hoax explosive does device was on his body. officers we re device was on his body. officers were called to reports of a stabbing a little bit before two o'clock in the afternoon. a number of people have been injured. the mayor of london has praised the public‘s response. well, this video was sent to us, which appears to show members of the public wrestling with a man on the floor. armed police then move in, pull up the civilian away and shots were fired at the man. the metropolitan police counterterrorism command is

now leading the investigation. so, we are still waiting i should say for a statement from the prime minister, borisjohnson. for a statement from the prime minister, boris johnson. we for a statement from the prime minister, borisjohnson. we were led to believe that we were going to have comments from him, so we will bring those to you as and when we get them. but let's, of course, very much stay with the story here tonight, and i'm joined much stay with the story here tonight, and i'mjoined in the studio by chris phillips, a former senior police officer, with experience in counterterrorism. we appreciate your time tonight, chris phillips, thanks very much for being with us. the assumption of terrorism that kneel from of the metropolitan police talked about, he said this is declared a terrorist incident, but we keep an open mind. now, you can, with your experience, unpick for us exactly what that means, what police are saying there. yes, i thank you always have to keep an open mind, whenever you get an incident like this. however, anybody thatis incident like this. however, anybody that is stabbing people and has gotten a suicide or pretend suicide vest around them is always going to

be terrorism is always going to be at the top of the list of things to do, what that does, it allows the police to bring in extra counterterrorism officers in order to deal with it. and therefore, right now, what are the police priorities? the priorities are making sure that this person is in fa ct a making sure that this person is in fact a lone wolf, a lone actor, if you want. they would want to find out exactly who he is. where he comes from. what is history is. and what he's been doing, and who he has been communicating with because of course, we are taking this as a one—off, one person, but we don't know that yet, and that's what investigators will be trying to out. and there is never a good time, but this is, i mean i'm curious from your perspective, what you make of the timing that we are in the middle ofa the timing that we are in the middle of a general election campaign in this country with you, in your expense, is not relevant? it is releva nt, expense, is not relevant? it is relevant, amongst other things, actually, we have had people, leaders of isis has been killed recently, but also, we have seen the threat level go down in this country. and that doesn't necessarily mean too much, because

of course, if this is an individual that's gone on and done this on his own with no other back—up, than he could easily do that without any police knowing anything about it. so, it is one of those things, if thatis so, it is one of those things, if that is the case, if this is a lone actor that's decided to go into this on his own, very difficult for the police ever stop that. by the same token, in terms of that loan wolf issue, the difficulty for the police, the anxiety must be presumably, without wanting to be alarmist in any way, is they are looking around the rest of the capital, presumably, they are looking at other big urban areas up and down the country to see whether anything else is planned. i mean, thatis anything else is planned. i mean, that is the unknown quantity. very much so. and this is one of the issues, you know, we have had people coming back from syria now, we have got a lot of people that have come back, we've got a lot of people who have come out of prison who already are known terrorists, and the police about thousands of people to watch. so, any individual amongst that could go and do this. i think what we have seen, and what i think is

worthy of note here, though, is that the members of the public where holding on to someone who was potentially carrying and —— strapped with a bomb around his stomach, so, you know, whilst the police and the government put out the run and hide tailpiece, if members of the public also get involved, then that lives will have been saved. i am in no doubt that that's the case today. and if the police officers, when they saw what they saw, immediately dispatched them, then that tells you the potential danger there was for members of the public. yes, and i'm struck that you mentioned that, actually, because we keep coming back to that point here. in our own coverage, people watching some of the footage we have seen of members of the public just the footage we have seen of members of the publicjust out the footage we have seen of members of the public just out and the footage we have seen of members of the publicjust out and about, trying to tackle someone. it is extraordinary. it is so brave. i know there's so much we still don't know. but what we see, it is so brave. and that is just remarkable. it is remarkable. and people will do it without necessarily thinking

about the consequences. but, of course, you know, the chap that i saw was actually struggling with this guy on the ground, and he must have been able to see these things that were strapped around the man, so that were strapped around the man, so incredibly brave, thank goodness people are willing to step forward at times like that. of course, it could've been so much worse if it had have been an explosive. all right, chris, —— chris phillips, we appreciate your times, thank you for bringing us your expertise in it, an expert in counterterrorism issues, thank you very much indeed for being with us. you are watching bbc news, we are continuing our coverage of course after the police in london declared a terrorist incident after a man has been shot dead on london bridge in central london. the incident began, police were called a little bit before two o'clock in the afternoon, local time. little bit before two o'clock in the afternoon, localtime. so, a little bit before two o'clock in the afternoon, local time. so, a busy friday afternoon, and the whole area around london bridge, which is a major transport hub, is still

cordoned off, and the police are urging people to avoid the area. we also know we should say that a number of people have sustained injuries, and that's one of the elements of this that we are waiting to hear more about, because reg retta bly, to hear more about, because regrettably, the mayor of london sadiq khan was saying that some of the injuries he has been told are serious. that is as much as we know at this stage, but we do know, sadly, that some people, it appears or badly injured, but we don't have any numbers on that. so, there is still a great deal of information to come through, but crucially, the metropolitan police are saying that a male suspect was shot dead at the scene, and a hoax explosive device, is the metropolitan police called it, was on the body. we are expecting to hear from the prime minister shortly with his first comments on this incident. let's hear a little though, first of all, from someone else who was near the scene from someone else who was near the scene when all of this began, as we

say come around about two o'clock in the afternoon, local time. say come around about two o'clock in the afternoon, localtime. let's hear from this eyewitness, kristen jones. actually, i was walking onto the bridge from the north side, walking towards monument station, and there was a police man hurtling down the road coming in the city of london police sprinting and shouting, and we thought, oh, perhaps someone's been hit by a car. as we got further towards the station and onto the bridge, people were starting to run, there were quite a lot of panic, and then we heard about 2—4 very loud gunshots, that's when the police started really screaming at people to get off the bridge and really run and try and get into the safest and nearest building security. so, police were starting a people, tell usa police were starting a people, tell us a bit more about what they were saying to him and what the general mood of people was, and how they reacted ? mood of people was, and how they reacted? it was panic. really. people were very panicked, of course, you've got to remember most people around here are tourists. you know, the lunchtime rush is over, i

was lucky enough to have a bit of a later lunch today, and i regret having that now, but it was very panicked. the police wherejust really screaming at people, run, run, run. there wasn't much more than that, just keep safe, run. and what did you do? apart from it, i assume, run. what did you do? apart from it, i assume, run. yes, i was what did you do? apart from it, i assume, run. yes, iwas with what did you do? apart from it, i assume, run. yes, i was with one of my work colleagues, and we just grab each other‘s hands and ran to the nearest building. and where was that? the sky garden. writes, and is that... we ran straight down the street. we make of that is where you are at the moment, is it? we are now out of the building, but we have been advised not to go anywhere south of that road which was church street. so we are now with a lot of members of the public around the markets, which we believe is to be safe. and there is a lot of police cordons around those streets. yeah, i mean, iwas going to say, we know that the underground stations are closed, the bridge is closed, clearly. the cordoned from

what time simons and john, or correspondence or telling us, is very wide. so, are people tending to stay put? or are they trying to get out of the centre of town?|j stay put? or are they trying to get out of the centre of town? i think those with less understanding, who perhaps haven't been towards london bridge are trying to go back that way, or are trying to question police to say, what's going on? can we get that way? but, of course, they are being ushered in the opposite direction. those of us with an understanding are staying put, or staying north and following that advice to stay away. i hesitate to say, but it must have been, and indeed, must still be very frightening. what was going through your mind? yes, well, i suppose it's a shock. isn't it? you know, i live and work in london. but there are a lot of potentially scary situations that happen, that then turn out to bea that happen, that then turn out to be a false alarm or something like

that. so, initially, ithought, the best, and thought perhaps it was just an accident. and then it was only when the police started to shout that, yes, we got very shaky, and we ran away. yes, i'm sure. and i presume that where you are in the vicinity, i mean, how many police and emergency services can you still see? we are on a side street at the moment, so there are no police in our moment, so there are no police in our direct moment, so there are no police in ourdirectarea, moment, so there are no police in our direct area, but there are an awful lot of sirens going on. i was on the corner by church street, and they have been clearing the roads repeatedly for a number of ambulances to go up and down, which is just very frightening. you wonder how many people have been hurt. kirstenjones, who was near the scene, speaking to the bbc a couple of hours ago. now, we can hear the latest comments from the prime minister, let's just latest comments from the prime minister, let'sjust hearfrom boris johnson who's been speaking in downing street.

your response, if i could come up her minister cometh to the incident at london bridge? well, i'vejust been briefed by the commissioner and the assistant commissioner over the metropolitan police about the events at london bridge this afternoon. and while this is an ongoing investigation, the police can confirm that this was a terrorist incident. and clearly, my thoughts, first, my thoughts are first with the emergency services, with the police, the bravery that they showed in going towards danger as they do. i also want to pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery of those members of the public who physically intervened to protect the lives of others. for me, they represent the very best of our country, and i think them on behalf of all of our country. i think we are all very saddened also to learn that some

people have been injured in this event, and some of are very much with them, and with their loved ones. clearly, the metropolitan police are continuing their investigations, and i can assure you, and assure investigations, and i can assure you, and assure everyone investigations, and i can assure you, and assure everyone that anybody involved in this crime and these attacks will be hunted down and will be brought to justice. these attacks will be hunted down and will be brought tojustice. and i think the message that we send to them and anybody associated with this type of attack is one that will be familiar, and that is that this country will never be covered or divided by the sort of attack, and our values, our british values will prevail. her minister, have you learned more from your briefings with senior officers about the suspects, and the background to this incident —— pray minister, whether or not you are able to share that with us now? well, there is a

certain event that the police are able to share with us at the moment, but it is not entirely clear, and they are not at a stage where it's possible to go public, but what i can say is that here in number ten, we will continue to be having meetings and consultations, as the evening goes on. is that your understanding that the immediate danger following from this incident has passed with the killing of the suspect? well, to the best of our knowledge, the incident has been contained. but, you know, i pay tribute from again, to the work of the police and the emergency services and what they've done. but, i would urge everybody, of course, to be vigilant, and one cannot help but think back to what happened in 2017, in the same part of the city. and i hope very much that people will be able to come as fast as possible, to go about their normal

business. and just finally, this happened of course in the middle of a general election campaign. will campaigning company until you continue as normal? well, i've obviously stopped my campaigning for this evening, but will be removing the neck reviewing the matter in the course of a few hours. prime minster, thank you. are ministers borisjohnson minster, thank you. are ministers boris johnson speaking to john pienaar there. paying tribute to the bravery of people who intervened on london bridge come into the emergency services for their swift response, and just at the end there, as he heard, the pray minister saying he has stopped campaigning for this evening, and will reconsider over the next few hours. we are less than two weeks from a general election, of course. let's also assess where we are tonight and what we know so far with our news correspondent, andy moore, who's been with me, and following all of this over the last few hours. it's fairto this over the last few hours. it's fair to say, this over the last few hours. it's fairto say, i this over the last few hours. it's fair to say, i think, andy, this over the last few hours. it's fair to say, ithink, andy, there this over the last few hours. it's fair to say, i think, andy, there is a certain amount we don't know about, the timescale here. we keep saying them at police responded

around about two o'clock in the afternoon, but there is still lots of elements of this that are not clear. yes, i mean, all of the video we are seeing is from the end of the incident. which happened at about ten past two p:m., but we know from the police, that the incident started at 1:58pm in the premises, they are not more specific than that, in premises to the north of london bridge. we have heard from eyewitnesses who talked about injured people coming out of a building on the north side of the bridge. we still don't know what that building is. there were some reports that an underground station, possibly monument station that members of staff had been attacked there. i haven't heard any more about reports since. but, yes, we still don't know how the incident started and progressed. but the fact that it started sometime before the pictures that we can see explains why police officers were on the scene why police officers were on the scene apparently so quickly, because they had been called in advance.

perhaps, also, ishould they had been called in advance. perhaps, also, i should talk little bit about the white truck, the lorry that was seen across the bridge. it was surrounded by police officers, there were reports that police officers had shot at that vehicle, i think those reports were inaccurate. they were hearing people were hearing the shots from the other end of the bridge, but these images we are seeing at the moment are of those incredibly brave people, who intervened. one of them retreats with a knife, taking the knife away from the suspect. but going back to that truck, it doesn't appear to be linked to this incident now in any way, you can imagine with a vehicle that's jackknifed across the bridge police are aware of a possible terrorist incident. they would be suspicious of that, and they would surround it. but it doesn't seem to be linked to the man who we see being tackled by members of the public. andy, thank you very much for now. any more. now, i believe we

can speak to will come of the security and counterterrorism experts, whojoins me tonight security and counterterrorism experts, who joins me tonight via webcam. well, thank you for your time this evening. from everything we have been hearing, from the timeline that we are just outlining there, what is your take on events in the last few hours in central london? well, there is an awful lot to take from this. on both of the profile of the individual, that carried out this attack, from the information that we know so far, and inevitably, the authorities are going to respond in as wider approach they can, because the concern always will be of simultaneous attacks, as we have seen simultaneous attacks, as we have seen historically, occurring in different locations. but i think what it does show is that the authorities are incredibly well rehearsed in terms of their reaction and response to this incident. but, this individual, again, has injured members of the general public, as of yet, we have yet to ascertain what injuries they have actually

sustained. yes, and what are the priorities for the police and for counterterrorism officers in terms of establishing whether this person was a lone wolf were establishing whether there's any networks, where do they go now in that sense? well, i say what they would generally do in the wake of these types of attacks, whether the individual, the perpetrator is alive or not, as they are in this case, they will inevitably, research very forensically through all their belongings, and that is notjust their digital devices, in terms of their digital devices, in terms of their phones and the footprint that they may have left, their communications, the networks that they may have been talking with, and how potentially they may have been radicalised. whether they are part ofa largergroup, radicalised. whether they are part of a larger group, but also, radicalised. whether they are part ofa larger group, but also, in terms of their origins. where are they from? who have they socialised with? there will be a real treasure trove of intelligence the authorities will need to go through in the next few days, if not next

few weeks, that will contribute to that ever—growing tapestry orjigsaw if you like of counterterrorism, which is finding those incremental pieces, putting them together, and seeing how the dots are joining. many thanks for your time this evening. thanks for being with us, and let's just return to the scene, and let's just return to the scene, and go back to ben. yeah, jane, as we have been hearing really this evening, there has been huge praise for those londoners who intervened, it appears to overwhelm the attacker, and that the police actually pulled members of the public off the attacker, so that they could shoot him. extra neri scenes there on the london bridge. and really, for those people now who are filing on from the city of london, rush—hour commuters, trying to make their way past the various police cordons, that of course have caused gas here in the city this evening. there is, i think, caused gas here in the city this evening. there is, ithink, it's fairto evening. there is, ithink, it's fair to say, evening. there is, ithink, it's fairto say, a evening. there is, ithink, it's fair to say, a mood of calm. the

threat level, the terror threat level was reduced, only at the beginning of this month from severe to substantial. but londoners have become use to terror alerts, terror attacks as well. we have the attack here a couple of years ago at london bridge, in which a people died, the westminster bridge attack as well. people are, i think it's fair to say, reasonably phlegmatic as well as the moment. but there is still huge police activity at the moment, a vast area around london bridge is locked down, and cordoned off. a major police investigation under way this evening. many thanks, ben brown there at the scene in london bridge. well, we will of course bring you continuing coverage of events in central london today here, a busy friday afternoon, the run—up to christmas, it's black friday, and we are in the middle of general election campaign. and police are saying come in the last couple of hours, that they have declared a major terrorist incident. one man

has been shot dead by the police. other people have been injured and huge praise for the bravery of members of the public. you are watching bbc news. good evening. it's been much drier today. there's been a good deal of sunshine, but under the starry skies now, temperatures are already falling away. so we are in for drier weather for the weekend, yes, but some very cold nights and with a risk of fog. so there are warnings, the warnings on the website. let's look at where we found the showers through the day. mainly northern and eastern areas, still if you in the south and west. so, where the services are damp, with temperatures already getting to below freezing in places, it does mean that the ice risk is quite high, but for many of us, for the stuff, particularly for england and wales, we are going to see more missed developing and thickening up to fog. dense fog by morning. so it does look as though the frost will be more widespread than last night, because temperatures will be a couple of degrees lower, again, that means the frost will be harder as

well. as you can see, it's much further south. now, that means that tomorrow morning, as well as being cold and freezing, we could have some fog. so some freezing fog, really quite treacherous for road users. it looks as though it will be crossing england and wales, don't ta ke crossing england and wales, don't take this as the defined areas apart, but it gives you the idea of how widespread we are expecting that fog to be. visibility down to 50 metres in some places. the wind strengthening in the south will tend to lift into low cloud, but in some areas, perhaps the midlands, it could stay fog for much of the day, so could stay fog for much of the day, so it will feel very cold, and of course with a strengthening wind, cloud for the supplement will feel quite real here as well. for others though, it is dry, we will see some sunshine, he won't be particularly warm, but if you are charged to the east coast, they will still continue across the north of scotland. as i say, through the day, we have this increasing clock coming into the south and west, perhaps patchy drizzle here, you possibly stretching up into the south of wales. that east wind makes it feel quite welcome and at night it will slip its lease rates and bring in a few showers across other eastern

parts of england, but then through sunday, it moves away and the high pressure reestablishes itself again. so, by then, the showers mostly northern and eastern areas, perhaps a few more for eastern england, and perhaps east anglia on the southeast, all that keen wind making it feel cold. elsewhere, northern ireland, so that's coming from a northern england, real risk of fog again commander widespread frost away from the are self commander will feel cold again by day. we keep this settled and cold weather has been going to the start of next week, temperatures well below average, but at this stage, no sign of any appreciable rain at that stage. the warnings on website.

a man is shot dead by police on london bridge. a number of people have been stabbed — some seriously injured. police say it was a terror attack. eyewitnesses captured the moment members of the public stepped in and wrestled with a man carrying a knife, putting him to the ground. armed police arrived on london bridge within minutes and shot him. they say he was wearing a hoax device strapped to his body. he died at the scene. once you see everybody rushing and scattering you really fear for your own safety and i think the major thing was just to get out of the way up then get down. and then you just feel very scared, very anxious about what's happening. it's not clear how many people have been hurt. the prime minister praised the passers—by who intervened to stop the man. praised the passers—by who intervened to stop the manlj praised the passers—by who intervened to stop the man. i want to pay tribute to the extraordinary

bravery of those members of the public who physically intervened to protect the lives of others, and for me, they represent the very best of our me, they represent the very best of our country. the area has been com pletely our country. the area has been completely cordoned off tonight. police say there is no further danger to the public. we will have the latest from the scene. also tonight... up to a500 jobs are to go at energy giant npower. thousands of students across the world walk out of school, as part of a global climate strike. and on black friday, we go behind the scenes at an online store, racing to keep up with shoppers' demands. and in the sport on bbc news, another maanger sacked in the premier league. arsenal get rid of unai emery after 18 months in charge.

good evening. a man has been shot dead by police on london bridge after a number of people were stabbed this afternon — some are seriously injured. police now say it was a terror attack. no more details are being given yet about how many police say they were called to an incident at a premises near london bridge amid reports of a stabbing. shortly afterwards eyewitnesses filmed members of the public as they cornered a man carrying a knife on the north side of the bridge and pinned him to the ground. armed police arrived within minutes and shot him. he was wearing a device — which turned out to be fake. the man died at the scene. tonight, passersby who stepped in have been praised for their bravery and their breathtaking heroism. our home affairs correspondent

daniel sandford is at the scene. this key section of london is on lockdown tonight. london bridge is closed, all the nearby offices are being evacuated. police have declared a terrorist incident. there appears to be blood smeared on the front of fishmongers hall, one of the ancient city livery companies. because once again there has been a knife attack, a man wearing a hoax bomb, and once again people have had to shoot him dead. my report contains some distressing details and pictures. it was a crisp, winter afternoon in the city of london, just before 2pm. when suddenly, there was a panic. passengers on a bus saw armed officers pointing their weapons. then an officer goes forward. he has a knife. there was a struggle from

which one man broke free carrying a knife and telling people to leave. another man is pulled away from the melee, and the police open fire. gunfire 0h gunfire oh my god. the next thing i knew, he was lying on the floor and there we re two was lying on the floor and there were two loud pops. when he was lying on the floor after the pops he sort of pulled his jacket lying on the floor after the pops he sort of pulled hisjacket back lying on the floor after the pops he sort of pulled his jacket back and you could see underneath that there was some sort of vest, with a stab vest or explosive vest. at that point the police officers are really backed away. of course i was really scared at this point because we were about as close as the police office rs about as close as the police officers in our bus. that was scary. it was really difficult because i think once you see everybody rushing and scattering you really fear for your own safety and i think the major thing wasjust to your own safety and i think the major thing was just to get out of the way and get down and then you just feel very scared and anxious about what is happening. move away.

keep moving. out of the and a that first i also want to pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery of the members of the public who physically intervened to protect the lives of others, and for me, they represent the very best of our country, and i thank them in behalf of all of our country. i think we are all very saddened also to learn that some people who have been injured in this event, and our sympathies are very much with them. clearly the metropolitan police are continuing their investigations, and ican continuing their investigations, and i can assure you and everyone that anybody involved in this crime and

in these attacks will be hunted down and will be brought to justice, and i think the message that we send to them and anyone associated with this type of attack is one that will be familiar. that is that this country will never be cowed or divided or intimidated by this sort of attack, and our values, our british values will prevail. prime minister, have you learnt from your briefings with senior officers about the suspect and the background to this incident and the background to this incident and whether or not you are able to share that with us now. there is a certain amount that the police are able to share with us at the moment, but it is not yet entirely clear, and they are not yet at the stage of going public. what is clear is that here we will continue to have meetings and consultations as the evening goes on. the immediate

danger following this incident has passed following the death of the suspects, has it? the immediate threat has been curtailed, but i pay tribute again to the work of the police and emergency services and what they have done. but i would urge everybody, of course, to be vigilant. and one cannot help but think back to what happened in 2017 in the same part of the city, and i hope very much that people will be able, as fast as possible, to go about their normal business. this happened in the middle of an election campaign. will campaigning continue. obviously i have stopped my campaigning for the evening, but we will be reviewing the matter. right back let's take you life to the scene now

scene now and scene now and see scene now and see what is happening. it is just past six o'clock this evening. you can see people milling around. it is basically the heart of london. it takes many workers in and out of the capital every day. it is also black friday so big shopping and tourism day in the capital as well. the police are still present in the area, and i have heard that trains in and out of london bridge are still not running, while the investigation in the area is ongoing. let's hear more now from the head of counterterrorism policing. i can confirm that at approximately 2pm today, police were called to date to a stabbing on a bridge near to london bridge. city

of london police and the metropolitan police. a male suspect was shot by members of the city of london and police and i can confirm that the suspect died at the scene. a number of other people enjoyed injuries that this incident, and as soon as injuries that this incident, and as soon as i can give information i will. our hearts go out to anybody who has been involved in this, and assumes we have the information we will get it to you. as you would expect, due to the nature of the incident, we responded as though this was terrorist related. i am now ina this was terrorist related. i am now in a position to confirm that it has been declared a terrorist incident. officers from the met counterterrorism command are now leading this investigation, but i must stress that we retain an open mind as to any motive. it would be inappropriate to speculate any further at this time. due to reports

that the suspect may have had the explosive device, officers also attended the scene and wide cordons are also in place to ensure that no danger is posed to the public. i confirm that the device strapped to the body of the suspect is a hoax device. officers continue to carry out searches in the area to ensure there is no outstanding threat to there is no outstanding threat to the public. those cordons will remain in place for a considerable time and! remain in place for a considerable time and i would ask the public to please avoid the area. public safety is our top priority. we will be enhancing police patrols in the city and across london. i would ask anybody with information, image or footage of the incident that can be shared with our investigation team to do so on their website. i would also ask the public to continue to remain vigilant and report any

concerns that they have to the police. lets hear from our correspondent, andy moore who has been following developments. andy, you have been following developments throughout the day. give me a summary of what we know so far. we know it is now being treated as a terrorist incident. one person has been shot and killed. that person injured a number of other people. we don't know the number of people injured nor the extent of their injuries, in an incident that started in premises near london bridge at about two o'clock. we have seen bridge at about two o'clock. we have seen extraordinary images of members of the public trying to fight and disarm that suspected terrorist. we know that the incident is contained. it is not going as far as we are aware, it was a single suspect. you hear about the time between when the call was made to police and when we

see that footage of the suspect being tackled, and then subsequently shut. what do we know about that interim period between those two events. we are trying to piece that together. that video imagery is all of the end of the incident. we don't know what preceded it. those videos are timed at about 2:10 pm. the incident was recorded at 158 and they have told us that it started in premises. they can't be any more specific than that. there have been some reports that there it may have beenin some reports that there it may have been ina some reports that there it may have been in a tube station or a fishmonger‘s hall where there was a meeting going on. wejust don't know at the moment. we have heard from eyewitnesses about injured people emerging from a building on the north side of the bridge, and this was before the scenes that we are now seeing of members of the public intervening and of —— disarming the

knife in. these are extraordinary scenes. we don't know if people at this stage new about the device and whether it was a hoax or not. one of the people dressed in a suit retreated from the scene with a knife in his hand full of. he was obviously taking the knife away from the suspect. there are images of another knife at the scene. we don't know about the numbers injured. we heard from the mayor that seriously injured. we've seen images of a woman being taken away on a makeshift stretcher. other images of someone makeshift stretcher. other images of someone getting very serious medical attention at the scene. there are certainly fears about the extent of the injuries. i'm just certainly fears about the extent of the injuries. i'mjust looking certainly fears about the extent of the injuries. i'm just looking at the injuries. i'm just looking at the images of the man being tackled on the ground. the mayor of london talked about breathtaking heroism by

some members of the public. so clearly members of the public were involved. this is essentially before the police arrived. this is members of the public trying to intervene. i've heard from ports that some women are carrying estates and fire extinguishers, using whatever they could to disarm the knifeman. in these images, look at the rear, there just retreating coming towards there just retreating coming towards the camera. you can see a man with a knife in his right hand. in other images, we see that, as the armed police arrived, they obviously tell those who were fighting the knifeman to get out of the way. in fact, the last person is basically hauled off the suspect by the armed police before they take the shots to disarm him. they obviously may have had

reports about this suspect device. they may have seen it themselves. they may have seen it themselves. they have obviously decided that he was a threat, a wider threat, and the only way to take him out was to use the only way to take him out was to use lethal force. there was, at one stage, an officer with a taser, but they decided that there was such a risk that they had to use real ammunition. right back andy moore, do stay with me for the time being. sara, what more do we know about the casualties. i can tell you that in the last few minutes, our understanding from resources is that there are two members of the public who have been killed in this attack. the attacker was shot dead. so, to members of the public, we

understand, killed in this attack. the police saying earlier on that they want to keep the exact numbers of injured, as although there are two dead, there may be many more injured. also, their respective privacy for these people. they are also trying to contact their family. london is a very busy place, particularly around this time of year. there may be some time lag between finding out who these people are and actually getting word to their relatives. that may explain some of the time delay. the met police have said that as soon as they can give out any more information they will do. they are pulling out any eyewitnesses to come forward to any film or images of the incident. they are asking people to remain calm but to be alert and vigilant. it is worth just taking you through the main points we heard when the assistant commissioner neil

basu gave a statement this afternoon. he said that a suspect was shot dead by city armed police. he was wearing a hoax suicide vest, which was discovered to be a hoax after after the attack. they are asking the public to remain calm but alert and vigilant. it is very clear that it alert and vigilant. it is very clear thatitis alert and vigilant. it is very clear that it is being treated as a terrorist attack then? yes, that was the statement of the assistant commissioner this afternoon. it has been declared a terrorist incident, and counterterrorism officers are now leading the investigation. around london bridge is obviously a very busy part of london. it has

been cordoned out and those searches are taking place at the moment. thus, —— that's all we can say at the moment. the mayor of london said at the time that it is an thought to have been an isolated incident. they are not thought to be looking for anybody in connection with this, but clearly this is a very high level ongoing investigation. so those parts of london will be under investigation for a long time. what do we know about the incident from the time where it was called into the time where it was called into the police to the time where we saw members of the public to tackle the suspect to the ground? the police haven't given any further details about that at the moment. we have obviously heard praise from the mayor of london who said his thank you to the emergency services who we re you to the emergency services who were on the scene

you to the emergency services who were on the scene so you to the emergency services who were on the scene so quickly. he said, risking their own lives, running while people were running on the opposite direction. he also thanked members of the public, who, in various clips on social media that have been published throughout the day, which show clearly that members of the public by the first people to tackle this attacker, one of them, in one clip, had to be pulled off by the police in the final moments of the final incident. all of these pieces of film and footage will be looked at and form a pa rt footage will be looked at and form a part of the investigation, and will form a clearer picture of what exactly form a clearer picture of what exa ctly we nt form a clearer picture of what exactly went on. it is still only for and exactly went on. it is still only forand a exactly went on. it is still only for and a bit hours. everybody is still putting the pieces together of exactly what happened where and when. a short while ago, the mayor of london held a press conference.

he asked all londoners to remain vigilant. the metropolitan police have confirmed that the horrendous stabbing at london bridge has now been declared as a terrorist incident. i am been declared as a terrorist incident. iam in been declared as a terrorist incident. i am in close contact with senior rf offices here at scotland yard, and have been updated with events this afternoon. it has been confirmed by a number of people injured in the attack, some seriously. my heart goes out to them, theirfamilies, seriously. my heart goes out to them, their families, and seriously. my heart goes out to them, theirfamilies, and all those affected. as soon as it is possible to provide an update on their condition, the met police will do so. condition, the met police will do so. i would ask you to respect the privacy of those affected. the emergency services responders, in pleading services from the city of london and metropolitan police. the suspect was shot by specialist armed officers, and died at the scene. i

wa nt to officers, and died at the scene. i want to thank our brave emergency services who responded to today's horrific attack. every day they put their lives on the line for us. running towards danger in order to keep us safe. i would also like to thank members of the public who risked their own safety this afternoon. they are the best of us. terrorism is cowardly and evil. we must, and we will stand united and resolute in the face of terror. those who seek to attack us and divide us, will never succeed. i would ask all londoners to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to the police. that is the mayor of london, sadiq khan. let's talk to andy moore. he is also telling the bbc that there have also

been to members of the public, in addition to the knifeman has been killed. that news hasjust come to us killed. that news hasjust come to us from sources. killed. that news hasjust come to us from sources. we killed. that news hasjust come to us from sources. we haven't had an official statement yet from the met police but that is the news we have received. we saw images earlier on of somebody on the ground surrounded by ambulance staff, being administered cpr, so we feared they might be the sort of fatalities we might be the sort of fatalities we might have heard about. it was declared that back they said they sent a number of ambulance crews and specialist response teams with the first arriving on the scene within seven minutes. they also said that an advanced trauma team from london plasma air ambulance was dispatched by air. they knew from the start there was the potential for serious

injuries, and they went on to say that they were working with other members of from the emergency services at the scene. tragically, two confirmed deaths now. from the mayor of london plasma own words, when he talked about serious injuries sustained. he talked about her horrendous incident and horrific incident. he was describing it in terms of terrorist attack even before it was confirmed by the metropolitan police. he talked about the need for london to once again pull together. he talked about this incident showing the worst of humanity, the single knifeman killing others. he also talked about the response from members of the public showing best of humanity. it was absolutely amazing to see those scenes, with members of the public, here they are again... there is a

quy here they are again... there is a guy on the left here, that walks away from the scene. you can see a knife in his right hand. you will see that in a minute. if you look on the left—hand side, towards the bridge balustrade, you will see that that man who was just retreating from the scene, you will see that he has a knife, running away. he looks like a member of the public to me. yes he is a member of the public. he is just yes he is a member of the public. he isjust a yes he is a member of the public. he is just a gentleman, yes he is a member of the public. he isjust a gentleman, dressed in a suit and jacket, who among others, was one of the less people fighting with the suspect. the last person has to literally be pulled off by the police officers so that they can get a clean shot. moments after that man was dragged off the other guy, shots were fired. obviously by that stage, police were aware of the threat that he posed. they would have been aware that he had already

injured people. they may have been aware that he was carrying a device, aware that he was carrying a device, a bomb vest. they would not have known whether it was real or not. certainly, after they administered those shots, the firearms officers stood way back, because they suspected that possibly, in his dying moments, he could have detonated that device, which we know was that hoax. might make thank you very much indeed. this incident happened around lunchtime in a very crowded part of the uk capital, and was witnessed by scores of passers—by. let's spend a few moments getting their stories. amanda hunter was on a bus looking over london bridge, and she said she saw three people before hearing shots. i was just saw three people before hearing shots. i wasjust on a bus coming home, the 21 bus, and it all of a sudden stopped and there was some commotion. i looked out of the

window and saw the three police office rs window and saw the three police officers going over to amman. it seemed like there was something in his hand. i'm not sure. but then one of the police officers shot him. and there i was able to take a video of there i was able to take a video of the scene. we were stopped on the bus for about a minute or a minute and a half and then we were told to get up. it happened really quickly, and we didn't know what was going on, so we and we didn't know what was going on, so we were and we didn't know what was going on, so we were shocked. it looks like the people and the other side of the bridge some of them were not aware of what was going on. that is the words of one witness. another woman was with her baby on a bus when an incident happened. she described the bbc what happened.” was on the number 21 bus, around two o'clock coming south bound under london bridge. we had just pulled away from the bust up on the very

north side of the bridge, and we notice people running across the road, looking over their shoulder, and filming over their shoulder and running into the street. the bust up quite suddenly and we'll look to see what was going on. on the right side, so on the other side of the pavement, there was a tussle or a fight. people with darkjackets fighting with each other. the next thing i noticed was that there were three policemen, and one very tall man ina three policemen, and one very tall man in a blackjacket with a beard, who, next thing i saw, was on the ground, and! who, next thing i saw, was on the ground, and i saw that the police had guns and heard two parts. i assume they were gunshots so i —— but i don't know. they pulled his jacket back, and you can see underneath that there was some sort of vest. whether a stab vest or an explosive vest. you could see the

officers at that point completely back away. at that point i was very scared because we were about as close as the police officers in our bus. so it was very scary. you could see that he was alive, and the vest had the desired effect because the police stepped back from him. the bus stopped only a few metres away, so bus stopped only a few metres away, so if something had happened obviously... if that thing had exploded and they had to had to shoot him it would have been awful. the minute i heard the two pups, i just wanted to get between the baby in what was going on out there. i just moved here as quickly as i could in her pram behind the stairwell on the bus so that if anything happened, she was a bit protected, away from the window and away from the side of the bus. i just wanted to get the baby away from there as quickly as possible,

and the quickest thing would be to get off the bus, but obviously you didn't know what was going on out there and how many people are out there and how many people are out there and how many people are out there and he was a potential attacker. so i just there and he was a potential attacker. so ijust thought, stay put and may be the bus can drive us at least a little bit further away. ijust at least a little bit further away. i just wanted to at least a little bit further away. ijust wanted to get her as far away as possible. i have been around london bridge about ten years, and for all the attacks, i have been in the vicinity. as a medical doctor i would want to be there and help, but asa would want to be there and help, but as a member of the public you just wa nt to as a member of the public you just want to get away as quickly as possible. plenty more on this story on bbc news throughout the evening. welcome to be restraining us on the bbc news channel. we are hereby london bridge, which is in lockdown, as is the surrounding area, as we've been hearing, as police in this

city, once again, deals with a terrorist incident. as we have been hearing in the last few minutes, just make members of the public have been killed in this attack. several others are injured, and the attacker has been shot dead. now, for those people who are justjoining us now or coming home from work, let me just recap what we know so far. it was on this bridge earlier this afternoon at around two o'clock, that armed police shot dead a man believed to be wearing a hoax explosive device. now, there were some terrifying scenes for people who were around, it's a busy time of day, and those that were in offices surrounding it. but, as the mayor put it, we also saw some breathtaking heroism, because members of the public ran towards the man, who had a knife, and they restrained him before police stepped in. hopefully, we will get an update on some of those who are injured

later on, we will also hearfrom some eyewitnesses as well, because not only is this attack echoing the 12 and half years ago on london bridge, but it also saw some remarkable acts of heroism again. we will hear about that later on. i person may come a reports on how events unfolded here this afternoon also, some of those who saw and filmed what happened. this footage shows what seems to be ordinary londoners, again, tackling a terrorist on london bridge. officers intervened. it happened on the north side of the times, two is a go, london bridge was a scene of a terrorist attack. there appears to be a fight going on on the other side of the bridge with several men attacking one man. police quickly arrived, including our police quickly arrived, including our police, and then a number of shots where fired at this man. from the top of a bus, here, a man with a blue tie is seen running from the incident with what looks like a

knife in his hand. we won't show it, but moments later, an armed officer opens fire. 0h opens fire. oh my god. ijust oh my god. i just heard oh my god. ijust heard a lot more gunshots. off the bridge. just before two o'clock it started. the phone footage taken by nearby officers chose crowds fleeing from london bridge. here, school children are seen bridge. here, school children are seen running down the street. emergency services were quickly on the scene. within the space of about 20 seconds, there were multiple gunshots that we heard. i mean, there were people in the cafe opposite us, first aid, they opened the doors, made everybody sprint out. all at once. it was very panicky, but it worked out quite well, that got everybody out of the area pretty quick. is a major incident was declared, footage shows police confronting a white lorry on the bridge. as they put in a large

exclusion so quickly. clearly, they deal with this pretty quickly and pretty decisively, it looks like, in terms of the eyewitnesses telling me, in terms of the shots being fired. he seems to already be down on the bridge when that happened. the next theyjust told me. two and half hours after the incident, police confirmed a man was shot dead at the scene. in a number of people were injured. this family was one of many caught up in the chaos. the restaurant owners were like just coming from a just come in, they lock the restaurant down. switched on the lights off, we were just told to get on the floor. so i think from sitting, just enjoying a meal, to that, so quickly. obviously, it was quite scary for all of us. this was the day terror, again, came to london bridge. again, it seems on

the deck londoners stop this attack becoming much worse, tom edwards, bbc, london. just to clarify, police are treating this as a terrorist incident, while someone who saw what happened is here, because you live very close by, and actually, you are also hear the last time this happened, so tell us first for what you saw today. you make so, today, on the southern side of london bridge, and all i heard was allowed couple of bangs, and they sounded like gunshots, and people started screaming. the only people started shouting, and i sort of ran as well. so, i'm running away,, afterwards, i knew a bit more about it, and it felt like deja vu, really, likejune 2017. so was that your first thought? not ain? not again come another attack on our community. and, you know, what's happening with the rest of the

residence, the people that live in the local area. that was really my concern. and it felt really frightening, really. sort of annoyed and angrya frightening, really. sort of annoyed and angry a little bit that it's happening again, and yeah,. what was the atmosphere in the mood like around you while this was going on? everyone was in that sort of fear and panic, but once more police had arrived, they did arrive quite swiftly, people felt, you know, but more reassured, being told where to 90, more reassured, being told where to go, but still frightened. but no one really knew what was happening, and we didn't know it all until quite later. for you, this brings back memories of what happened to you before. yeah, absolutely, iwas walking up duke hill street which goes up to the southern bit to where the van crashed and i saw the band crashing in from a police coming from and all that sort of stuff. it's a very similar thing. now that we are much closer we always thought

that you know, it would only happen once ina that you know, it would only happen once in a community, and it wouldn't come back it's another thing to live there again. thank you so much for talking to us. we wish you the best. like you say, as he said there, you never think it's can happen again. this was a very very busy time of day, as you can imagine, it's a busy area, it was around two o'clock, so it was another traumatic day for people like him and others caught up in it. tara wales has been speaking toa in it. tara wales has been speaking to a mother and daughter who were on opposite sides of the bridge when it happened. on the north side of the bridge, hundreds of people have been evacuated from offices and restau ra nts. evacuated from offices and restaurants. here, we metjane, who had been inside one. she had just had been inside one. she had just had a phone call from her daughter, emily. make well, she was caught up in it, because they had take shelter ina in it, because they had take shelter in a place in borough markets. is your daughter ok? she is, shaken, but 0k. your daughter ok? she is, shaken, but ok. on the south side of the bridge, we found emily, she had been

working on a food to her in borough markets. i saw people running past the shop, people started running in. people we re people started running in. people were screaming. there were armed police, and we were alljust standing in there, and i was crying, and other people were crying, and we just standing there for maybe five minutes. she had with several others at the back of an oyster shop. there were people crouching behind me. sol there were people crouching behind me. so i couldn't really get any further. we were all face—to—face. i was leaving a voice mail for my mama, because she wasn't answering the phone. i love you mum. iwas leaving her really terrifying voice mail. and ijust come i heard loads of shouting outside, so half of me was like someone has come down from the bridge. more police came it running, and basically shouted at us to run. and they were let go this way, go around the corner, get out. emily and the tour she was leading eventually got to safety. now, she's going home. what are you going to set your mind? mostly sorry the voice mail. that was really stressful of me. and then also,

just, i love you. people reacting to the shock of what happened here. people who were injured were treated and taken to royal hospital london, let'sjoin wendy, and taken to royal hospital london, let's join wendy, who and taken to royal hospital london, let'sjoin wendy, who is and taken to royal hospital london, let's join wendy, who is there for us let's join wendy, who is there for us this evening. well bbc understands that two of the most serious casualties were brought here to the world london hospital in east london, when i arrived here at about four o'clock this afternoon, the hospital was on complete lockdown. there were lots of patients trying to get into the routine appointments, we spoke to one man who was desperate to get in for his dialysis appointment, not looking very well at all. this is one of four major trauma centres across london, and these are well practised plans, because in 2017, during that attack, that's london bridge in borough markets, many of the casualties were brought to this hospital and treated by the co nsulta nts hospital and treated by the consultants and doctors, which were

subsequently recognised for their work here. we don't know this evening the condition of the two people who were brought to this hospital, we are still waiting to hear that, but they have been treated here at the royal london hospital in the major trauma unit. 0k, hospital in the major trauma unit. ok, wendy, thank you very much. this is of course an ongoing investigation. let's hear now from assista nt investigation. let's hear now from assistant commissioner, neil, who is also the head of counterterrorism, what he had to say on events here today, but he was speaking before that confirmation that two people had sadly died. ican had sadly died. i can confirm that at approximately 2pm today, friday the 29th of november, police were called to a stabbing at a premises near to london bridge ec one. emergency services attended, including office rs services attended, including officers from the city of london police, and the metropolitan police. a male suspect was shot by a specialist armed officers from the

city of london police, and i can confirm that the suspect died at the scene. confirm that the suspect died at the scene. a numberof confirm that the suspect died at the scene. a number of other people received injuries during this incident him as soon as we can provide further updates on their condition, we will. our heartfelt sympathies go out to everybody who's been involved in this, and is anxiously waiting for an update on their loved ones. as soon as we can get that information, we will get it to you. as you would expect, due to the nature of the incident, we responded as though this was terrorist related. i'm now in a position to confirm that it has been declared a terrorist incident. we are working jointly with the city of london police, as we continue to respond. officers from the met counterterrorism command are now leading this investigation, but i must stress, we retain an open mind as to any motive, it would be inappropriate to speculate further at this time. due to reports that the suspects may have had an explosive device, specialist office rs explosive device, specialist officers also attended the scene, and wide cordons are in place to make sure there remains there ——

there remains no further danger to there remains no further danger to the public. however, i can confirm at this time, we believe a device that was strapped to the body of the suspect is a hoax explosive device. officers continue to carry out meticulous searches in the area, to ensure there is no outstanding threat to the public. those extensive cordons will remain in place for a considerable time. but i would ask at the public please, continue to avoid the area. public safety is obviously our top priority, we will be enhancing police patrols both in the city and across london. i would ask anyone with information, image, orfootage of the incident can that —— that can be shared with our investigation team to do so on the uk police image of peel website. i would also ask the public to remain vigilant, and report any concerns that they have to the police. the head of counterterrorism speaking there

before the news confirmation that two members of the public have died in this incident. let's talk to our home affairs correspondent, catherine carpenter. it wasn't that long ago, wasn't, that the terror threat had been lowered? no, just at the beginning of this month, the 11th of november, the uk terror threat was lowered for the first time in it yea rs. was lowered for the first time in it years. it was reduced from severe to substantial. meaning that it was now believed a terror attack was considered likely, rather than highly likely. at that time, we were given a sense of the scale of the terror threat to this country. counterterrorism police and said that at that time, they currently had 800 life operations, and that since march 2017, they had foiled 2a attack plots. so, since there, really, of the scale of the problem the police have been facing. the police, with regard to this incident, say they really are now relying on the help of the public. we heard there they want images, anybody has gathered to be sent to

us anybody has gathered to be sent to us special does the exact dedicated website, and also i will reiterate it now, the anti—terrorism hotline for anybody who has information they think might help the police. and for the people working in london, a terrible sense of deja vu tonight, please patrols have been stepped up. absolute, we know that londoners are very resilient in these situations, but the police are obviously wanting to reassure those going about their everyday business, that they are safe, or as safe as they can be now. policing patrols are going to be stepped up, we are going to see more police at transport hubs, which is transport police, more people on patrol across the rest of the capital, and also more firearms officers across the capital there for assurance. ok, for now, catherine, thank you. the mayor of london sadiq khan has been giving his reaction to what's happened here today and praising the emergency

services and londoners. he was at scotla nd services and londoners. he was at scotland yard come and that's where we can drain our political correspondent, kyle mercer right now. “— correspondent, kyle mercer right now. —— ca rl correspondent, kyle mercer right now. —— carl mercer. yes, there was a massive police operation, but there is also a huge job to be done a public reassurance command that job falls largely on the shoulders of the mayor of london as it did two and half years ago, when london had those fall terror attacks, including, of course, that when it london bridge. in a little earlier today, as part of that public reassurance, the mayor was here at scotland yard giving a press conference, after which, caught up with him and asked him for his reaction to today's events.” with him and asked him for his reaction to today's events. i mean, it's incredibly distressing, we have seen it's incredibly distressing, we have seen this afternoon, many viewers will have seen the horrible images on the london bridge, but i'm hoping there also the remarkable acts of bravery from londoners, who, you know, ran towards this very dangerous dangerous man, who had a huge knife who just recently seriously injured others and i am so

proud of his londoners, please respond so quickly, you know, for the heroism, news how much worse it could've been. is londoners who did run could've been. is londoners who did ru n towards could've been. is londoners who did run towards them in they did so thinking he had a vest on, which it turns out wasn't active. you're will make you know, hindsight is a wonderful thing, but in that moment, in those moments, those ordinary londoners in the police had no idea what this man had on him, what they did know is he had a huge knife, all they did know was that people had been injured. and they ran towards him, apprehended him, and he stopped them from doing further damage. it also, we do not know of the assista nt also, we do not know of the assistant commissioner confirmed this to the counterterror team, that he had what appeared to be a suicide bomb on him. we now know it was a hoax, but you know, these remarkable human beings have no idea, and they ran human beings have no idea, and they ra n towards human beings have no idea, and they ran towards him, took the knife off him, and kept him down and pinned him, and kept him down and pinned him down until the police got there.

what lessons you think we have learned in the last two years, because it was just over two and half years ago that we had four other attacks here in london, again, during a general election campaign. the worst of humanity, but also the best of humanity in london. we saw the worst of humanity with this man you know, who is a terrorist, trying to kill, injure, maim as many people as possible, but also, wejust want the very best of us in trying to stop him causing further damage and mayhem, there is always lessons to learn, and one of the things about terrorism is they have found new ways to terrorise us and their words come into causes damage, we have got to find an evolved new way to keep us to find an evolved new way to keep us safe. so, the good thing is, that we are always evolving and learning from incidents that happen, notjust in london come up around the world. and we have from you know, you saw the response from those police officers, they very quickly you know, and shot this man who could have caused more damage. can londoners feel safe tonight, should they feel safe?” can londoners feel safe tonight, should they feel safe? i want to say to londoners, be really proud of the response for the police, but also

from fellow londoners who enter its danger to make sure we are as safe as we can be. all the intelligence we have, and i'm not complacent, i'm the least complacent person you'll find, but so far, there appears to be an isolated incident, but we know that from a history of decades, that terrorism and bad people, we know that we are a target. you know, since 2017, when we have those four awful attacks in our city, there have been more than 20 that have been thwarted, and i'm afraid the bad news is, that experts say there has been a shift in the activity of terrorists, and would be terrorists, not a spike. so all of us are responsible and to be vigilant, and if anybody sees anything that is at all suspicious, of course, a source of concern, please report it to the police. i'd rather you air on the side of caution and over report and underreport. yes, one of the thing the mayor did add was that he hoped there would be add was that he hoped there would be a pause of 24 hours and campaigning for the general election. as a mark of respect to those who we now know

have lost their lives and to those who have been injured. back to you. karl, thank you. in fact, we have just heard that the political parties have suspended campaigning for today. following on from what you've just for today. following on from what you'vejust said. and for today. following on from what you've just said. and we for today. following on from what you'vejust said. and we heard carl say there, didn't we? can londoners feel safe? welcome to james waterhouse, has been getting reactions from commuters about today's news. some of whom are still trying to get home. let's join today's news. some of whom are still trying to get home. let'sjoin him now. james? good evening, yes, just a bit further around the corner from where you are, on the south bank. behind us, you can see london bridge, the hospital as well, which has been in lock down all afternoon. as well as the last few minutes, london bridge station and tube has just reopened, but throughout the afternoon, we have been seeing londoners trying to get to work, hospital appointments, as well as bus drivers being told to turn off their engines earlier on, and get away from the area. it's been an afternoon where londoners have had to ta ke afternoon where londoners have had

to take stock. i was over the last time it happened. i'm x military, so, you know, i'm more so concerned about the customers that i had. sol know, i'm more so concerned about the customers that i had. so i went out and asked to please cimino, should i make them leave, should have them stay? at first they set cimino, just keep them inside. sol told them if you are staying, you are going to be here for a while, otherwise you need to leave, and they came back and said no, they all need to leave. they came and said, we need to leave. so we locked up and cimino, it's unfortunate when things like this happen in the world. you know, i don't know how we are going to stop it. we ran into the basement, that was it, then we we re the basement, that was it, then we were told to come out. now we are here, and you know, it's quite shocking. now how are you feeling? i am it's frightening, that it's happening so quickly as well. it's a bit eerie. when we left the hotel, we were the onlyjust met pedestrians in the area, the police escorted us off. but you can't help

the what—ifs from running through your mind. we we re your mind. we were just basically out here, and all of a sudden loads of people were running past. we were starting to rush into their command we just had to close the door. how did he feel the time? was very scary, everybody was kind of running past, and we didn't know what was happening. and then the police came over and said we need to leave the store, so we we re we need to leave the store, so we were told to evacuate, close the doors, and make your way out. so, the advice is come if you are still hoping to get a train to southeast england or southeast london as well, tickets are being accepted and other surrounding stations, there is a huge amount of traffic disruption on the suffolk bridge and tower bridge, so the suffolk bridge and tower bridge, so the advice and stay well away. just to reiterate the advice from police officers, stay alert, and they say they are putting on extra patrols. back to you. ok, thanks very much for that update, james. now, if you just look behind me,

london bridge, it was the same scene here about two and half years ago, when a terrorist attack took place, and just further along there into a borough markets, so this sadly will have echoes of that, particularly for people in this area. we have been speaking to some of them. abdulla has been running his moroccan cafe from opposite borough market for the last 11 years. this afternoon, he was alerted to the terror attack on london bridge, when he saw people running away down the street. this brought back familiar but unwanted emotions for him. it's not memories you like to remember. memories you would like to put behind you and look forward. yeah, it's not good for anyone. two is go, people took refuge in nearby businesses when three men launched an attack in the london bridge area. in which a people were killed. —— two years ago. that many people would led to safetyjust as

they were led from the scene today. for many of the people living and working near here, today's events have reminded them of the london terror attack just over two years ago, which left this whole area being locked down much like it is this evening. shops, restaurants, and borough market itself have been closed up early on what should have been a bustling and busy friday night in the capital. but instead, work is evacuated from their offices we re work is evacuated from their offices were left wondering how to get home. i think were left wondering how to get home. ithinka were left wondering how to get home. i think a lot of people will be taken aback by it does bring back memories for lots of people, including some of my colleagues. but it's coming up from our main priority is just focusing on making sure we are priority is just focusing on making sure we are all safe, which we are. back at the cafe, these dentistry stu d e nts back at the cafe, these dentistry students were evacuated from a lecture at ease hospital from within the cordon. lenexa actually live very close by as well, this incident did happen and obviously, being very close to the incident, and other terrorist attacks, it does make you

really scared at times. to make having it happen so close to every study commits worrying, because it could happen again, we could be caught in it next time, we might not be lucky enough to be in a lecture. so once again from uncertainty for those in this area, after today's disturbing events. now, at this point, we are going to say goodbye to viewers on the bbc news channel. thank you forjoining us news channel. thank you forjoining us here at london bridge. thank you very much, well, you are watching bbc news, in a moment, we are going to catch up with the weather, but first, to let you know that we where going to be broadcasting the bbc election debate here on the bbc news channel tonight, but we are going to stay with our coverage of the london attack. now, if you do want to watch that debate, you can do that from 7pm this evening on it bbc one, and also, of course, via the bbc iplayer. we are going to have reaction and clips from that debate throughout the programme later on.

now though it, it's the weather. good evening. it's been much drier today, there has been a good deal of sunshine, but under the starry skies now, temperatures are already falling away, so we are in for drier weather for the weekend, yes, falling away, so we are in for drier weatherfor the weekend, yes, some very cold nights and with the risk of fog. so there are warnings outcome of the on the website. let's look where we have the showers today, mainly northern and eastern areas, still a few in the south and west, so where the services are damp with the temperatures already getting to below freezing in place is, it does mean that the ice risk is, it does mean that the ice risk is quite high, but for many of us, for the south, particularly for england and wales, we are going to see more missed developing and thickening up to five, some dense fog by morning. so, it does look as though the frost will be more widespread than last night, because dentures will be a couple of degrees lower, again, that means the price will be harder as well. as you can see, it's much further south. now, that means that tomorrow morning as well as being cold and freezing, we could have some fog. so some freezing fog really quite treacherous for road users, it looks

as though it will be across england and wales, don't take this as the defined areas of fog, but it gives you the idea of how widespread we are expecting that fog to become a visibility down to 50 metres in places. the winds of strengthening in the south will tend to lift it into the low cloud, but in some areas, perhaps the east midlands, lincolnshire, northern england, it could stay with freezing fog for much of the day, so therefore, it will feel really cold, and of course, with the strengthening when command on the clock for the supplement will feel quite right is here to connect —— right here as well. brothers though, it is dry, we will see some sunshine come it will be particularly warm, but fewer showers to these post —— as i say through the day, we got this increase in cloud coming into the south and west, perhaps patchy drizzle here, even possibly stretching up into the south of wales. that keen east wind makes it feel quite rock him and through the night, it will slip its lease rates, and possibly bring in a few showers across other eastern parts of the england. then —— high establish itself again, by then, showers and mostly northern and eastern areas, perhaps a few more for eastern england, and perhaps east anglia and

the southeast of that keen wind, making it feel cold. elsewhere, northern ireland, southern scotland northern england, a real risk of fog again, and a widespread frost away from the far south. it will feel cold again by day. and we keep this settled and this cold weather as we go into the start of next week. temperatures well below average. but at this stage, no sign of any appreciable rain by that stage. the warnings are on the website.

this is bbc news, the headlines at 7pm: a man shot dead by police on london bridge. several people stabbed and it's just two members of the public have died. police have coated a terrorist incident. the male suspect was wearing a hoax explosive device on his part members of the public wrestled with the man, carrying a knife, and pulled him to the ground. a male suspect was shot by members of the police and i can confirm the suspect died at the scene confirm the suspect died at the scene at. officers were called to reports of a stabbing just before to this afternoon. the prime minister has praised the public‘s response. this afternoon. the prime minister has praised the public's response.” also want to pay tribute to the

extraordinary bravery of those members of the public