London attackers plow van into crowd and stab revelers, kill seven

Police forensics investigators work on London Bridge near abandoned buses after an attack left 6 people dead and dozens injured in London, Britain, June 4, 2017. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

By William James and Estelle Shirbon | LONDON

Assailants drove a van into pedestrians at high speed on London Bridge on Saturday night before stabbing revelers on nearby streets, killing at least seven people and wounding dozens in what police suspect was a terrorist attack.

Armed police rushed to the scene and, within eight minutes of receiving the first emergency call shortly after 10 p.m. local time. had shot dead the three male attackers in the Borough Market area near the bridge.

At least 48 people were injured in the attack, the third to hit Britain in less than three months and occurring days ahead of a parliamentary election on Thursday. Most of the main political parties suspended national campaigning on Sunday.

People speak with police officers after an incident near London Bridge in London, Britain June 4, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

"I can confirm that the terrible incident in London is being treated as a potential act of terrorism," Prime Minister Theresa May said in a statement as events unfolded. Flags were flying at half-mast over her Downing Street residence on Sunday morning.

London Bridge is a major transport hub and nearby Borough Market is a fashionable warren of alleyways packed with bars and restaurants that is always bustling on a Saturday night.

The area remained cordoned off and patrolled by armed police and counter-terrorism officers on Sunday, with train stations closed. Forensic investigators could be seen working on the bridge, where buses and taxis stood abandoned.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attack to hit Britain and Europe.

Less than two weeks ago, an Islamist suicide bomber killed 22 people including children at a concert by U.S. singer Ariana Grande in Manchester in northern England. In March, in a attack similar to Saturday's, a man killed five people after driving into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in central London.

Grande and other acts were due to give a benefit concert at Manchester's Old Trafford cricket ground on Sunday evening to raise funds for victims of the concert bombing and their families. Police said the event would go ahead as planned, but security would be increased.

The three attackers on Saturday night were wearing what looked like explosive vests that were later found to have been hoaxes. The BBC showed a photograph of two possible attackers shot by police, one of whom had canisters strapped to his body.

"It has now been confirmed sadly that seven members of the public have died. In addition, as you know, we believe, three suspects are dead," London Metropolitan Police chief Cressida Dick said in a televised statement on Sunday.

Dick said police believed the incident was under control but would need to conduct a thorough search of the area to ensure everyone was accounted for and no further suspects were at large.

Islamist militants have carried out attacks in Berlin, Nice, Brussels and Paris over the past two years.

The London Ambulance Service said 48 people had been taken to five hospitals across the city and a number of others had been treated at the scene for minor injuries.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said some of those who had been injured were in a critical condition. He said the official threat level in Britain remained at severe, meaning a militant attack is highly likely. It had been raised to critical after the Manchester attack, then lowered again days later.

The mayor said he did not think Thursday's election should be postponed because of events in London.

"One of the things that we can do is show that we aren't going to be cowed, is by voting on Thursday and making sure that we understand the importance of our democracy, our civil liberties and our human rights," Khan said.

Roy Smith, a police officer who was at the scene during the unfolding emergency, expressed his shock on Twitter.

Armed police officers walk outside Borough Market after an attack left 6 people dead and dozens injured in London, Britain, June 4, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

"Started shift taking photos with children playing on the South Bank. Ended it giving CPR to innocent victims attacked at London Bridge," he wrote, adding a broken heart emoji.

Witnesses described a white van careering into pedestrians on the bridge.

"It looked like he was aiming for groups of people," Mark Roberts, 53, a management consultant, told Reuters. He saw at least six people on the ground after the van veered on and off the pavement. "It was horrendous," he said.

A taxi driver told the BBC that three men got out of the van with long knives and "went randomly along Borough High Street stabbing people." Witnesses described people running into a bar to seek shelter.

"People started running and screaming, and the van crashes into the railing behind. We went towards Borough Market and everyone went inside (the bar)," one witness, who gave his name as Brian, 32, told Reuters.

Another witness, who declined to be named, described a scene of panic in the bar.

"They hit the emergency alarm. There was a line of people going down to the emergency exit. And then people started screaming coming back up," said the 31-year-old, his white top covered in blood.

"Around the corner there was a guy with a stab wound on his neck ... There was a doctor in the pub and she helped him. They put pressure on the stab wound."

BBC radio said witnesses saw people throwing tables and chairs at the attackers to protect themselves.

SOLIDARITY FROM WORLD LEADERS

Islamic State, losing territory in Syria and Iraq to an advance backed by a U.S-led coalition, had sent out a call on instant messaging service Telegram early on Saturday urging its followers to launch attacks with trucks, knives and guns against "Crusaders" during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

British Prime Minister May was due to chair a meeting of the government's Cobra security committee later on Sunday.

U.S. President Donald Trump took to Twitter to offer U.S. help to Britain, while Russian president Vladimir Putin expressed condolences in a telegram to May. [L8N1J10AH]

German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced her sympathy.

"Today, we are united across all borders in horror and sadness, but equally in determination. I stress for Germany: in the fight against all forms of terrorism, we stand firmly and decisively at the side of Great Britain," she said.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter that "France is standing more than ever side by side with the UK".

Four French nationals were among those injured in the London attack, French officials said. Australia said two of its citizens were caught up in it and one of them was in hospital.

The Manchester bombing on May 22 was the deadliest attack in Britain since July 2005, when four British Muslim suicide bombers killed 52 people in coordinated assaults on London's transport network.

(Additional reporting by Dylan Martinez, UK Bureau and Marine Pennetier; Writing by Estelle Shirbon and Pravin Char; Editing by Mark Heinrich)