British Police Say 6 People Killed In London Bridge Terrorist Attacks
People run down Borough High Street as police respond to what authorities are calling an act of terrorism late Saturday on London Bridge. Dominic Lipinski
10:10 PM CT Update: London Metropolitan Police have confirmed that six people were killed in terror attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market Saturday.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said in a statement on Twitter, "At this stage, we believe that six people have died in addition to the three attackers shot dead by police."
On Saturday evening, police responded to the scene at London Bridge after a vehicle plowed into pedestrians. According to The Associated Press, a van struck multiple people on the bridge in a hit-and-run incident, and "witnesses also reported seeing people being stabbed by at least one man."
Says the AP:
"Police say the incidents occurred on the bridge and at Borough Market a short distance away.
"The force initially said they were also responding to a reported third incident, in the Vauxhall area of London. But they said later that turned out to be an unrelated stabbing."
Rowley said armed officers responded quickly and confronted three male suspects.
"The suspects were wearing what looked like explosive vests but these were later established to be hoaxes," he said.
Before they'd confirmed any deaths, British police had retweeted a statement from the London Ambulance service, which said in part, "We have taken at least 20 patients to six hospitals across London." That number has now been updated to more than 30.
Earlier, British Prime Minister Theresa May said her thoughts were with those caught up in the "dreadful events." Her office says she is being updated.
Late Saturday evening, the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security issued a statement saying, "At this time, we have no information to indicate a specific, credible terror threat in the United States."
The White House subsequently released a statement saying that President Trump called Prime Minister May to offer his condolences "for the brutal terror attacks":
"He praised the heroic response of police and other first responders and offered the full support of the United States Government in investigating and bringing those responsible for these heinous acts to justice.'
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NPR's Frank Langfitt says that the bridge is closed in both directions and that officials are asking people to stay away from the area.
Armed police also responded to reports of stabbings and shots fired at the nearby renowned Borough Market, as well as to the unrelated stabbing in the Vauxhall district.
In response to these incidents, police have posted a shelter-in-place graphic to Twitter, telling people in the areas to run or hide and to alert police when it is safe to do so.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted, "National security team has briefed @POTUS on situation at #LondonBridge and will continue to provide updates."
Britain's terror threat was recently lowered from "critical," which had been put in place after a bombing killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert last month in Manchester.