[T]he investigation into last night’s horrific attack in London is progressing rapidly as the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) continue to piece together exactly what occurred.
Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command have this morning, Sunday 4 June, arrested 12 people in Barking, east London, in connection with last night’s incidents in London Bridge and the Borough Market area. Searches of a number of addresses in Barking are continuing.
At 22.08hrs on Saturday, 3 June, we received reports that a white van had struck pedestrians on London Bridge.
The van then drove to Borough Market where the three men left the vehicle and stabbed a number of people. The suspects were wearing what we now know to be hoax suicide vests.
Armed officers confronted the three suspects who were shot and killed in Borough Market.
Seven people have died, in addition to the three attackers shot dead by police. A further 48 people were taken to hospital, some of whom are believed to be suffering serious and life threatening injuries.
The MPS is in the process of informing next of kin and specialist officers have been deployed to provide support to families.
An emergency number has been established for anyone who is concerned for loved ones who may not have returned home. This is Casualty Bureau on 0800 0961 233.
Among those injured in the attack are a British Transport Police officer and an off-duty Metropolitan Police officer. Both remain in hospital with serious injuries but neither are believed to be in a life-threatening condition.
Cordons remain in place and we ask the public to stay away from the London Bridge and Borough Market area.
The MPS urges the public to remain calm but vigilant during this period and if you see anything suspicious, no matter how insignificant you might think it is, please contact the anti-terrorism hotline on 0800 789 321. It may be a vital piece of information.
Anybody who has images or film of the incident are asked to pass those to police by uploading it at www.ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk.
Further updates will be provided as more information about the incident is available.
The MPS would like to express gratitude to the public and the media for their ongoing support and strongly requests that no-one publishes or broadcasts any images purporting to show suspects as this risks jeopardising our investigation. The MPS also asks that no-one publishes or broadcasts the names of any alleged suspects.
