Major security incident on London Bridge

A man has been shot dead by police and two members of the public killed following a stabbing attack on London Bridge.

In a press conference outside Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu declared the incident as a terrorist incident. However, the police cannot confirm a motive yet and have encouraged the media and public not to speculate.

Basu said: "Officers from the met counter terrorism command and 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."

Videos, taken by pedestrians, appeared to hsow a group of men engaged in a fight on the bridge, before armed police, from the City of London Police, arrive and shots were fired. Witnesses have claimed that the suspect is believed to have started attacking people with a knife and was then shot by police. Basu confirmed that the suspect has died. A cordon remains in place, although the threat is no longer live.

London Ambulance Service has declared a ‘major incident’, with initial reports saying that up to five people had been injured, some of which were in serious condition. The aithorities have since confirmed that two of those citizens died of their wounds.

Images also seem to show police officers aiming guns at a white lorry that jack-knifed across London Bridge. Additionally, witnesses have told the press that the suspect may have been wearing an explosive vest. Basu used the press conference to indicate that, following investigations, the vest was likely to be a hoax explosive device - similar to that worn by the attackers during the 2017 London Bridge attack.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked for a personal briefing with Counter Terror Policing and Neil Basu told reporters that he was heading with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick, to Downing Street immediately.

The incident comes two and half years after the 2017 London Bridge terror attack, in which eight people were killed and 48 injured on 3 June 2017. Pavements on both sides of the bridge have large bollards on to prevent vehicles as a result of the 2017 attack.

The national terrorist threat level was lowered from ‘severe’ to ‘substantial’ earlier this month.