London terror attack – live: Man wearing hoax suicide vest shot dead by police after three injured in ‘Islamist-related’ stabbings in Streatham

This is from Streatham's MP.

The home secretary says she is receiving updates from the Met.

Richard Mustonen-Smith, 59, a response pastor for Ascension Trust, has lived in the area all his life.

"I'm shocked it's happened in Streatham. I've been here all my life. We're always getting accidents down here but not this," Mr Mustonen-Smith told the Press Association.

"My grandson was in the Odeon and they got told to go out the back because there was a bomb. They got them to go out of the back of the cinema. They were there to watch a film.

"When it's a member of your family so close to you, you don't expect it. You're always worried about your family being on the streets but this is even worse.

"I heard two people got stabbed and apparently one man was shouting Allahu Akbar but people thought he was just a crazy man, so he got away. Apparently he had two rucksacks."

Police urge 'common sense and restraint' in circulation of footage and images

There is no indication yet of what may have motivated the stabbings.

Sky News cited security sources as saying the incident was related to Islamist militancy, but the Metropolitan Police would not comment on the validity of this suggestion. 

Images suggest the attacker was wearing a device that looked like an explosive vest. Fake vests have been worn in previous terror attacks in the capital.

The Independent's home affairs and security correspondent Lizzie Dearden has provided some background information on Islamist terror attacks:

"Low-technology attacks involving knives and cars have been encouraged by Isis as a means of sowing terror worldwide.

"In 2014 a speech by the group's spokesperson called for indiscriminate attacks on all non-Muslims, particularly in countries including Britain that were bombing the group's territories in Syria and Iraq.

"Fake suicide vests have been worn in attacks including London Bridge, HMP Whitemoor and Fishmongers' Hall,and can be a means to prevent intervention and ensure jihadis are shot dead by police."

The Independent's home affairs and security correspondent Lizzie Dearden has more context on the incident:

The Streatham stabbing is the third terror attack to hit UK since security services lowered the national threat from severe to substantial in November, meaning attacks were deemed "likely" rather than "highly likely".

The first was the stabbing that left two dead at Fishmongers' Hall on 30 November, and the second by inmates at HMP Whitemoor last month. The perpetrators of those attacks were known extremists who had been jailed for terror offences.

British security services have foiled 24 attack plots – 16 Islamist and eight far-right – since March 2017.

In November – shortly before the knife attack at Fishmongers' Hall – the UK terror threat level was lowered from severe to substantial, meaning further attacks were likely.

That month the head of UK counterterror police said his officers were running 800 live investigations. Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu added: "It's not the volume of the threat, it's the unpredictability and the lack of intelligence that creates the real pressure.

"Targets are softer, methodology simple and cheap and the perpetrators are either lone actors or more proficient in encryption. The attacks and the planning may be less frequent but they are harder to see and stop."

Here is another eyewitness from the scene of the attack.

Nardos Mulugeta, a 52-year-old mechanical engineer who lives in Streatham, told PA he heard gunshots before seeing one victim lying in the street.

“I heard a shot and then there was a 20-second gap. Then there were three or four shots together,” he said.

“I went over and I saw the first victim, a male victim on the ground, near the White Lion Pub, and people were helping him.

“Then five minutes later a woman came over and said I've been stabbed too in the back. And then people starting helping her.

“I saw one body laying down further away. He was face-down between Argos and Iceland. It's really scary.”

The Metropolitan Police has urged the public to follow its Twitter feed for updates on the attack in Streatham.

Police have already warned against sharing unconfirmed pictures and video from the incident on social media.

Police are continuing to guard the scene of the attack as residents gather at the junction of Streatham High Road and Prentis Road, according to PA.

A forensics team is examining the area for clues near Superdrug and Boots stores.

PA has reported that families could be heard asking police how they would be able to access their homes after the incident shut down the road.

London Ambulance Service has released an updated statement on the attack, confirming that three people have been treated for injuries at the scene.

The Met Police has said one victim from the attack is in hospital in a life-threatening condition.

A second person was treated for minor injuries at the scene, while a third victim was taken to hospital but is not in a life-threatening condition.