Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended1496747947

London attack as it happened: Met Police make arrests during early morning raids in search for jihadi network

'Gunshots' heard as 'a number' of people arrested

London terror attack: Everything we know so far

Your support helps us to tell the story

My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.

Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.

Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond

Head shot of Eric Garcia

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

Police have named two of the three terrorists responsible for Saturday's deadly attack on London Bridge.

Khuram Shazad Butt, 27, and Rachid Redouane, 30, both from Barking, East London, were identified as the perpetrators of the knife and van attack, which killed seven people and left 49 injured.

Butt was previously known to security services but the Met Police said there was no intelligence to suggest the attack was being planned. Redouane was not known to authorities, Scotland Yard said.

Police detained a number of people in early morning raids in east London as part of the investigation into the London Bridge attack which saw the attackers ram a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before stabbing revellers in bars in the nearby Borough Market.

Isis claimed responsibility for the attack, the third major militant assault to hit Britain in less than three months.

Two of the seven people who were killed have been named, and 21 people remain critically injured in hospital.

A Canadian woman, who died in her fiance's arms after being struck by the speeding van, was named as 30-year-old Christine Archibald.

A 32-year-old man from Hackney, James McMullan, has also been identified as one of the victim's by his family.

Isis was said to have urged extremists to run over civilians in a poster released over the weekend featuring a knife, handgun and lorry urging radicals to "gain benefit from Ramadan".

The three men, wearing fake suicide bomb vests, were shot dead by eight officers outside a pub after police opened fire with an "unprecedented" hail of 50 bullets, while a bystander was also shot.

Scotland Yard said seven women and five men aged between 19 and 60 were arrested under the Terrorism Act in Barking on Sunday. A 55-year-old man was later released without charge.

Police shot member of public when 50 rounds fired at three suspects during London attack

A vigil was held on Monday evening near London Bridge in honour of the victims of the attack, which took place at around 10pm, while a minute's silence will take place at 11am on Tuesday.

Sadiq Khan told mourners: "As Mayor of London I want to send a clear message to the sick and evil terrorists who commit these crimes: we will defeat you you will not win.

"As a proud and patriotic British Muslim, I now say this: you do not commit these disgusting acts in my name."

Network Rail said London Bridge rail and London Underground stations reopened at 5am but the rail station will be exit only.

People from around the world were caught up as hundreds cowered in pubs and restaurants, barricading themselves inside as the attackers stalked the streets.

Armed police officers patrol outside The Shard tower and London Bridge railway station in London (AFP/Getty Images)
Armed police officers patrol outside The Shard tower and London Bridge railway station in London (AFP/Getty Images) (AFP)

Tales of heroism emerged in the aftermath, with one British Transport Police officer taking on the trio armed only with his baton before being stabbed in the head, face and leg.

An off-duty Metropolitan Police officer was also injured after he tackled the men.

Forty-eight people were left in hospital, 21 critically injured.

Police outside a property in East Ham which has been raided by officers
Police outside a property in East Ham which has been raided by officers (Getty)

As counter-terrorism police units and security services launched a huge investigation for the third time in a matter of weeks, officers arrested a dozen people in raids on flats in Barking, east London, where residents said they believed one of the terrorists may have lived.

One neighbour said one of the attackers had recently asked him how he could hire a van.

1496676081

Neighbours of one of the London Bridge attackers have described their horror at discovering a man they knew as a doting father and chatty Arsenal fan was capable of carrying out the massacre.

Residents in the street where the man lived with his wife and two children in Barking, east London, saw no reason to be suspicious when a white van appeared on Friday.

Michael Mimbo, who lives across the road from the man he knew as Abz, said he noticed the hired vehicle on Friday.

"It was blocking the middle of the road outside the flats," he told The Independent.

"A car beeped at him to say 'move' and he responded quite aggressively.

"I was walking past and thought he was moving out or his car had broken down or something - for him to react like that."

Steve Anderson5 June 2017 16:21
1496676320
Steve Anderson5 June 2017 16:25
1496676589

MI5 Chief Andrew Parker has said in a statement: "With the rest of the country we are all appalled by the dreadful terrorist attack in London on Saturday night.

"Our thoughts are with everyone affected.

"We are extremely grateful for the numerous messages of support and encouragement from members of the public as we continue, alongside our partners, our unceasing efforts against the terrorist threat."

Steve Anderson5 June 2017 16:29
1496677178

Merseyside Police have arrested two men on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in the wake of the terror attacks in London and Manchester.

The arrests relate to videos shared on social media on Sunday.

A spokesperson said: “A 39-year-old man from Mossley Hill has been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence following a video shared on social media, in which a man is seen with a bladed weapon making comments about recent terrorist attacks. The 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred and has been taken to a police station for questioning.

“A 39-year-old man from Kirkby has been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence following a separate video which shows a man in an Everton shirt making comments about recent terrorist attacks. The 39-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred and has been taken to a police station for questioning.”

Steve Anderson5 June 2017 16:39
1496677922

More than 130 Muslim leaders are refusing to perform the Islamic funeral prayer for the three men who perpetrated the London Bridge terror attack. 

"In light of other such ethical principles which are quintessential to Islam, we will not perform the traditional Islamic funeral prayer over the perpetrators and we also urge fellow imams and religious authorities to withdraw such a privilege," the leaders wrote in a statement published by the Muslim Council of Britain.

"This is because such indefensible actions are completely at odds with the lofty teachings of Islam."

Steve Anderson5 June 2017 16:52
1496678546

The sister of 32-year-old James McMullan, who has not been seen since the London Bridge attack, believes he was one of the victims of Saturday's atrocity.   

Melissa McMullan told Sky News her brother's bank card had been found on one of the victims but authorities are unable to confirm his death until the coroner's office starts formal identification on Tuesday. 

"While our pain will never diminish it is important for us to carry on our lives in direct opposition to those who would try to destroy us," she said. 

Ms McMullan said the family had received no information as to his whereabouts and had not had any contact from him since he was last seen outside the Barrowboy and Banker pub on Borough High Street.

Steve Anderson5 June 2017 17:02
1496678608
Steve Anderson5 June 2017 17:03
1496680043

The police watchdog has launched its investigation into the fatal shooting of the three suspected terrorists who launched their attack on London Bridge on Saturday, and the wounding of a member of the public. 

Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) Deputy Chair Sarah Green said the Commission had a "duty" to investigate fatal police shootings but no individual officers were under investigation. 

"We will examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of the three attackers and the gunshot wounds sustained by a member of the public. The IPCC and the Metropolitan Police are following agreed working arrangements related to terrorist incidents, which are working well. We are conscious that the police are conducting a dynamic and ongoing counter terrorism operation and we will ensure that our investigation does not impede that operation," she said in a statement. 

"We can confirm that 46 shots in total were fired by eight police officers - three officers from City of London Police and five from the Metropolitan Police Service. We are examining CCTV footage from within Borough Market which we believe shows the majority of the incident relevant to our investigation. We are not aware of any body worn video footage which captured the shootings themselves. I recognise that this was a fast-moving and dangerous situation which the police had to respond to extremely quickly. This investigation is being given the highest priority and we aim to complete it at the earliest opportunity.”

Steve Anderson5 June 2017 17:27
1496680304

A total of 46 shots were fired by eight police officers - three from City of London Police and five from the Metropolitan Police Service, according to police watchdog IPCC.

Steve Anderson5 June 2017 17:31
1496680976

Police are reportedly preparing to release the names of the three London terror attackers who perpetrated Saturday's deadly knife and vehicle attack on London Bridge. 

The Met Police said names of the three men, who were all shot dead by officers on the scene, would be released "as soon as operationally possible". 

Steve Anderson5 June 2017 17:42

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in