7 killed in London terror strike

London: Suspected Islamists rammed a van into a group of unsuspecting pedestrians and tourists on the London Bridge and later launched knife attacks at nearby pubs, killing seven people and injuring 48. Police shot dead all three suspects. Some of the wounded, including a police officer, were reportedly in critical condition. Police said 12 suspects have been arrested in connection with the terror attack.

Seven people were killed and 48 others injured in two terror strikes in London in which three male attackers were shot dead by the police, the media reported. The attack began on London Bridge when a white transit-style van drove into a crowd of people around 10 pm on Saturday, reports the BBC. The van was headed toward the London Bridge station, on the south bank of the river.

The vehicle continued to drive towards Borough Market, just south of the bridge, where three assailants got out and attempted to stab civilians at a restaurant, including an officer from British Transport Police. However, armed officers then shot the suspects within eight minutes of the first call.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said: "The suspects were wearing what looked like explosive vests but these were later established to be hoaxes." He said it was currently believed there were only three attackers involved. "We are treating this as a terrorist incident and a full investigation is already underway," the BBC quoted Rowley as saying.

The ruling Conservative Party has suspended its nation-wide general election campaigning and Prime Minister Theresa May will chair an emergency meeting of the government's crisis committee, Cobra, on Sunday morning. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was "appalled and furious that these cowardly terrorists would deliberately target innocent Londoners", reports the Guardian.

Khan said the emergency services "reacted heroically...As a result of their swift action, fewer people have died than would otherwise have been the case." Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn described the incidents as "brutal and shocking". US President Donald Trump was briefed about the attacks by the national security team, CNN quoted White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer as saying.

Trump tweeted: "Whatever the US can do to help out in London and the UK, we will be there We are with you. God bless." London Bridge Tube station and the London Bridge were closed in both directions. On 22 March, six people died, including the attacker, and at least 50 people were injured in an attack near the Houses of Parliament.