People run down Borough High Street as police respond to what authorities are calling an act of terrorism late Saturday on London Bridge. Dominic Lipinski/AP hide caption
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Dominic Lipinski/AP
People run down Borough High Street as police respond to what authorities are calling an act of terrorism late Saturday on London Bridge.
Dominic Lipinski/AP
Updated at 8:24 p.m. ET
London Metropolitan Police have declared that incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market are terrorism.
On Saturday night, police responded to the scene at London Bridge after a vehicle plowed into pedestrians. According to The Associated Press, a van struck multiple people on the bridge in a hit-and-run incident, and “witnesses also reported seeing people being stabbed by at least one man.”
Says the AP:
“Police say the incidents occurred on the bridge and at Borough Market a short distance away.
“The force initially said they were also responding to a reported third incident, in the Vauxhall area of London. But they said later that turned out to be an unrelated stabbing.”
British media reported that more than one person had been killed but the police have confirmed no deaths. They did, however, retweet a statement from the London Ambulance service, which said in part, “We have taken at least 20 patients to six hospitals across London.”
Earlier, British Prime Minister Theresa May said her thoughts were with those caught up in the “dreadful events.” Her office says she is being updated.
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NPR’s Frank Langfitt says that the bridge is closed in both directions and that officials are asking people to stay away from the area.
Armed police also responded to reports of stabbings and shots fired at the nearby renowned Borough Market, as well as to the unrelated stabbing in the Vauxhall district.
In response to these incidents, police have posted a shelter-in-place graphic to Twitter, telling people in the areas to run or hide and to alert police when it is safe to do so.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted, “National security team has briefed @POTUS on situation at #LondonBridge and will continue to provide updates.”
Britain’s terror threat was recently lowered from “critical,” which had been put in place after a bombing killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert last month in Manchester.
This is a developing story. We’ll update with further information as it becomes available.
Armed Police officers stand guard on London Bridge in central London. British police said they were dealing with “incidents” on London Bridge and nearby Borough Market in the heart of the British capital Saturday. Dominic Lipinski/AP hide caption
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Dominic Lipinski/AP
Armed Police officers stand guard on London Bridge in central London. British police said they were dealing with “incidents” on London Bridge and nearby Borough Market in the heart of the British capital Saturday.
Dominic Lipinski/AP
