London Attack: ‘They literally just started kicking them, punching them, they took out knives… it was a rampage really.’

The prime minister has said “it is time to say enough is enough” as she condemned a terror attack on “innocent and unarmed civilians” which left seven people dead and 48 injured in London.

A white van hit pedestrians on London Bridge at about 22:00 BST on Saturday, then three men got out and stabbed people in nearby Borough Market.

The three attackers, who wore fake bomb vests, were shot dead by police.

Several arrests have been made after police raids in Barking, east London.

It is the third terror attack in the UK in three months, following the car and knife attack in Westminster in March, which left five people dead, and the Manchester bombing less than two weeks ago, in which 22 people were killed.

Most political parties have suspended national general election campaigning, but Mrs May said full campaigning would resume on Monday and the general election would go ahead as planned on Thursday.

• Latest updates on London Bridge attack
• What we know so far
• In pictures: Attack aftermath
• London Bridge: The morning after

Eyewitnesses to the attack described seeing a white van travelling at high speed along London Bridge, hitting pedestrians, before crashing close to the Barrowboy and Banker pub.

BBC reporter Holly Jones, who was on the bridge, said it was “probably travelling at about 50 miles an hour” and hit “five or six people”.

Three men then got out and began attacking people in the nearby market – an area known for its bars and restaurants, which were busy on a warm summer evening.

Terrified drinkers rushed away from the scene, some taking shelter in London Bridge Underground station.

‘Rampage’

One witness, Gerard, told the BBC he saw a woman being stabbed “10 or 15 times” by men shouting “This is for Allah”.

Another, Eric, told the BBC the men “ran towards the people that they nearly ran over”.

“I thought, ‘Oh maybe they’re worried about them and trying to comfort them…’

“[Then] they literally just started kicking them, punching them, they took out knives… it was a rampage really.”

The three suspects were shot dead within eight minutes of the first 999 call being received.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick praised the “extraordinary bravery” of her officers, on and off duty, who risked their lives by rushing to confront the attackers.

Among the main developments:

• More than 80 medics were sent to the scene. The injured, some of them in critical condition, are being treated in five London hospitals
• The Met Police has set up a casualty bureau on 0800 096 1233 and 020 7158 0197 for people concerned about friends or relatives
• One of those hurt was a British Transport Police officer who was stabbed as he went to help. His injuries are serious, but not threatening.
• Three other police officers were also injured
• Two Australian citizens “have been directly impacted,” says the country’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
• Four French citizens have been injured, one seriously, according to foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

Another eyewitness, Steven Gibbs, who was drinking in St Christopher’s Inn, just metres from the scene, told the BBC: “A black cab drove past and the driver shouted, ‘Terrorist attack, run!’

“I stood up to take a look and then all of a sudden there were gunshots. Lots of people were screaming.”

Steven was taken into the basement of the bar before the police came in and told everyone inside to run. Read the rest of this entry »