LONDON – British police declared at least two major incidents Saturday night after multiple people were reported to have been injured when a van veered off the road on London Bridge and mowed down pedestrians. There were later reported stabbings in a nearby market.

Witnesses reported that a white van was traveling fast – approximately 50 mph – when it mounted the sidewalk and plowed into a group of people crossing the Thames River on foot.

 Police said there had been at least one fatality.

Holly Jones, a BBC reporter who was on the bridge at the time, said five people were being treated for injuries. The news service reported that police were seeking three suspects in connection with the incident.

Police later confirmed a second incident at Borough Market, an area packed with popular restaurants that is located just south of the bridge. Police said that armed officers were responding to the scene, and that there were reports of injuries from a knife attack.

Police said shots had been fired at Borough Market.

London’s Metropolitan Police said they were responding to a third potential incident in the Vauxhall area, which is about a mile from the scene of the first two incidents.

Dozens of police cars sped to the scene of the incidents, with helicopters hovering overhead. Police closed the bridge and urged the public to avoid the area.

 Downing Street said Prime Minister Theresa May was in contact with police officials.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots at the bridge around 10:30 p.m.

“I heard many gunshots and I heard people running away,” said Joe Dillon, 23, who was near London Bridge when the incident occurred. “Police officers were shouting: ‘Get out of here, you need to go!’ I heard at least eight rounds of gunshots, but I’m not sure who was shooting. When I arrived a second after I had heard the screams and the shots, I saw five or six officers running toward the van.”

The incident caused chaos in the heart of London in an area normally bustling on a Saturday night. Pedestrians near the bridge said they were ordered by police to run. Diners at nearby restaurants were told to shelter in place. Video footage showed people fleeing.

Saturday’s incident comes less than two weeks after 22 people were killed in a bomb blast following a Manchester concert. And it comes less than three months after a driver killed four pedestrians on another Thames crossing, Westminster Bridge. The assailant then stabbed to death a London police officer at the gates of Parliament.</s>Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption "Get down" - police enter bar at London Bridge

Seven people have been killed and at least 48 injured in a terror incident in London in which three male attackers were shot dead by police.

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.

Police said the three men were wearing fake bomb vests.

One of those hurt is a police officer who was stabbed after going to help. His injuries are not life-threatening.

Political parties have suspended national general election campaigning and the prime minister is chairing a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee.

Theresa May described Saturday night's events as "dreadful", while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called them "brutal and shocking".

Borough Market is an area known for its bars and restaurants which were busy on a warm summer evening.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said it was "a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners", but the capital remained the "safest global city" and Londoners would not be cowed by terrorism.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Eyewitness: "They were running and stabbing everyone"

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.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said it was believed there were only three attackers involved and the explosive vests they were wearing were "hoaxes".

One social media user posted a photograph appearing to show an attacker lying on the ground outside a pub in the food market, with the fake vest visible.

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

and for people concerned about friends or relatives 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

BBC reporter Holly Jones, who was on the bridge at the time of the attack, said the van was "probably travelling at about 50 miles an hour".

"He swerved right round me and then hit about five or six people. He hit about two people in front of me and then three behind," Ms Jones told the BBC News channel.

Another eyewitness, Robbie, was sitting in a taxi opposite the Barrowboy and Banker pub on London Bridge.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Watch: The man who took the attackers' photo

"I saw about 20 or 30 people rushing to get back into the pub and five seconds later a big white van came screeching down the pavement," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"Two or three people jumped out. Initially, I thought it was a road traffic incident and the people had jumped out to see if anyone was injured, but I could tell immediately, they looked very aggressive."

His friend Josh came out of the pub a few seconds later and saw people running up to the bridge from Borough Market.

"A chap ran up and I heard him shout, 'He's got a knife, he's stabbing people.'"

Another witness, Gerard, told the BBC: "They were running up shouting, 'This is for Allah.' They stabbed this girl maybe 10 times, 15 times. She was going, 'Help me, help me.'"

Gerard said he chased the attackers, who were running into pubs and bars, and threw bottles, chairs and other items to try to stop them.

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.

"I've never been so scared in my life," he said,

At the scene: Cherry Wilson, BBC News website

No-one has been able to clean up the empty pint glasses on the tables outside Belushi's bar on Borough High Street - a stark reminder of what happened in London Bridge last night.

It's 8am and dozens of police cars and cordons remain in the area, blocking anyone from walking up to Borough Market, where the tragedy unfolded.

Dozens of people wait by the police cut-off areas in a confused state trying to work out how to get home or to work.

But no-one is prepared to give up.

There is a determined resilience in the air with nurses and railway workers walking miles out of their way to try to get to their jobs.

Security officer Mohammed Osman, who works on Borough High Street, had to wait for an hour before he was allowed through to his place of work.

He said: "I'm not feeling worried. I'm strong enough. These enemies are trying to divide us but we have to be together."

Terrorism begins to feel like the new normal

Analysis by Dominic Casciani, home affairs correspondent

With three attacks in close proximity, terrorism against soft targets is beginning to feel, to some people, like the new normal.

The brutal reality is that this kind of threat is absolutely typical of what jihadists sought to achieve in all their attacks across Europe.

Since 2013 security services in the UK have foiled 18 plots. A large proportion of those have involved suspects who set out to commit acts of violence similar to the attack on Westminster Bridge and London Bridge.

Plans to use bombs, such as at Manchester Arena, are rarer because plotters need to have the technical skills for such an appalling attack - but attacking people with cars and knives is far easier and has long been encouraged by so-called Islamic State and other jihadists.

The aim of the three attackers last night is abundantly clear - not only did they want to kill, but they almost wanted to lose their own lives.

They would've known full well that attacking people in the street would draw armed police in their direction and the fake bomb belts they were wearing would, in their own warped minds, hasten their demise.

A bomb disposal team was later called to Borough Market and local residents told to leave their homes.

Eyewitness Will Orton, who was also in a pub close to the scene, said: "The bouncers did a really good job, they shut the doors and locked everyone in.

"There was panic - it seemed like it was literally outside the door."

Vilwar Hussein helped carry the injured police officer to nearby Guy's hospital and recalled seeing a wound in his chest "and blood everywhere".

Earlier, Vilwar said he'd seen the white van perform a U-turn on London Bridge before driving back southwards along the pavement.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption "He swerved right round me, then hit five or six people": BBC reporter Holly Jones

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Ordinary people were led away from the scene with their hands up amid concerns attackers could attempt to blend in with the crowd

Image copyright PA Image caption People ran down Borough High Street to escape the danger

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Counter-terrorism specialist firearm officers were later in attendance

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Ambulances attended to the injured on London Bridge

London Bridge and neighbouring Southwark Bridge are both closed along with many other roads including Borough High Street and Lower Thames Street.

Trains are not stopping at London Bridge station.

Facebook has activated its safety check so people in London could post a message to let friends and relatives know they were safe.

The police are asking anyone with photographs or videos of the incident to upload them here.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Police led people to safety after the attack</s>Terrorism struck at the heart of London, police said Sunday, after a vehicle veered off the road and mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge and witnesses told of men with large knives stabbing passersby at nearby Borough Market.The violence turned a summery Saturday night in an area packed with bars and restaurants into a scene of panic and chaos, with officers running through crowded streets screaming for people to flee and lifeboats drafted to help clear the area.The London Ambulance Service said at least 20 injured people had been taken to six hospitals, and British media said several people had been killed. The Metropolitan Police force declared the attacks "terrorist incidents."Hours after the attacks began, a large area of central London remained cordoned off and police told people to avoid the area, leaving tourists and revelers struggling to get home. It was unclear whether any of the attackers was on the run.Bursts of gunfire echoed through the streets - likely from armed police - and at least three blasts rang out as police performed controlled explosions. One image taken by a witness showed a man on the ground surrounded by police; he appeared to be wearing a vest with canisters attached to it.Gerard Vowls told The Guardian newspaper that he saw a woman being stabbed by three men at the south end of London Bridge. He said he threw chairs, glasses and bottles at the attackers in a bid to stop them."They kept coming to try to stab me . they were stabbing everyone. Evil, evil people," he told the newspaper. "I want to know if this girl is still alive. I've been walking around for an hour and a half crying my eyes out. I don't know what to do."Bartender Alex Martinez said he hid in a garbage bin for a half hour when a man stormed the restaurant where he worked, which was nearly full."I saw that man with a knife in his hand and after that a man started screaming so I knew something wrong was happening," he said.Medics treated the injured near the market as shocked people cried and shouted around them. Police officers yelled at people to run from the area.Simon Thompson told Sky News that he was just outside Borough Market when he saw crowds fleeing."We ran for like 100 meters and then saw loads of police cars turned up and there was kind of a period of quite intense gunfire," he said. "I hid in a restaurant basement for about an hour. ... Police told us to get out and then there was more gunfire."The mayhem began just after 10 p.m. (2100GMT), when police responded to reports of a vehicle hitting pedestrians on London Bridge, which crosses the River Thames in central London. Multiple witnesses reported a vehicle veering off the road and hitting as many as six pedestrians."We saw injured people on the road, injured people on the pavement," witness Will Heaven told Sky News.Soon after, reports started coming in of stabbings at Borough Market, a nearby area full of bars and restaurants surrounding a popular food market. Witnesses reported seeing as many as three attackers with knives.Police initially said officers were also responding to a third incident, in the Vauxhall neighborhood, but later said that turned out to be an unrelated stabbing.Police tweeted a warning telling people in the area to run to safety, hide and then call police if it is safe to do so. They asked Londoners to "remain calm but be alert and vigilant."Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed the attack "is being treated as a potential act of terrorism" and said her thoughts were with "those who are caught up in these dreadful events." May's office said she would chair a meeting of the government's COBRA emergency committee on Sunday.As thousands of people flooded from the area of the attacks - many unable to get home with nearby subway stations shut - locals were quick to offer assistance.The Royal Oak pub, near the area of the attacks, opened its doors to people evacuated from hotels. At least one taxi company offered free rides to people stranded in the area. Phaldip Singh, who describes himself as an entrepreneur and youth activist, tweeted that Sikh temples were open to provide food and shelter for those affected.If confirmed as terrorism, this would be the third attack to hit Britain in as many months.In March, a British convert to Islam ran down people with a vehicle on Westminster Bridge, killing four, then stabbed a policeman to death outside Parliament.On May 22, a British suicide bomber killed 22 people and injured dozens at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. After that attack, Britain's official threat level from terrorism was raised to "critical," meaning an attack may be imminent. Several days later it was lowered to "severe," meaning an attack is highly likely.A charity concert for victims of the Manchester attack, featuring Grande and other stars, is due to be held in the northwest English city on Sunday.</s>(CNN) -- A van mowed down pedestrians as it sped down London Bridge on Saturday night, leaving bodies lying in the roadway, a witness to the incident told CNN.

Mark Roberts said the van was traveling south across the River Thames at a high rate of speed and was swerving as it struck several people, knocking one person "about 20 feet into the air."

The van swerved into oncoming lanes before hitting a bus stop and coming to a stop, Roberts said.

"Within my line of sight, there were five or six people on the ground that were not moving," he said. "It looked to me that the van was aiming at the people."

Roberts said he heard what sounded like gunshots about 10 minutes later. He estimated 100 people were on the bridge at the time, fewer than earlier in the night because it was getting late.

"I froze, to be honest," Roberts said. "As I was thinking ... which direction should I run, the van swerved across the other side of the bridge from me."

London's Metropolitan Police have not issued a report, saying only that an "incident" occurred on the bridge.

Both lanes of the bridge were blocked, police said.

The US embassy in London tweeted: "Please avoid the area and monitor local news/@metpoliceuk for updates."

England has been on edge since May 22, when a suicide bomber killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena.

The bridge incident also comes more than two months after a man drove an SUV into a crowd on the sidewalk along Westminster Bridge in London, killing at least four people.

After ramming the car into a barrier outside the Houses of Parliament, the driver got out and stabbed a police officer to death. The attacker was gunned down by a police officer.

The assailant, Khalid Masood, 52, of West Midlands, reportedly had a criminal record and may have had connections to violent extremism, British Prime Minister Theresa May said.</s>At least six people were killed in an attack in central London on Saturday night, Scotland Yard said. At least three attackers are believed to been shot dead by the police. A van drove into people near the London Bridge on Saturday, days before the general election in the country. Incidents of stabbing were also reported at nearby Borough Market.

The police said that all the attackers involved in the incident had been killed, reported AP. “At least 20 casualties have been taken to six hospitals across London,” Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said in a statement. “The investigation is being led by the Counter Terrorism Command.”

A van driven by a man travelling at about “50 miles an hour” rammed into people, BBC reporter Holly Jones, who was present there at the time of the incident, said. “He swerved right round me and then hit about five or six people,” she said. “He hit about two people in front of me and then three behind.”

Witnesses said that soon after the van incident on the London Bridge, a knife-wielding man started charging towards a bar packed with people, reported AFP. The police asked people to run to a place of safety and hide as the attackers may still be armed and in the area. The local administration is working with the rescue services to find people who may have fallen into the River Thames, reported Reuters.

The toll in the attack is not clear yet, however, multiple casualties are suspected, reported AFP. The police hasve yet to confirm the number of attackers involved in the incidents, but some reports said that two of them were killed in police firing. The police have cordoned off the area and ambulances have been brought in.

Rowley urged people who had filed the incident or had images to pass them on to the police by uploading them on www.ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk

United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the attack and said the incident is being treated as a “potential act of terrorism”. “Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events,” she said in statement.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan described the incident as a “horrific terrorist attack”. “We don’t yet know the full details, but this was deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night,” he said according to BBC.

United States President Donald offered help to the UK, tweeting, “We are with you. God bless!” he tweeted.

The incident comes two weeks after 22 people died in a suicide bombing at a concert in Manchester. In a similar incident in March 2017, a man had mowed people down with his vehicle on the Westminster bridge while heading to the Parliament building. At least 40 others were injured in the incident.</s>Knife-wielding terrorists have killed seven people and wounded scores more in a bloody rampage through one of London's busiest nightspots.

At least two Australians were "directly affected", with one taken to hospital, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said.

It is Britain's third terror attack since March, and comes just days before the country is due to hold a general election.

The three attackers were shot dead by police, but UK security services are now working urgently to establish if the suspected Islamist militants were part of a bigger terror cell that could soon launch another attack.

Some of the 48 people taken to hospital were still in a critical condition the morning after the attack.

At about 10pm on Saturday, London time, a white van drove south over London Bridge ploughing through pedestrians, leaving up to six bodies lying on the road in its wake.

An eyewitness said he saw the van coming off the bridge at high speed – up to 80kmh – with a dented front and one headlight smashed.

The van crashed outside a pub close to the bridge's southern end, and three men jumped out carrying knives that eyewitnesses said were 10-12 inches long.

They ran through nearby Borough Market to a street with a row of pubs and restaurants, busy with customers on a balmy London summer night.

The attackers ran in and out of buildings slashing and stabbing, apparently indiscriminately.

One eyewitness said they were shouting "this is for Allah".

People fled screaming in panic, while some tried to stop the attackers by throwing bottles, glasses, even chairs.

Patrick, a restaurant worker at Borough Market, told Fairfax he saw three people stabbed in front of him by "crazy" men with knives.

Australian senator Sam Dastyari was metres from the attack, at a restaurant in the area, and heard screaming and saw a young woman covered in blood run past.

They hid upstairs and were eventually evacuated by police.

"There was blood everywhere" on the streets outside, senator Dastyari told Fairfax.

Those injured included an on-duty, unarmed transport police officer who had confronted the attackers and received serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Police received the first call about the attack at 10:08pm, and responded in force.

They told those close to the attack to barricade themselves indoors, and instructed others to run for their lives, along the middle of the road, hands over their heads.

An elite SAS anti-terror unit known as 'Blue Thunder' was also sent to the scene.

The attackers were shot dead just eight minutes after the first call came to police.

The men were wearing vests with metal canisters attached, apparently intended to look like explosives, though they were found to be fakes.

Ambulances took 48 patients to five hospitals across London, and paramedics treated more people at the scene for minor injuries.

The terrorists' method was similar to the Westminster terror attack of March 22, when Khalid Masood drove a hired car into people on Westminster Bridge, before drawing a knife and trying to get into the Houses of Parliament.

However their choice of target recalled the Paris attack of November 2015. The Borough Market area was packed with young people, enjoying London's summer nightlife – similar to the area chosen for the Paris atrocity.

In the aftermath of the attack hundreds of Londoners went to social media to offer refuge and cups of tea to those caught up in the violence.

On Sunday morning the scene was still sealed off as police gathered forensic evidence.

The commissioner of Metropolitan Police Cressida Dick told reporters seven people had died in the attack, in addition to the attackers.

She said police believed they had killed all the attackers, but were continuing to search the scene to make sure everyone was accounted for.

They, along with counter-terrorism and security services, were now working to establish whether anyone else had been working with the attackers, assisting them or helping plan the attack.

It was a large and fast-moving investigation, however she said she could not yet say anything about the identity of the suspects.

She also praised the response of police - both on and off duty - as well as other emergency services and members of the public who rushed to the scene. Many had risked their lives to help others, treat those seriously injured and confront the attackers, she said.

"I am sure they helped to save lives," she said.

Security services were working on Sunday morning to identify the attackers, and establish their network of contacts and communications in the hours, days and weeks before the attack.

Their priority was to establish if they were part of a wider network and if there may be another attack imminent.

A week earlier the UK's terror threat level had lowered to 'severe', meaning an attack was likely, from the 'critical' level it had been at since the Manchester Arena attack. The threat level was to be assessed again on Sunday.

Prime minister Theresa May was due to hold a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee in Whitehall on Sunday, assessing the investigation and the government's response.

There were calls on social media for Thursday's general election to be postponed, and national campaigning has been suspended for at least a day.

However there was a strong sentiment among politicians that they did not want the terror attack to get in the way of democracy.

And Conservative minister David Davis pointed out that parliament is already dissolved and so the June 8 election was "locked in".

"They want to stop us voting on Thursday… we can't allow them to do that, we can't be cowed by terrorism," he said.

Mr Khan said it had been a "deliberate and cowardly attack" aimed at disrupting London's way of life, to stop people mingling, mixing and having a good time.

"There aren't words to describe the grief and anger our city is feeling," he said. "I'm appalled and furious that these cowardly terrorists deliberately targeted innocent Londoners and visitors enjoying their Saturday night. I condemn unequivocally these terrorists in the strongest possible terms. They are evil cowards and London will never be cowed. We will never let them win."

He, along with prime minister Theresa May, praised the fast response of London police, which he said had saved lives.

Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull sent Australia's heartfelt sympathy and love to the victims, their families and the people of Britain.

He revealed that two Australians had been "directly affected" by the attack. One was in hospital, and the other's situation was not known.

"Many" Australians were in the vicinity of the attack, he said.

Foreign minister Julie Bishop has spoken to the parents of both the Australians affected.</s>If viewing in the app, click here.

LONDON — British police responded to multiple security incidents across London on Saturday as a van plowed into pedestrians on London Bridge, killing at least one person, and at least one assailant went on a stabbing rampage in an area of the capital known for its pubs and lively nightlife.

Metropolitan Police said the incidents were terrorism and appeared to be connected. It was not entirely clear if the police operation was over.

Earlier, Prime Minister Theresa May said the attacks were being investigated as a "potential act of terrorism."

The first incident took place on London Bridge, where witnesses described seeing a white van mounting the sidewalk and injuring at least six people at about 10:30 p.m. . A BBC reporter who was on the bridge at the time said the van was being driven at around 50 mph by a male suspect.

The BBC said one person was confirmed dead. British Transport Police said they have received reports of multiple casualties.

London Bridge, which crosses the River Thames in London, was closed in both directions.

In the incident at Borough Market, a nearby area that houses many food stalls and pubs and is popular with tourists, Metropolitan police said armed officers had been sent to the area after reports of stabbings at a restaurant.

Police said shots were fired and urged people to flee the area. However, it was not clear if the shots were fired by police or an assailant or assailants.

There were also reports of a third incident, a stabbing in the Vauxhall area of London. That was subsequently said to be unrelated to the terror attack.

Some witnesses reported seeing as many as three attackers, a figure not confirmed by police.

Police urged Londoners to be calm and vigilant and circulated a message that read: "Run," "Hide," "Tell."

The British Prime Minister's office said May was being regularly updated on the situation, and the White House said President Trump has been briefed.

"Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there - WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!" Trump tweeted.

Reports of the incident reflected fear that the incident could be terrorism. Britain has weathered two terrorism attacks in recent months. In March, four people were killed in London after Khalid Masood rammed his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before fatally stabbing a policeman outside the Houses of Parliament.

On May 22, a British-born suicide bomber killed 22 people and injured 59 others at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England.

The attack came on the eve of a benefit concert Grande is scheduled to play in Manchester on Sunday in aid of the victims and their families.</s>London, United Kingdom | AFP | A van ploughed into pedestrians and several people were stabbed in central London Saturday, police and witnesses said, leaving “multiple” casualties in what police called a “terrorist” attack days before a general election.

Armed police opened fire during at least two “terrorist incidents” at London Bridge and Borough Market, in the heart of the capital’s business district.

“We can confirm we have taken at least 20 patients to six hospitals across London following the incident at London Bridge,” the London Ambulance Service said in a statement.

Witnesses described a van speeding into pedestrians on London Bridge and then a knife-wielding man sprinting towards a bar packed with revellers enjoying a Saturday night out.

Pictures show medical staff attending to apparent victims of the attack and a helicopter buzzing just metres over London bridge, one of the major arteries in the City business district.

Police responded rapidly with dozens of emergency vehicles and authorities led shellshocked members of the public away from the scene with their hands on their heads.

The attack came more than a week after a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a concert in the northern city of Manchester and days ahead of the June 8 election, where security is a major theme.

It also recalled an attack on Westminster Bridge when 52-year-old British Muslim convert Khalid Mahmood rammed his car into pedestrians before crashing into the barriers surrounding parliament and then stabbing a police officer to death.

Police said the first reports of a “vehicle in collision with pedestrians on London Bridge” came at 10:08pm local time (2108) and were quickly followed by “reports of stabbings in Borough Market,” at the south end of the bridge.

“Armed officers responded and shots have been fired,” police said.

Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed that the “terrible incident in London” was being treated as “a potential act of terrorism.”

She will hold an emergency ministerial meeting later on Sunday and Facebook has activated its safety check function for people in London to let their loved ones know they are safe.

US President Donald Trump offered his help, tweeting “WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!”

Witnesses on London Bridge reported seeing a van mounting the pavement and hitting pedestrians and a man with a knife running.

“There was a van that crashed into the fences on London Bridge. And then there was a man with a knife, he was running. He came down the stairs and went to the bar,” Dee, 26, who was visibly in shock and declined to give her last name, told AFP.

Gerard Kavanar, 46, said he had seen a chef with “blood on his shoulder” in the area.

The London Ambulance Service said “multiple resources” were being sent to the scene. AFP reporters saw two police helicopters over the area and several roads were shut down.

The police were urging the public to run to a place of safety, or hide if they cannot.

Will Heaven, managing editor of The Spectator magazine, said on Twitter he saw “two casualties — one on pavement, one edge of road” and reported seeing armed police on the bridge.

BBC reporter Holly Jones, who was there at the time of the incident, said she saw a van driven by a man travelling “at about 50 miles (80 kilometres) an hour”.

She said about five people were being treated for injuries after the vehicle mounted the pavement and hit them.

“There’s several police boats with torchlights searching the Thames at the moment,” she told BBC radio.

She added that she saw a man, who had his shirt off and was in handcuffs, being arrested by police.</s>Attackers drove a van at high speed into pedestrians on London Bridge before stabbing people in the nearby Borough Market area of bars and restaurants on Saturday in what British authorities described as terrorist incidents. Armed police rushed to the scene and authorities urged Londoners on Twitter to “run, hide, tell” if they were caught in an attack. The BBC cited police as saying there had been more than one fatality. Britain’s Sun newspaper said seven people were feared killed and that two attackers were shot dead by police near London Bridge; but there was no immediate confirmation of this. Some media reports said police were seeking another attacker.

The attacks come days ahead of a June 8 election and less than two weeks after a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a pop concert by U.S. singer Ariana Grande in Manchester in northern England. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The BBC showed a photograph of two possible London attackers shot by police, one of whom had canisters strapped to his body.

A Reuters reporter said some time after the attack began that he had heard loud bangs near the Borough Market area.

Witnesses described a white van veering into pedestrians near London Bridge and knocking over several people.

“A van came from London Bridge itself, went between the traffic light system and rammed it towards the steps,” a taxi driver told the BBC. “It knocked loads of people down.

“Then three men got out with long blades, 12 inches long and went randomly along Borough High Street stabbing people at random.”

Islamic State earlier on Saturday sent out a call on instant messaging service Telegram urging its followers to launch attacks with trucks, knives and guns against “Crusaders” during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Similar attacks, in Berlin, Nice, Brussels and Paris, have been carried out by militants over the past couple of years.

“Following updates from police and security officials, I can confirm that the terrible incident in London is being treated as a potential act of terrorism,” Prime Minister Theresa May said.

London’s river Thames police said it was working with the lifeboat rescue service to help evacuate people caught up in the attack, described by police as a terrorist incident.

U.S. President Donald Trump took to Twitter to offer U.S. help to Britain. The White House said he had been briefed on the incidents by his national security team.

One woman told Reuters she saw what appeared to be three people with knife wounds and possibly their throats cut at London Bridge at the Thames river. Reuters was unable to immediately verify her account.

Police said they fired shots after reports of stabbings in the nearby Borough Market area. They also responded to an incident in the Vauxhall area further west, but later said it was unconnected to the van and knife attacks.

Streets around London Bridge and Borough Market, fashionable districts packed with bars and restaurants, would have been busy with people on a Saturday night out. BBC showed dozens of people, evidently caught up in the attack, being escorted through a police cordon with their hands on their heads.

BBC radio said witnesses saw people throwing tables and chairs at the perpetrators of the attack to protect themselves.

One witness told the BBC she saw a speeding white van veering into pedestrians at London Bridge. That witness said the van hit five to six people. Reuters television pictures showed dozens of emergency vehicles in the area around London Bridge.

The incident bore similarities to a March attack on Westminster Bridge, west of London Bridge, in which a man killed five people after driving into a crowd of pedestrians before stabbing a police officer in the grounds of parliament.

“We were in an Uber (taxi) going towards London Bridge and suddenly we saw people running. The Uber stopped, we asked people what was going on – people said there was shooting,” said Yoann Belmere, 40, a French banker living in London.

“Now the area is completely closed with police cars going one way and ambulances going the other,” he told Reuters.

A witness told CNN two men had entered a restaurant in the Borough Market area near London Bridge and stabbed two people inside. He said a waitress was stabbed in the throat and a man was stabbed in the back.

The Manchester bombing on May 22 was the deadliest attack in Britain since July 2005, when four British Muslim suicide bombers killed 52 people in coordinated attacks on London’s transport network.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App</s>Police are investigating "terrorist incidents" at London Bridge and Borough Market following reports of a vehicle ploughing into pedestrians on a bridge and stabbings.

The Metropolitan Police tweeted: "At 0025hrs 4/6/17 the incidents at #LondonBridge & #BoroughMarket were declared as terrorist incidents."

It comes amid reports of explosions being heard near the bridge.

A stabbing at Vauxhall was unrelated, the force added.

Prime Minister Theresa May said she was being updated by officials on the "fast-moving" situation, adding: "I can confirm that the terrible incident in London is being treated as a potential act of terrorism."

She will chair a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee on Sunday, No 10 said.

Scotland Yard said officers were responding to three incidents in the capital.

Police were called at around 10.08pm to reports of a vehicle hitting pedestrians on London Bridge.

Officers then attended a second incident at nearby Borough Market after reports of stabbings. Armed officers responded and shots were fired.

A third incident, which is unrelated, was taking place at Vauxhall, Scotland Yard said.

A big explosion was heard from the London Bridge area at around 1.50am

He said: "We don't yet know the full details, but this was a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night.

"I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. There is no justification whatsoever for such barbaric acts."

He said he would be attending the Cobra meeting on Sunday morning.

Mr Khan encouraged people to follow the Metropolitan Police on Twitter for further updates and information.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: "Brutal and shocking incidents reported in London. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. Thank you to the emergency services."

The Prime Minister added: "This is a fast moving investigation. I want to express my huge gratitude to the police and emergency services who are on the scene.

"Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events."

Witnesses described seeing a speeding vehicle veer into crowds on London Bridge, while video showed dozens of people with their hands on their heads escorted away from the scene by officers.

And in the popular food market in south London, witnesses said they saw a man with a large blade.

Barman Alex Martinez was forced to take shelter in a bin when a knifeman stormed the Borough restaurant in which he worked.

He said: "I remember that I was working behind the bar and one man entered into my restaurant and that's it - I remember about the third table, second one, next to the door, a man dropped everything and ran out.

"I just tried to be safe, I jumped down behind a big wall, now I feel my pain in my arm, I feel pain.

"I saw that man with a knife in his hand and after that a man started screaming so I knew something wrong was happening.

"The man started screaming and dropping everything on the floor, the plates, the cutlery, the bottle, everything, he dropped it."

He recalled hearing someone crying near his bin and said the two exchanged reassurances.

Emergency services were seen treating people lying injured at the junction of Thrale Street and Southwark Street, near Borough Market.

One woman was taken away on a stretcher while others sat injured on the ground, with shocked people crying and shouting around them.

Frightened people were led up Southwark Street away from Southwark Bridge Road, and police officers were seen screaming to people and ordering them to run.

Many were in tears, with friends supporting each other and carrying people up the road.

Cordons were put up across Southwark Street before repeatedly being pushed back as police widened the critical zone around Borough Market.

Nick Brandon of the BTP's force control room said he had received reports of an incident possibly involving a knife and a vehicle.

The seriousness of the injuries were not not yet known, he said.
A van travelling at approximately 50 mph ploughs into pedestrians on London Bridge; the three occupants then abandon the van and embark on a stabbing spree in Borough Market before being shot dead by officers of the Metropolitan Police. At least six civilians are killed.