Police issued a chilling statement following the terror attack which took place in London on Saturday night.
London Metropolitan Police urged citizens to ‘run, hide and tell’, during the outbreak of a terror attack on London Bridge and Borough Market, which took place just after 10pm on Saturday June 3rd.
They encouraged people to ‘run to a place of safety‘, or find a place to hide if this was not possible, before contacting police as soon as they could.
As reported by The Telegraph The National Counter Terrorism Security Office (Nactso) published plans on how to escape a terror attack following attacks on Paris in 2015 and 2016.
Nactso guidance states you should ‘escape if you can’, ‘insist others leave with you’ and ‘leave belongings behind’, while also switching your phone to a silent, non-vibrating setting.
Their advices also says ‘cover from view does not mean you are safe, bullets go through glass, brick, wood and metal’, so in the possible event of gunfire ‘substantial brickwork or heavy reinforced walls’ should be sought as cover when no escape routes are available.
The message was posted to Twitter while Saturday’s tragic events were still unfolding, with hashtags for three separate incidents, including #Londonbridge, #Boroughmarket and #Vauxhall.
It was later confirmed the incident at Vauxhall was unrelated to those at London Bridge and Borough Market, in which seven people have been confirmed dead and at least 48 people are left injured – many of which are in a life-threatening condition.
It is believed a van ploughed into people on London Bridge, before three terrorists armed with knives exited the vehicle and proceeded to stab people at ‘random’ throughout the streets, pubs and restaurants in the busy area.
Police confirmed the attackers – who were wearing ‘fake’ explosive belts – were shot dead within eight minutes of authorities being dispatched to the scene.
The area, popular with tourists and buzzing with nightlife was on ‘lock-down‘, as armed police and emergency services were called upon.
Witnesses claim they saw bodies ‘strewn on the ground’, after ‘three men armed with 12-inch long knives’ went on a rampage through the city.
According to witnesses, police were seen grabbing shocked people who were dining and drinking in the bars and restaurants and ordering them to run.
There are reports police can be heard yelling ‘clear the area, now’ in footage as shots were allegedly fired.
Police reportedly opened fire into Brindisa Tapas bar not far away from the earlier incident on the bridge.
The BBC’s Holly Jones was on the bridge at the time of the incident and gave an eye-witness report, saying the van was driven by a man and was ‘probably travelling at about 50 miles an hour’.
She added:
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. I’d say there are about four severely injured people. They all have paramedics assisting them at the moment.
Off duty police officers were also drafted in to help deal with the aftermath of the ‘horrific’ terror attack.
Instead of responding with fear, – like those less than two weeks ago in Manchester – the people of London opened their homes and offered shelter, help and support for those in danger or lost in the city.
Theresa May confirmed the incident was being treated as a terror attack last night:
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.
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.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also responded with a statement:
The identities of the attackers is not yet known.
Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by Saturday night’s events.
