UPDATE: Several people stabbed in London Bridge incident, declared act of terrorism
A man has been detained, according to Metropolitan Police
by Associated PressPolice say the stabbings and shooting at London Bridge has been declared a “terrorist incident” and that a man was shot dead.
The Metropolitan Police’s Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu says the suspect who died was wearing a hoax explosive vest.
Several people were stabbed close to London Bridge Friday afernoon, and a man has been detained.
The Metropolitan Police force says officer were called “to a stabbing at premises near to London Bridge.”
They say “a man has been detained by police. We believe a number of people have been injured.”
The news comes after witnesses reported hearing gunshots. Sky News reported that police had shot the apparent attacker.
BBC reporter John McManus was in the area and said he saw figures grappling on the bridge. He said: “I thought it was initially a fight,” but then shots rang out.
London Ambulance Service said it had crews on the scene.
Police could be seen ushering people away from the northern end of the bridge, which links the city’s business district with the south bank of the River Thames.
City of London Police, the force responsible for the business district, urged people to stay away from the area.
London Bridge was the scene of a 2017 attack when Islamic State-inspired attackers ran down people on the bridge, killing two, before stabbing several people to death in nearby Borough Market.
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The Associated Press