London Bridge HEROES: Members of public TACKLED and restrained knifeman wearing hoax vest
MEMBERS of the public have been branded “heroes” after pinning down an attacker wearing a hoax suicide vest on London Bridge.
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A major incident was declared by the London Ambulance Service after a knifeman went on a rampage in the centre of London, killing two people and injuring several others. Police are have confirmed the incident was a terror attack. Prior to the arrival of the emergency services on the Bridge, members of the public pinned down the knifeman with social media lookers praising their bravery.
One Twitter user said: “Them members of the public jumping all over the fella at London Bridge trying to restrain him before the police arrived are absolute heroes.”
Another added: “Shoutout to all those heroes who wrestled the London Bridge attacker, stay safe everyone.”
A third said: “Looks like we have a hero on our hands.”
Sniffer dogs and armed officers attended the scene, while London Bridge and the surrounding area were evacuated.
Footage from the scene appeared to show a white lorry straddling the northbound and southbound carriageways.
The video shows several officers surrounding the vehicle before moving to the rear to check its container.
London buses can be seen either side of the lorry while three police cars are parked next to it on the bridge.
Neil Basu, the head of UK counter-terrorism policing, confirmed the terror attack in a short statement.
He added: "At approximately 2pm today, police were called to a stabbing at a premises near London Bridge.
"Emergency services attended including officers from the City of London Police and Metropolitan Police.
"A male suspect was shot by specialist armed officers from City of London police and I can confirm that this suspect died at the scene."
Video footage from the scene appears to show one man holding a large knife having wrestled the weapon from the attacker.
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Thanking those who helped intervene to stop the attacker before the police arrived, a social media user said: "Praying for the people hurt in London Bridge.
"Thank God for the heroes who held stop the attacker."
Meanwhile, one person called for the person who pinned down the knifeman to have his morgage scrapped: "That pedestrian who held down that disgusting animal who was wielding a knife on London Bridge is a hero.
"Should have his mortgage waved away."
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The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, praised the Londoners who appeared to try to stop the male suspect.
He said: “What is remarkable about the images we have seen is the breathtaking heroism of members of the public who literally ran towards danger, not knowing what confronted them.
“We do know from the statement given from the Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, there appears to have been a device on the suspect.
“Members of the public didn’t realise at the time it was a hoax device, and they really are the best of us.
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“Another example of the bravery and heroism of ordinary Londoners running towards danger risking their own personal safety to try and save others, and I want to say thank you to them on behalf of all Londoners, but also, because it shows the best of us.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has returned to Downing Street following the attack and said he is being "kept updated".
Making a statement from inside Downing Street this evening, he said: "I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery of those members of the public who physically intervened to protect the lives of others.
"For me they represent the very best of our country and I thank them on behalf of all of our country."
London Bridge: Boris Johnson thanks public for ‘bravery’
He added "I want to thank the police and all emergency services for their immediate response."
Home Secretary Priti Patel wrote on Twitter: "Very concerned by ongoing incident at London Bridge. My thoughts are with all affected.
"I am grateful for the rapid response of our police and I urge everyone to follow their advice."
Nurse Jackie Benfield, 32, described how she asked to be let off a bus on London Bridge after she heard "five or six" gunshots.
Ms Benfield, who was on her way home from work, said she exited the bus and "ran like hell" to escape the shots.
Connor Allen, who was in his van on the bridge when it was evacuated said: "Everyone just started running, you heard these pops and that was it. We just got out the van and started running."
One business owner told the PA news agency she had been crossing London Bridge to get to her shop on the north side when police officers stopped her.