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London Attack: How the events unfolded

Armed police patrol the streets following the terror attack
Armed police patrol the streets following the terror attack

Three men were shot dead after killing seven people and injuring 48 more with a van and knife attack in London last night.

Here is how the events unfolded:

10:07pm: The London Ambulance Service receives a first call to an emergency incident on London Bridge, a crossing between the City of London financial hub to the north and the trendy Borough area to the south.

10:08pm: Police are called to reports of a van hitting pedestrians on London Bridge. A BBC reporter at the scene said she saw a van travelling at around 80km/h and casualties on the street.

Witnesses say they rushed to help five or six people who were hit by the van, including a woman who was thrown into the air by the force of the impact.

London attacks

The van comes to a stop outside The Barrowboy & Banker pub on Borough High Street and witnesses see three assailants armed with knives rush out, headed for the packed bars and restaurants in the area.

Witnesses said the three men ran into the Black And Blue restaurant on Stoney Street and began stabbing people indiscriminately, including one person in the face and neck.

A knifeman also ran into the El Pastor restaurant on Stoney Street, forcing diners and staff to take shelter.

10:10pm: Police officers arrive at the scene, according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Police searching for the attackers went through bars and restaurants as staff and drinkers hid.

10:14pm: Paramedics arrive at the scene.

10:16pm: Armed officers kill the three attackers outside the Wheatsheaf, a trendy pub dating back to the 19th century on the edge of Borough Market.

Italian photographer Gabriele Sciotto takes a picture of the scene showing the three assailants on the ground.

One of them appears to be wearing military trousers.

The three were also wearing belts with canisters attached to them that looked like suicide vests but were in fact "hoaxes", the police said.

11:30pm: British Transport Police report "multiple casualties".

11:46pm: Police release an urgent message urging people to run to a place of safety, turn their phones to silent and call the police only if safe to do so.

It is the first time police have released this particular message, which was designed in the wake of Paris terror attacks in November 2015.

00:25am: London's Metropolitan Police Service declares the events at London Bridge and Borough Market as "terrorist incidents".

00:38am: Prime Minister Theresa May condemns "a terrible incident" and says: "Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events".

4am: National counter-terrorism policing chief Mark Rowley says six people have died and three assailants have been shot dead by police.

He says one of the injured is a member of the British Transport Police who was stabbed in the face.

Around 8am: An emergency ministerial meeting hosted by May begins after the Conservatives and main opposition Labour parties suspend campaigning ahead of a general election on Thursday.

Around 9.40am: Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick says the death toll has risen to seven.

Police carried out raids in Barking, east London, though the Met could not immediately confirm any link to the attacks.

10.35am: After chairing a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee, Prime Minister Theresa May said the UK was experiencing a "new trend in the threat we face as terrorism breeds terrorism" as she condemned the terror attacks.