LONDON (CNN) — The incidents at London Bridge and Borough Markets have been declared as terrorist acts, according to London police.
Earlier, British Prime Minister Theresa May said the “terrible incident in London is being treated as a potential act of terrorism,” according to a statement.
A van mowed down pedestrians as it sped down London Bridge in the British capital Saturday (June 3) night, leaving bodies lying in the roadway, a witness to the incident told CNN.
Also Saturday, two men entered a restaurant at Borough Market, just south of the Bridge, and stabbed two people inside, a witness told CNN on Saturday. The patrons sheltered in the basement and police have arrived at the scene, the witness said.
— London Bridge Tube station was closed.
— London Bridge was closed in both directions.
— Authorities have not provided details of the incident or said how many people are injured.
Mark Roberts, the witness on the bridge, 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.”
People run down Borough High Street Saturday night.
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.
Borough Market, where the stabbing occurred, is a popular food market in south London, just south of London Bridge, with gourmet food and produce stalls and several restaurants inside.
The US national security team has briefed President Donald Trump on the situation and will continue to provide him with updates, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer 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.
