Ramadan Rampage: Two-Pronged Terror Attack Hits London

Armed police officers responded to two terror attacks near the London Bridge in Central London after reports Saturday that a white van veered off the road and slammed into a group of pedestrians.

Eyewitnesses say they saw the white van careen off the road before striking and injuring several pedestrians. One eyewitness, a taxi driver, told LBC radio that “a van came from London Bridge itself, went between the traffic light system, and rammed it towards the steps. It knocked loads of people down.”

“Then three men got out with long blades, 12 inches long and went randomly along Borough High Street, stabbing people at random.”

“Then three men got out with long blades, 12 inches long and went randomly along Borough High Street, stabbing people at random,” the taxi driver continued.

The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed the two incidents were being treated as terror attacks, tweeting, “At 0025hrs 4/6/17 the incidents at #LondonBridge & #BoroughMarket were declared as terrorist incidents.”

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U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May said, “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,” according to the BBC.

“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,” May added.

The Metropolitan Police Department and paramedics also responded to a situation just yards away at Borough Market, where knife stabbings reportedly occurred. At least one fatality was reported.

“We are dealing with an incident on #LondonBridge, when we have more information we will update this twitter feed,” the police department tweeted. “As well as #LondonBridge officers have also responded to an incident in #BoroughMarket. We have armed police at the scenes.”

“We are aware of reports on social media. We will release facts when we can — our info must be accurate,” the police department added.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner tweeted, “Terrorism suspected as van drives into pedestrians at speed near London’s Borough Market. #Londonbridge.”

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Eyewitness senior social media producer Mauro Galluzzo tweeted, “Just come out of Borough Bistro where attack happen — saw man wielding knife and people on the floor in blood. In total shock #LondonBridge.”

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Eyewitness Will Orton was inside a nearby pub when “lots of people came running inside,” the BBC reported.

“We thought maybe there was a fight or something outside. And then there were almost hundreds of people coming inside,” Orton said. “There was panic — it seemed like it was literally outside the door … People were coming inside and saying they had witnessed people being stabbed … It seemed like it was happening immediately outside the entrance.”

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A BBC report said that police are searching for at least three possible suspects following the incidents. One eyewitness told Reuters that three victims appeared to have their throats slashed.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer announced via Twitter that President Donald Trump has also been briefed on the situation.

“We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!” Trump tweeted Saturday evening, referring to his travel-ban executive order awaiting a Supreme Court hearing. “Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U.K., we will be there — WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!”

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The attacks come on the heels of a series of deadly terror attacks that have hit the U.K. thus far in 2017.

On March 22, 52-year-old Khalid Masood slammed his vehicle into a group of pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in an attack that killed four victims while wounding more than 50 others. One of the victims was an unarmed police officer. Masood died after a police officer shot him.

On May 22, 22-year-old Salman Ramadan Abedi carried out a suicide bombing at the Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 adults and children while wounding 166 others.