London Bridge: Boris Johnson vows to ‘hunt down’ terrorists

Boris Johnson vows to ‘hunt down’ those behind London Bridge terror attack as Tories suspend general election campaigning in the capital out of respect

  • The Prime Minister rushed back to Westminster from his Uxbridge constituency 
  • Spokesman said he would be receiving ‘further updates’ on unfolding incident
  • UK’s terrorism threat level downgraded to ‘substantial’ from ‘severe’ weeks ago

Boris Johnson tonight vowed that anyone involved in the latest terror attack to strike London Bridge would be ‘hunted down and brought to justice’.

The Prime Minister spoke out after a knifeman was shot dead by armed police in the beating heart of the capital after wounding five people this afternoon.

Speaking in Number 10 after he interrupted his election campaign and rushed to Downing Street, he said:  ‘I can assure you and assure everyone that anyone involved in this crime and these attacks will be hunted down and brought to justice.’ 

He added that the UK would ‘never be cowed or divided or intimidated by this sort of attack and our British values will prevail’.

The Conservatives tonight suspended their general election campaigning int he capital out of respect for those affected. 

The Prime Minister was in his Uxbridge constituency when the attack happened. 

Police revealed tonight that the man killed was wearing a hoax bomb strapped to his body. 

At the start of November the UK’s terrorism threat level was downgraded to ‘substantial’ from ‘severe’, meaning an attack was now ‘likely’ rather than ‘highly likely’. 

The Prime Minister spoke out after a knifeman was shot dead by armed police in the beating heart of the capital after wounding five people this afternoon

The decision is taken independent of ministers by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Committee (JTAC). 

Mr Johnson said there would be meetings and consultations inside Number 10 as the evening goes on, but that ‘to the best of our knowledge the incident has been contained’.

He said he would be ‘reviewing the matter in the course of the next few hours’ as to whether General Election campaigning would continue as normal.  

He added: ‘I’ve just been briefed by the commissioner and the assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police about the events at London Bridge this afternoon.

‘And while this is an ongoing investigation, the police can confirm that this is a terrorist incident and clearly my thoughts are first with the emergency services – the police and the bravery that they showed going towards danger as they do.

‘I also want to pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery of those members of the public who physically intervened to protect the lives of others and for me they represent the very best of our country and I thank them on behalf of all of our country.’

Armed police shot a man on London Bridge today in an incident Scotland Yard is treating as 'terror-related'.

Armed police shot a man on London Bridge today in an incident Scotland Yard is treating as ‘terror-related’.

Mr Johnson at a press conference earlier today. He had gone campaigning in Uxbridge afterwards but s now heading for Downing Street

Mr Johnson at a press conference earlier today. He had gone campaigning in Uxbridge afterwards but s now heading for Downing Street

There are five levels of terror threat, with the highest being ‘critical’ – meaning that an attack is highly likely and will come in the near future.

After dropping from the second-highest tier, severe, the UK is now on the third rung of danger. 

Earlier the Prime Minister had tweeted: ‘I’m being kept updated on the incident at London Bridge and want to thank the police and all emergency services for their immediate response.’

Home Secretary Priti Patel added she was ‘very concerned’, saying: ‘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.’

Home Secretary Priti Patel added she was 'very concerned', saying: 'Very concerned by ongoing incident at London Bridge.

Home Secretary Priti Patel added she was ‘very concerned’, saying: ‘Very concerned by ongoing incident at London Bridge.

Dramatic video filmed at London Bridge around 2pm this afternoon shows at least four people struggling with a man on the ground before armed police officers step in.

The officers tell the people on top of the suspect to move away, before dragging the last bystander to safety and opening fire. One of the bystanders is holding a knife which seems to have been taken from the suspect.

The suspect lies wounded on the ground, but still moving as officers back away – clearly fearing that they are still in danger, potentially from explosives.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: ‘Shocking reports from London Bridge. 

‘My thoughts are with those caught up in the incident. Thank you to the police and emergency services who are responding.’

And London mayor Sadiq Khan added: ‘We must – and we will – stay resolute in our determination to stand strong and united in the face of terror.’ 

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