Up to seven people are feared dead after a van veered off the road and mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge, turning a warm Saturday night into a scene of panic and chaos.
There are still no firm details of casualties, just that there are “multiple casualties” but the BBC reported that more than one person had been killed.
The Sun newspaper is reporting up to seven people are feared dead.
British Prime Minister Theresa May says it’s being treated as a terrorist attack.
Police said armed officers were also responding to reports of stabbings nearby. The BBC reported that more than one person had been killed.
The Metropolitan Police said they were called just after 10pm to reports of a vehicle hitting pedestrians on the bridge, which spans the River Thames in central London.
Soon after, there were reported stabbings at nearby Borough Market, a bustling area full of bars and restaurants.
The force said armed officers were sent to the scenes and shots were fired. They did not say if officers fired the shots.
Police also responded to another incident in the nearby Vauxhall area, but police later declared the incident was an unrelated stabbing.
The force tweeted a warning telling people in the area to run to safety, hide and then call police if it is safe to do so.
May said that “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.”
She said it was a fast-moving investigation and her thoughts were with “those who are caught up in these dreadful events.”
May’s office said she would chair a meeting of the government’s COBRA emergency committee on Sunday.
About two hours after the first reports of an incident, television images showed people walking away from the London Bridge area with their hands on their heads. Police tweeted that Londoners should “remain calm but be alert and vigilant”.