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London attack: Men 'planned to use 7.5 tonne lorry' | London attack: Men 'planned to use 7.5 tonne lorry' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The London Bridge attackers tried to hire a seven-and-a-half tonne lorry to carry out their attack, police say. | The London Bridge attackers tried to hire a seven-and-a-half tonne lorry to carry out their attack, police say. |
But the three men failed to provide payment details and the vehicle was not picked up, prompting them to use a smaller van from a DIY store instead. | But the three men failed to provide payment details and the vehicle was not picked up, prompting them to use a smaller van from a DIY store instead. |
The men drove into pedestrians on the bridge before stabbing people in Borough Market seven days ago. | The men drove into pedestrians on the bridge before stabbing people in Borough Market seven days ago. |
Police said the men tied 12in (30cm) pink ceramic knives to their wrists and had petrol bombs in the van. | |
Eight people were killed and dozens more were injured in the attack, which began shortly before 22:00 BST on 3 June. | |
Khuram Shazad Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba have been named as the attackers, who were all shot dead. | Khuram Shazad Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba have been named as the attackers, who were all shot dead. |
Scotland Yard wants more witnesses to come forward and is also appealing to companies who hire out vans to report any suspicious activity. | Scotland Yard wants more witnesses to come forward and is also appealing to companies who hire out vans to report any suspicious activity. |
Early on Saturday, police said they had arrested a man, 27, on suspicion of preparing terrorists acts, after carrying out a raid in Ilford, east London, linked to the attack. | |
In its most detailed description of the attack yet, the Metropolitan Police said the men had also rented a flat in Barking, east London, to use as a safe house. | |
Inside, they found a copy of the Koran opened at a page describing martyrdom. | Inside, they found a copy of the Koran opened at a page describing martyrdom. |
They also discovered equipment for making petrol bombs, plastic bottles and duct tape for constructing fake suicide bomb belts, and an ID card for Redouane. | They also discovered equipment for making petrol bombs, plastic bottles and duct tape for constructing fake suicide bomb belts, and an ID card for Redouane. |
Forensic work at this flat has determined that they acted alone. | Forensic work at this flat has determined that they acted alone. |
The investigation has concluded that 27-year-old Butt was the ringleader. He hired the van used in the attack from a B&Q store in Romford on the morning of the attack. | The investigation has concluded that 27-year-old Butt was the ringleader. He hired the van used in the attack from a B&Q store in Romford on the morning of the attack. |
He is thought to have driven the van, with Redouane and Zaghba in the back, into central London. | He is thought to have driven the van, with Redouane and Zaghba in the back, into central London. |
At two minutes before 22:00 BST, the van crossed London Bridge heading south. Six minutes later it returned, crossing over the bridge again and making a U-turn at the northern end. | |
The attack began with the van driving back along the pavements of the bridge, running down three pedestrians before crashing outside the Barrowboy and Banker pub opposite London Bridge station. | The attack began with the van driving back along the pavements of the bridge, running down three pedestrians before crashing outside the Barrowboy and Banker pub opposite London Bridge station. |
The men jumped out clutching the ceramic kitchen knives. Police say the weapons were possibly chosen to prevent them being picked up by metal detectors. | |
They stabbed five people who had been enjoying the area's pubs and restaurants. | |
Police were called within two minutes and arrived eight minutes later, killing the attackers in what officers said was an "unprecedented" volley of 46 bullets. | |
When briefing reporters, Commander Dean Haydon said the police - from the Met and City of London forces - had shown "incredible bravery". | When briefing reporters, Commander Dean Haydon said the police - from the Met and City of London forces - had shown "incredible bravery". |
He added: "We have stories of people armed with chairs, bottles, anything they could get their hands on with a view to trying to prevent the attackers coming to pubs and bars but also scaring them off to prevent other people being attacked." | |
He detailed the actions of four people who put their lives at risk to fight back and help the injured: | He detailed the actions of four people who put their lives at risk to fight back and help the injured: |
The massive police investigation into the attack continues and by Saturday there had been 19 arrests and 13 buildings had been searched. | |
So far, 282 witnesses from 19 countries have been questioned but police still want more people who saw what happened to come forward. | |
In the back of the white Renault van used in the attack officers found wine bottles filled with a flammable liquid with rags tied to their necks. There were blow torches for lighting these "Molotov cocktails". | In the back of the white Renault van used in the attack officers found wine bottles filled with a flammable liquid with rags tied to their necks. There were blow torches for lighting these "Molotov cocktails". |
The three men had added bags of building gravel and several chairs - possibly to suggest a reason for having hired the van. | |
Scotland Yard said it wanted to hear from anyone renting vans who might have suspicions about a customer. | |
Police are also appealing for information about the "distinctive" pink "Ernesto" brand knives the men were carrying. | Police are also appealing for information about the "distinctive" pink "Ernesto" brand knives the men were carrying. |
They said they had not found evidence of anyone else being involved in the plot - or inspiring the attackers to carry it out. | They said they had not found evidence of anyone else being involved in the plot - or inspiring the attackers to carry it out. |
The Met revealed Butt had been arrested for bank fraud in October 2016 but was not charged. He had been opening accounts and closing them again, possibly to launder money. | |
Police also confirmed there had been a call about him to an anti-terrorism hotline, but no evidence was given that he was planning an attack. | |
However when he appeared in a Channel 4 documentary, The Jihadis Next Door, last year, officers did view the programme. They decided it was "deeply abhorrent" but not evidence of criminality. | |
Mr Haydon described the current terror alert as "unprecedented times". Since March, there have been five planned attacks of which two were prevented and three carried out - in Westminster, Manchester and London Bridge. | Mr Haydon described the current terror alert as "unprecedented times". Since March, there have been five planned attacks of which two were prevented and three carried out - in Westminster, Manchester and London Bridge. |
"The tempo has increased," he said, adding that officers at Britain's intelligence services were "working flat out". | |
"Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Barriers" have been added to central London bridges to prevent vehicles being driven onto the pavement. | "Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Barriers" have been added to central London bridges to prevent vehicles being driven onto the pavement. |
Meanwhile, police are working with "iconic venues" and music festivals to improve their security over the summer. | Meanwhile, police are working with "iconic venues" and music festivals to improve their security over the summer. |