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Islamic State claims responsibility for terror attack on London – as it happened

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How the London Bridge attacks unfolded – video report

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Key events

What we know so far: the attackers

  • Isis has claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack, although this has not been verified. In a statement published late on Sunday by the Amaq news agency, which usually carries its claims, it said:

A detachment of Islamic State fighters executed yesterday’s London attack.

  • Metropolitan police assistant commissioner Mark Rowley said detectives were urgently investigating whether the three terror suspects were “assisted or supported” by a wider network.
  • The names of the three men have not been released. Police say they believe all the attackers were killed after armed officers “fired an unprecedented number of rounds” to shoot them dead during their attack on Borough Market.
  • One of the suspected attackers was described by neighbours as a married father of two who attended local mosques.
  • One neighbour told the Guardian she had reported the man to police two years ago after fears he was attempting to radicalise children.
  • Read more.

Writing in the Times today, Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, says he agrees with Theresa May that British Muslims need to do more to tackle extremism:

Speaking as a Muslim myself, we need to ask ourselves searching questions …

There’s no avoiding the fact that these people think they are Muslims. They identify as Muslims. And they carry out their attacks – ignorantly, offensively – in the name of Islam. That’s why, although we all share the responsibility for tackling terrorism, there’s a special, unique burden on the Muslim community …

We need them to set off on the path to peace rather than the road to war. We need to offer not just a counternarrative, which rebuts the extremists, but a positive and self-confident narrative that promotes pluralistic, British values – and their compatibility with an Islamic life. And that message can best come from within the Muslim community.

Gerard Vowls was heading home after a football game when he found himself in the middle of the attack. He attempted to distract the terrorists by shouting at them and throwing bar stools and bottles at them: “I was just throwing it at them, trying to get them to chase me so I could get them out into the main road, draw them out to the main road to where the police could see them.”

What we know about London attack victims

  • Seven people were killed, and 48 injured people were taken to hospital.
  • Of these, 21 are in a critical condition.
  • Only one of those killed has so far been named: a Canadian woman, Christine Archibald, from Castlegar, British Columbia.
  • The French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, confirmed that a French man was among those killed, but he has not been named.
  • Seven other French citizens were reported to have been injured, four of them critically.
  • Two Australians – Candice Hedge, from Brisbane, and Andrew Morrison, from Darwin – were wounded, and the Canberra government says there are two more “about whom we have very real concerns”.
  • An off-duty Metropolitan police officer and a British Transport police officer who confronted the terrorists with a baton were injured.
  • A British man was shot in the head by a stray police bullet but was not severely injured and is expected to make a full recovery.
  • New Zealander Oliver Dowling was stabbed in the face, neck and stomach. His partner Marie Bondeville was also injured.
  • Geoff Ho, a Sunday Express journalist, was in intensive care after being stabbed in the throat.
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The Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has suggested that four Australians could be among those injured or killed in the London attack.

Two – Candice Hedge, from Brisbane, and Andrew Morrison, from Darwin – have already been identified among those wounded in the attack. Now Turnbull says there are two more “about whom we have very real concerns”.

PM: Two Australians have been injured, and there are another two "about whom we have very real concerns". #auspol #London

— Bianca Hall (@_Biancah) June 5, 2017
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Justin McCurry
Justin McCurry

Japan has warned its nationals to avoid places it says could be “potential targets” in London, including sightseeing spots, department stores, markets, concert venues and political rallies.

The country’s foreign ministry said in a travel advisory that Japanese visitors to Britain should “pay close attention to their surroundings, and leave quickly if they see anything suspicious”.

The prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has voiced solidarity with the British people in a message to Theresa May. Abe offered his condolences to the victims of Saturday’s attack, adding: “I express solidarity with the people of Britain at this difficult time.”

Abe said: “Japan is determined to fight terrorism, working hand in hand with Britain and other members of the international community.”

We have some further information on the 12 arrests made by police on Sunday investigating the London Bridge attack.

Four addresses were raided in east London, but at two of those properties nobody was arrested. Twelve people were arrested at the two other addresses.

Of the 12, seven are women, aged between 19 and 60.

Five men, aged between 28 and 55, were also detained, but one – a 55-year-old man – has already been released without charge.

Eleven remain in custody.

All are detained on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act, which means they can be held for up to two weeks before a decision must be made whether to charge or release them.

On Monday, the first funeral of one of the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack will take place.

Eilidh MacLeod, who was 14, will be remembered in a ceremony at Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea in Castlebay on the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides.

Her friend Laura MacIntyre was badly injured in the bombing and remains in hospital.

Eilidh’s parents, Roddy and Marion MacLeod, paid tribute to her ahead of the funeral:

Two weeks ago today we lost our darling daughter and sister, Eilidh MacLeod, in one of the cruellest ways possible.

Most of Eilidh’s happiest times were spent in the Western Isles, particularly Barra and Vatersay, with her friends and family, so we are pleased to have her back home among those she loved so much.

Today, as we take Eilidh on her final journey, our one hope is that her funeral is a real celebration of her life and the wonderful person she was.

Eilidh’s infectious personality touched everyone she met and it has been a privilege and an honour to have her as our daughter.

We will always remember her as a truly beautiful girl inside and out, eternally young, loved by all and forever in our hearts.

Mourners carry the coffin of Eilidh MacLeod, draped with the Barra flag, across Traigh Mhor beach after the body of the 14-year-old was flown home ahead of her funeral. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/AFP/Getty Images

One of the seven victims killed in Saturday night’s attack has been named as Christine Archibald, who was from Canada.

Her family has issued a statement asking people to “honour her by making your community a better place”:

We grieve the loss of our beautiful, loving daughter and sister. She had room in her heart for everyone and believed strongly that every person was to be valued and respected.

She lived this belief, working in a shelter for the homeless until she moved to Europe to be with her fiancé.

She would have had no understanding of the callous cruelty that caused her death.

Please honour her by making your community a better place. Volunteer your time and labour or donate to a homeless shelter. Tell them Chrissy sent you.

Christine Archibald, in a photo provided by her family. Photograph: AP

Arrests latest

  • 12 people were arrested by police on Sunday after searches in east London.
  • One 55-year-old man was later released without charge.
  • Seven women and four men, aged between 19 and 60, remain in custody.

According to White House pool reporters, Donald Trump has been speaking again about the attack on London:

President Trump described the London attack as a “horrific terrrorist attack” and said he spoke with PM May to “express our unwavering support”.

President said the US will do everything in its power to “bring those that are guilty to justice”. Trump said: “America sends our thoughts and prayers.

“We renew our resolve, stronger than ever before, to protect the United States and its allies from a vile enemy that has waged war on innocent life. And it has gone on too long. This bloodshed must end. This bloodshed will end. As president I will do what is necessary to prevent this threat from spreading to our shores.”

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, appeared on stage at the One Love Manchester concert tonight and sent a message of support to London:

We have received so many messages in recent days, so tonight, Manchester, let’s send our own to our friends in London who are going through the same as we were going through.

We know how you are feeling but we will stand with you and we will get through this together.

There was an increased police presence, too, at the One Love Manchester concert – and many officers took the chance to show the positive spirit that infused the event:

This policeman dancing with kids.
❤️#OneLoveManchester pic.twitter.com/CAXG3p0Rr1

— Amanda (@Pandamoanimum) June 4, 2017

The policemen at #OneLoveManchester have their dancing shoes on pic.twitter.com/OkTqMB7nEr

— Eleanor Barlow (@EleanorBarlow) June 4, 2017

Couldn't resist a dance with some amazingly positive people to some great music. Manchester did itself proud tonight #OneLoveManchester https://t.co/RkxSnxgVTo

— CO Mike Walmsley (@SCOMikewalmsley) June 4, 2017

My colleague Chris Johnston reports that there remains a strong police presence around central London tonight – a van containing several officers is parked on Blackfriars bridge, for example.

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