London, Jun 4 (PTI) Three knife-wielding attackers wearing fake suicide vests unleashed a terror rampage through central London, plowing a van into pedestrians on the iconic London Bridge and then running to a nearby market where they randomly stabbed multiple people, killing six and injuring 48.
The eight-minute-long terror attack at the two key London landmarks last night came just days before the general election on June 8. The three attackers were shot dead, police said.
The first incident was reported at the London Bridge when a van swerved off the road into a crowd of pedestrians.
A white van driver came speeding veered off the road into the crowds of people who were walking along the pavement, an eye-witness was quoted as saying by BBC.
Within minutes, there were reports of a second attack at Borough Market on the south bank of the Thames where three men wielding knives 10 inches long began attacking passersby, even entering one restaurant to attack night diners.
Six people were killed in the attack, and at least 48 were taken to hospital, the Metropolitan police said.
"We took 48 patients to five hospitals across London and treated a number of others at the scene for minor injuries," London Ambulance Service said in a statement.
"We declared a major incident and continue to work closely with other members of the emergency services at the scene," it said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The British Transport Police said one of its officers was seriously injured after being stabbed as he responded to the incident, but his condition was not said to be life- threatening.
The three assailants shot dead by police were wearing fake suicide vests, police said today.
"The suspects were wearing what looked like explosive vests but these were later established to be hoaxes," Britain's head of counter-terrorism Mark Rowley said.
A large area of central London remained cordoned off and police told people to avoid the area, leaving tourists and revellers struggling to get home.
Bursts of gunfire echoed through the streets - likely from armed police - and at least three blasts rang out as police performed controlled explosions.
Police also said that they were attending a third incident in the Vauxhall area, but later said it was not connected.
It was the third terror attack to strike the UK this year, after a man drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in March and the bomb attack on an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester two weeks ago.
Prime Minister Theresa May said that the "terrible incident" in London is being treated as a "potential act of terrorism".
The prime minister 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".
The Indian High Commission in London has set up a Public Response Unit for any Indians caught up in the attack.
"Any Indians injured/affected during the London Bridge 'major incident' and at Borough Market may reach off-office hours Public Response Unit. We shall endeavour to extend all possible assistance to all affected and to their families and friends in this difficult hour," an Indian High Commission statement said.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan called it "a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners".
Jeremy Corbyn, the Opposition Labour leader, tweeted on Sunday night: "Brutal and shocking incidents reported in London. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.
Thank you to the emergency services".
Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: "Tonight's horrific incidents in London remind us how much we owe our emergency services. My thoughts and prayers with everyone affected".
Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister and SNP leader, wrote on Twitter: "Dreadful news from London. My thoughts are with all those affected.
The investigation into the latest attack is being led by the Met Police s Counter Terrorism Command and Britain's Special Air Service (SAS) officers have been deployed in central London.
The incidents, just four days before the general election on June 8, come less that two weeks after a suicide bomber targeted a Manchester concert on May 22, killing 22 victims.
On May 22, 22 people were killed and 116 injured in a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena.
The attacker, identified as 22-year-old Salman Abedi, detonated a home-made bomb in the arena's foyer as crowds were leaving a performance by US singer Ariana Grande late in the evening. That terror attack stopped election campaigning for three days as troops were deployed to the streets and the UK's terror threat level was raised to "critical", meaning an attack was "imminent".
On March 22, six people died, including the attacker, and at least 50 people were injured in an attack near the Houses of Parliament.
Attacker Khalid Masood first drove his car at pedestrians on the pavement on Westminster Bridge before crashing into a perimeter fence. Masood, armed with a knife, then left the vehicle and ran towards Parliament, where he was shot dead by police.
The unprecedented development will make Sharif the first incumbent to appear before such a panel, let alone one probing allegations of financial irregularities or fraud against nearly his entire family, going back three generations, Dawn newspaper reported.
Joint Investigation Team (JIT) chief Wajid Zia, in a letter dated Saturday, asked the prime minister to appear before the six-member probe team at 11:00 AM (11:30 IST) on June 15 with all documents relevant to the case.
The summon was issued to Sharif, 67, after he returned from his Kazakhstan visit where he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
The JIT s summons also reminded Sharif to "kindly bring along relevant record/documents/material" related to the Panama Papers case. This will entail nearly all the documents and evidence submitted before the Supreme Court by the Prime Minister's counsel, Makhdoom Ali Khan.
The report also said that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar may also be questioned by the team before Sharif's appearance.
In its judgement of April 20 in the Panama Papers case, the Supreme Court had constituted a JIT and empowered it to summon the prime minister, his sons and any other person necessary, to investigate allegations of money-laundering, through which the four apartments in London's posh Park Lane area were purchased.
Sharif had met with his close aides yesterday in Lahore to discuss the issue. After consulting with them, the prime minister has decided to honour the summons and appear before the JIT on Thursday.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb, talking to some TV channels, said that the prime minister had received the JIT summons and in pursuance of the Supreme Court's order of April 20, he would ensure his presence accordingly.
The Joint Investigation Team had questioned Sharif's sons -- Hussain and Hasan -- last month over the family's alleged improper business dealings.
His eldest son Hussain was questioned five times while Hasan, the younger son, was summoned twice.
The court last year took up the case and issued a split decision over allegations of money laundering when Sharif was prime minister in 1990s.
On May 5, the Supreme Court set up a high-level six- member JIT to probe Sharif and his sons' alleged corruption in the Panama Papers case.
The JIT is bound to complete the probe in 60 days unless it is granted additional time.
It is for the first time that a sitting prime minister would appear before a high-level probe team traditionally constituted to investigate high-profile criminal cases.
It is not yet clear that Sharif will be questioned for once or would be called again like his two sons.