London police respond to 'major incidents' after van reportedly hits pedestrians
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Police in London responded Saturday night to several violent "major incidents" in the heart of London. Authorities have confirmed "more than one" fatality, BBC News reports, and are treating the attacks as terrorism.
Witnesses on London Bridge reported that a vehicle had veered into pedestrians, injuring several. "Within my line of sight, there were five or six people on the ground that were not moving," one witness, Mark Roberts, told CNN. "It looked to me that the van was aiming at the people." Other witnesses reported some victims appeared to have stab wounds.
The bridge was closed, the surrounding area was evacuated, and several underground rail stations nearby were closed. Police were also responding to other incidents nearby, in Borough Market on the South Bank of London, and in the Vauxhall area, The Guardian reported. The Vauxhall incident, a stabbing, was soon determined to be unrelated to the bridge and market attacks.
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President Trump posted a statement to Twitter Saturday evening. "Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there," he said, adding, "WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!"
These incidents come roughly two months after a terrorist attack in which a car mowed down pedestrians on London's Westminster Bridge, killing four people and injuring more than 50 others.
This is a breaking news story and has been updated throughout.
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Jessica Hullinger is a writer and former deputy editor of The Week Digital. Originally from the American Midwest, she completed a degree in journalism at Indiana University Bloomington before relocating to New York City, where she pursued a career in media. After joining The Week as an intern in 2010, she served as the title’s audience development manager, senior editor and deputy editor, as well as a regular guest on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. Her writing has featured in other publications including Popular Science, Fast Company, Fortune, and Self magazine, and she loves covering science and climate-related issues.
