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As it happenedended1575157682

London Bridge attack: First victim named as pressure mounts on Johnson for investigation into release of convict taught by Anjem Choudary

Security minister confirms police are not looking for more suspects in investigation

Conrad Duncan,Peter Stubley
Sunday 01 December 2019 00:19 GMT
London Bridge attack: What we know so far

Labour and the Conservatives sought to blame each other for the release of the convicted terrorist who killed two people in London Bridge on Friday.

Prime minister Boris Johnson and home secretary Priti Patel both claimed that Jeremy Corbyn’s party was responsible for the law that meant 28-year-old Usman Khan was freed on licence half way through his 16-year sentence.

Meanwhile former shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper questioned what action the government took to assess the risks posed by the attacker, and both Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, pointed to cuts made to public services over the last decade.

The attacker, who was convicted of terrorism offences in 2012 and released last December, was fatally shot by police at about 2pm on Friday.

One of the victims has been named as 25-year-old Jack Merritt, who worked as a course coordinator for the prisoners’ rehabilitation programme holding the event at Fishmongers’ Hall.

His father David described him as “an exceptional young man” and called for greater funding of probation services monitoring released prisoners.

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Detectives are appealing for anyone with any information on the attack to come forward.

Officers are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who was at Fishmongers' Hall on London Bridge yesterday.

Conrad Duncan30 November 2019 10:42
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The man who apparently used a narwhal tusk to fight the London Bridge attacker has been named as Luckasz – he is reportedly a Polish chef who worked at Fishmongers’ Hall.

And according to historian Guy Walters, he is not the first person to think of taking a narwhal tusk as a weapon.

In Greenland, the tusks used to be made into a weapon called a “nuguit”.

Conrad Duncan30 November 2019 10:51
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Residents living near a flat in Stafford where Usman Khan is thought to have lived have told PA of their shock over the attack.

Justin Lightfoot, a retired police officer who lives nearby, said he instantly recognised Khan when a friend showed him a mugshot of the 28-year-old in a news report.

“I've seen his picture this morning online and when I saw that obviously I recognised him. A friend showed me the picture and as soon as I saw it, I recognised him straight away,” he said.

“It's just frightening when somebody lives so close to you - you don't know what's going on so near to your home.”

Conrad Duncan30 November 2019 11:01
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The Independent’s Zoe Tidman has the full story on how members of the public took down the knife-wielding London Bridge attacker.

Conrad Duncan30 November 2019 11:07
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Forensic officers have been seen clearing items from the floor at the junction of Cannon Street, near London Bridge, this morning.

Officers wearing forensic overalls were seen carrying items – which looked like medical supplies – in plastic bags out of a blue tent.

Source: PA 

Conrad Duncan30 November 2019 11:21
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The Queen has sent “thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones” in yesterday’s attack, according to PA.

Conrad Duncan30 November 2019 11:40
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Boris Johnson has arrived at the scene of the London Bridge attack, according to a PA update.

The prime minister and Priti Patel, the home secretary, met with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick and City of London Police Commissioner Ian Dyson inside the police cordon shortly after 11.30am.

Conrad Duncan30 November 2019 11:52
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Here’s the full statement from the Queen:

“Prince Philip and I have been saddened to hear of the terror attacks at London Bridge.

“We send our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones and who have been affected by yesterday's terrible violence.

“I express my enduring thanks to the police and emergency services, as well as the brave individuals who put their own lives at risk to selflessly help and protect others.”

Conrad Duncan30 November 2019 12:06
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Images have been released of Boris Johnson’s visit to the scene of the attack earlier today.

The prime minister was joined by Priti Patel and Cressida Dick on the bridge.

Source: PA

Source: PA 

Sadiq Khan is expected to visit London Bridge later this afternoon.

Conrad Duncan30 November 2019 12:22
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The BBC have announced that Mr Johnson will be interviewed on The Andrew Marr Show tomorrow.

The prime minister had been blocked from appearing on the show this weekend because he had not agreed to a half-hour primetime interview with Andrew Neil.

Mr Johnson is currently the only major party leader to not agree to an interview with Mr Neil.

However, the broadcaster said it is “now in the public interest” for him to speak to Mr Marr “in the wake of a major terrorist incident”.

Conrad Duncan30 November 2019 12:30

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