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London terror attack: Woman 'saved 20 lives' by barricading door of restaurant as terrorists tried to enter

A cab driver said that the woman had managed to block the door 'for a few seconds' giving people inside the restaurant the opportunity to escape through a back door as terrorists tried to enter

Sunday 04 June 2017 17:15 BST

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Cab driver: Woman 'saved 20 lives' by barricading door of restaurant as terrorists tried to enter

A woman has been described as “heroic” after she reportedly used her body to barricade the door of a restaurant in the London Bridge area, stalling terrorists trying to enter during Saturday night’s attacks and possibly saving the lives of up to 20 people.

Cab driver Aksha Patel told Sky News that the woman had managed to block the door “for a few seconds” giving the people inside the restaurant the opportunity to escape through a back door of the Black and Blue steak restaurant on Rochester Walk in Borough Market.

At least seven people were killed and dozens more injured after a van drove into pedestrians on London Bridge and several men then started stabbing passersby in what police said was a terrorist attack.

:: Follow latest live updates following the deadly London attack

Mr Patel told the broadcaster that the woman was one of two of his passengers who had come out of the restaurant after holding the doors closed from the inside.

"She knew they were bad people trying to break in," he said, adding: "She managed to hold the door for a few seconds but then I think they overpowered her."

"People managed to escape through the rear door so she saved maybe 20 peoples lives," he said.

There have been other eyewitness accounts of people attempting to fight those behind the attacks using pint glasses and barstools.

One taxi driver reportedly attempted to use his vehicle to stop the attackers.

Speaking to London radio LBC, he said that he had tried to “ram” the suspected attackers with his vehicles.

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London Bridge Terror Attack

Armed police on Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Armed Police talk to members of the public outside London Bridge Hospital as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Police Officers outside the Barrowboy and Banker Public House on Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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London Bridge Terror Attack

Armed Police talk to members of the public outside London Bridge Hospital as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Armed police on Borough High Street as police deal with a 'major incident' at London Bridge

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Emergency services near the scene of the incident

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People run down Borough High Street as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Emergency services arrive at the scene near Borough market at London Bridge

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Emergency personnel on London Bridge as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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Police sniffer dogs on London Bridge as police are dealing with a "major incident" at London Bridge

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A second helicopter lands on London Bridge as police are responding to three incidents in the capital, amid reports that a vehicle collided with pedestrians on London Bridge, Scotland Yard said. Officers are dealing with reports of stabbings in Borough Market, where armed officers attended and shots were fired. They are also at an incident in the Vauxhall area

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Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London

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London Bridge Terror Attack

Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London, Britain

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A police officer escorts members of the public to safety at London Bridge

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London Bridge Terror Attack

Police attend to an incident on London Bridge in London, Britain

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London Bridge Terror Attack

Police attend to an incident near London Bridge in London, Britain

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General election campaigning has been suspended following the attack, the second the country has experienced in less than a month.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: "Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events."

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