Britain’s general election is set to go ahead on Thursday, as Prime Minister Theresa May decried the “evil ideology” of “Islamist extremism,” as she laid out how the country’s tackling of “one of the greatest challenges of our time” needed to change. Seven people have died and at least 48 have been injured following a terrorist attack in London. It is the third terrorist attack to take place in the country, following last month’s bombing on the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester and the attack on Westminster in March.

Speaking after she chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency committee, COBRA, May said authorities believed that while the recent attacks were not connected, “we believe we are experiencing a new trend in the threat we face as terrorism breeds terrorism.” As a result things needed to change in four important ways, she said: Counterterrorism alone could not tackle Islamist extremism, which would only be defeated by persuading people that our values were better. The ideology should not be given a safe space, whether it was in the country, abroad, or online, via social media channels that could be used to propagate their ideology. Military action to destroy ISIS in Syria and Iraq was a necessary component of this, she said. Action would also need to be taken domestically to stamp out tolerance of extremism across the country. “The whole country needs to come together to take on extremism,” she said. Britain would also need to review its counterterrorism strategy, and if necessary the powers to those involved in that strategy should be increased, including potentially the custodial sentences for those involved in supporting or promoting terrorism.

Three assailants drove a van at high speed across London Bridge, by one of the city’s busiest stations, at around 10 pm local time on Saturday night, before ferociously attacking people, including an off duty police officer, with knives around Borough Market, a popular and lively area with pubs, restaurants and shops. The three attackers were wearing what appeared to be explosive vests, but turned out to be hoaxes, and were shot dead by police within 8 minutes of the first call to emergency services. Police forces are reviewing their presence across the capital in coming days, with extra police set to be deployed across the city. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

In the aftermath of the attack London’s police force used a new warning system urging people to “Run, Hide, Tell,” outlining the ways in which people should respond if caught up in an attack.

The attack comes days before the general election is due to take place, and after Britain’s threat level was reduced back to “severe” after being raised to its highest level “critical” following the Manchester attack. The main political parties said they would be suspending election campaigning till the end of the day, though campaigns at a more local level are set to continue. The far right UKIP party, however, said it would not be suspending its campaign.

The attack is the second on the city in three months, following the attack on Westminster Bridge and Parliament Square in March, in which the lone attacker also used a vehicle to attack pedestrians, and then attacked and killed a policeman outside Parliament with a knife. London Mayor Sadiq Khan called on the city’s residents to remain calm and vigilant. “I am appalled and furious that these twisted and cowardly terrorists deliberately targeted Londoners and visitors to our city who were just enjoying their Saturday night.” He urged for the general election not to be postponed, which he said would involve “giving in to terrorists”

Eyewitness accounts and video clips sent to media outlets have built up a horrific picture of what had happened. Holly Jones, a BBC reporter who was on the bridge as the attack took place, said the van drove at high speed, veering into pedestrians. “It was swerving violently, mounting the pavement fully, then swerving back into the road,” said Sunday Times journalist Ian Houghton who was at the scene at the time of the attack.

Those around Borough Market spoke of the moments when the three men began entering venues around the area, attacking people with knives, as other members of the public sought to thwart them, by throwing bottles and chairs. One eyewitness told the BBC that one of the attackers had shouted “this is for Allah” before launching an attack on a woman.

Police, who were swiftly on the scene, urged many - on buses or on the street - to run from the scene, and also entered bars and restaurants, ordering people to bend low as they sought to establish if further attackers were in the area. The area, including homes, were swiftly evacuated under a tight police presence, with those leaving the area asked to keep their hands above their head.

Anti terror police urged members of the public who had witnessed the events to share images and film with the police.

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