London experiences third terrorist attack to hit UK in three months
Seven people have been killed along with another 48 injured following a terrorist attack on the London Bridge. BBC reports that a white van hit multiple pedestrians before the passengers got out and stabbed a number of passersby late Saturday night. Police shot and killed three men who were wearing fake bomb vests.
Including a similar attack in Westminster in March and the bombing in Manchester, this marks the third terrorist attack in the United Kingdom in three months.
Of those injured, one victim is a police officer who intervened and both French and Australian were involved in some capacity.
“He swerved right round me and then hit about five or six people. He hit about two people in front of me and then three behind,” said BBC reporter Holly Jones, who was on the bridge during the attack.
Another witness told BBC Radio 5 Live, “I saw about 20 or 30 people rushing to get back into the pub and five seconds later a big white van came screeching down the pavement.”
“Two or three people jumped out. Initially, I thought it was a road traffic incident and the people had jumped out to see if anyone was injured, but I could tell immediately, they looked very aggressive.”
Investigators don’t feel that the three attacks are connected, but the proximity of them is viewed as a cause for concern. Since 2013, UK security services have prevented a total of 18 terrorist plots.
Politically, movement in the UK has reached a stand-still. Until further notice, campaigning efforts for the forthcoming national election have beep paused.
British Prime Minister Theresa May publicly claimed that the country has allowed “far too much tolerance of extremism in our country.”
“Since the emergence of the threat from Islamist-inspired terrorism, our country has made significant progress in disrupting plots and protecting the public. But it is time to say `Enough is enough’.”
This call to action got an immediate response of support from President Donald Trump, who shared his thoughts in a string of tweets:
We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2017
Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there – WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2017
We must stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people. If we don't get smart it will only get worse
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017
At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is "no reason to be alarmed!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017
Do you notice we are not having a gun debate right now? That's because they used knives and a truck!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017
After hearing the initial comments made by London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan, who is Muslim, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make the connection.
“Londoners will see an increased police presence today and over the course of the next few days. No reason to be alarmed,” Khan initially told his city.
“There aren’t words to describe the grief and anger that our city will be facing today. I’m appalled and furious that these cowardly terrorists would deliberately target innocent Londoners,” said Khan, according to the Guardian.
It looks like Donald’s never remiss when it comes to getting another chance to criticize an entire religious faith.