The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the twin terror attacks that were carried out by three men wearing fake suicide vests in London on Saturday night, killing seven people and injuring 48. All three suspects were shot dead by the police within eight minutes of the attack.
The terrorist attacks took place at London Bridge and Borough Market late on Saturday. A van speeding across the London Bridge suddenly veered off the road and hit several pedestrians on the pavement.
In another incident, stabbings were reported at a restaurant in Borough Market, located not too far from London Bridge.
"A security detachment from Islamic state carried out London attacks yesterday" the Amaq news agency, which is affiliated with the terrorist organisation, said.
British Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the attacks, saying that the "evil" Islamist ideology was the reason behind such violence. She vowed to crack down on extremist content that can be found online even as the police detained 11 people — seven women and four men — in two raids conducted in east London.
A third incident was also reported at the Vauxhall area just before 1:00 am on Sunday. However, the Metropolitan Police Service in London said that the incident in the residential area was a "stabbing" incident and was not connected to the attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market.
Police declared both the attacks as "terrorist incidents" and believe that all of those directly responsible for the attack have been killed. However, no details on the attackers are available. Mark Rowley, head of national counter-terrorism policing, said that investigators were still trying to ascertain whether the attackers acted alone. He added that their identities would be released "as soon as operationally possible."
The deceased include a Canadian and a French national. Seven French nationals were also injured in the attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market.
The UK is getting ready for general elections to be held on June 8.
