Police say they are stepping up patrols in Nottinghamshire after seven people were killed in a terror attack at London Bridge.
Around 48 others were injured following the attack on Saturday night, which ended when three suspects were shot dead by police.
A white van hit pedestrians on London Bridge at around 10pm and continued to drive from the bridge to Borough Market.
Suspects then left the van and a number of people were stabbed, including an on-duty British Transport Police officer responding to the incident – he sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries.
Reacting to the incident, Notts Police said there is ‘no suggestion’ of an imminent risk to people in Notts, but said more patrols would be organised across the city and county to provide reassurance.
National campaigning has been temporarily halted ahead of the General Election on Thursday, but some candidates have already indicated they will continue local canvassing in line with advice from their political parties.
Armed officers shot and killed three suspects within eight minutes of the first call at 10.08pm.
Reportedly a terrorist attack just took place on the London Bridge. Stay safe everyone #PrayForLondon pic.twitter.com/bpbJGolCWn
— ㅤ9👁 (@6ELIASS) June 3, 2017
Holly Jones, a former Nottingham Trent University student and Notts TV reporter, who now works for the BBC, narrowly avoided being caught up in the attack and saw what happened.
Speaking on BBC News shortly after the incident, she said: “A white van driver came speeding at around 50mph and veered off the road into a crowd of people that were walking along the pavement.
“He swerved right around me and hit five or six people.
“There were about two people in front and three behind – I’d say there are at least four severely injured people but they all have paramedics assisting them.
“I’d say there are at least 20 armed police on the bridge at the moment and I’m unaware as to where the van driver has gone now.
“It was a white Transit van with one solo male driver – one of the victims was a French lady who was 45-years-old.
“She had her boyfriend with her who we can’t find at the minute and no-one knows what’s really going on as all the traffic has been halted.”
Nottinghamshire Police offered reassurance this morning (Sunday June 4) following the attack.
The force’s statement said: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragic events in London last night.
“We understand one of those injured was a colleague from the British Transport Police who was on duty and one of the first on the scene and was hurt while trying to help.
“While there is no suggestion that Nottinghamshire is affected by the incident, we are today carrying out high visibility patrols across the county to provide reassurance to members of the public and are monitoring the situation nationally.
“While we work around the clock to detect and prevent, the greatest defence to terrorism is the everyday actions of our communities and we would ask people to be alert and report any suspicious activity on the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321 or, in an emergency, call 999.”
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Theresa May said: “The police responded with great courage and speed with armed officers arriving within moments, shooting and killing the three suspects.
“On behalf of the country, I want to pay tribute to the professionalism and bravery of the police and emergency services and members of the public who defended others in the attack.
“This is the third terrorist attack Britain has experienced in the last three months.
“The security and intelligence agencies have also disrupted five plots since the Westminster attack in March.
“The attacks are not connected but we are experiencing a trend in the threat we face as terrorism breeds terrorism.
“We cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are and things need to change.
“Everyone needs to go about their lives as they normally should with political campaigning resuming tomorrow and the General Election going ahead as planned.
“United, we will take on and defeat our enemies.”
