Deadly attacks on London Bridge

At 10:08 p.m. local time (2108 UTC) on Saturday night, London police hurried to respond to calls that a white van had jumped the curb on London Bridge, hitting several pedestrians. Shortly afterwards, reports emerged of multiple stabbings in the nearby Borough Market area.

A row of double-decker busses stand empty on the city's iconic London Bridge. After running over pedestrians on the bridge, authorities said three assailants jumped out of their van and began stabbing people in a nearby fashionable bar area. Police said they shot dead all three attackers.

Helicopters landed on London Bridge, while police boats patrolled the waters of the Thames River, helping to clear people from the area. Police said they were treating the incidences as "terrorist" attacks.

Authorities mobilized quickly once the emergency call came in. Police units were driven to the vicinity of London Bridge, where they quickly changed into bullet-proof vests before entering the area where the attacks took place.

The restaurant "The Blue Eyed Maid" is one of the many eateries located in the Borough Market area near London Bridge. The attackers stormed bars and restaurants, stabbing people at random. Police moved to clear members of the public away from the area.

A picture taken by an Italian photographer circulated on social media, allegedly showing two of the assailants after they had been shot by police. One of the men appeared to be wearing a belt with canisters that looked similar to a suicide vest. Police later said that the canisters turned out to be "hoaxes."

Passers-by were told to leave the area with their hands on their heads so that police could determine whether the attackers were among the evacuees.

The horror of the night's events registered on the faces of those who police evacuated from the Borough Market bars and restaurants. Witnesses described seeing people covered in blood and suffering multiple stab wounds.