The London Bridge and Borough Market terror attack on Saturday (3 June) night struck the UK while people were still recovering from the shock of the sudden bomb blast at Manchester arena on 22 May during pop star Ariana Grande's concert. That attack had left 23 people dead, including the suicide bomber, identified as Salman Abedi, 22.

The latest incident in which a white van ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge and three knife-wielding men from the vehicle randomly stabbed people at the busy Borough Market area is being treated as a terrorist attack, although no one has yet claimed responsibility. However, eyewitnesses have said that they heard the assailants shouting, "This is for Allah" while stabbing people.

London Bridge Terror Attack
People are led to safety on Southwark Bridge away from London Bridge after an attack Carl Court/Getty Images
London bridge terror attack
A woman caught up in the London Bridge and Borough Market terror attack Reuters

At least seven people are confirmed dead and the London Ambulance Service has said it has taken 48 injured people to five different hospitals in the city. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who condemned the "barbaric" and "cowardly" act, has said the city will see increased police presence in the coming days, including armed and plainclothes officers. He said that the terrorists want to disrupt the lives of innocent people through these attacks and want to stop them from exercising their rights to freedom.

London bridge terror attack
Police response team rushing to the scene of the London Bridge terror attack on 4 June Reuters
London Bridge terror attack
Police attend to an incident near London Bridge in London, Britain Hannah Mckay/Reuters

The terror threat level in the country was raised to "critical" following the Manchester bombing, but was changed back to "severe". The UK government under Prime Minister Theresa May is set to convene a Cobra meeting later in the day. The prime minister has condemned the attack and called it an "act of terrorism".

Police have said that they believe there were three male attackers involved in the incident, all of whom were shot dead within eight minutes after officers arrived at the scene. All the attackers were pictured wearing fake suicide vests. Images circulated on social media show an attacker lying dead with what appears to be a string of canisters attacked to his waist.

London bridge terror attack
Police attend to an incident near London Bridge in London on 4 June 2017 Reuters
London bridge terror attack
Debris is strewn outside a cafe near London Bridge on 4 June 2017 in London, England Getty Images
London Bridge Terror Attack
People leave the area with their hands up after an incident near London Bridge REUTERS/Neil Hall
London bridge terror attack
Police and emergency response team at the scene of the London Bridge and Borough Market terror attack on 4 June 2017 Reuters
London bridge terror attack
People react as police attend to an incident near London Bridge in London, Britain, on 4 June 2017 REUTERS/Hannah McKay
London bridge terror attack
Members of the public are led away from the scene near London Bridge after a suspected terrorist attack Getty Images
London bridge terror attack
A woman talks on her phone at London Bridge Station in London, Britain Reuters
London bridge terror attack
Members of the public flee the scene near London Bridge after a suspected terrorist attack on 4 June 2017 Getty Images

Keeping calm and carrying on: London returns to normal after terror attack