IS claims responsibility for London attack

The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has claimed responsibility for an attack in the British capital London that killed seven people and injured dozens.

Crime scene investigators on London Bridge on June 4 - Photo: Reuters

On the messaging app Telegram on June 4, IS's Amaq news agency confirmed that "a security unit consisting of Islamic State fighters carried out the attack on London on Saturday".

Three attackers drove a van into a crowd on London Bridge on the evening of June 3 and then got out and stabbed more people nearby before being shot dead by police. At least seven people were killed and 48 injured. This is the third attack in the UK in the past three months.

Earlier on June 3, IS also posted a message on Telegram calling on followers to carry out attacks with trucks and knives during the holy month of Ramadan.

As of the evening of June 4, the London Police Department announced that the counter-terrorism unit had arrested 12 suspects in East London in connection with the attacks on the night of June 3. One person was later released, but seven women and five men were still in custody.

Searches are still ongoing in several locations in London.

Police also said they would soon release the names of the suspects involved in the attack. The three male attackers were shot dead within eight minutes of police receiving the call. Initial images showed the attackers wearing vests with boxes believed to be explosives, but police said they were fake.

London police confirmed that only three people were directly involved in the attack.

According to TTO