Nearly two weeks after a deadly suicide bombing at her concert in Manchester, US star Ariana Grande is planning to press ahead with a charity gig later on Sunday despite a terror attack on the streets of London.

Grande tweeted &quot;Praying for London&quot; after Saturday&#39;s attack in which seven people were killed and 48 injured, while her manager Scooter Braun said the concert would go ahead &quot;with greater purpose&quot;.

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Praying for London ?
&mdash; Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/871164749924319232">June 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&quot;We must not be afraid, and in tribute to all those affected here and around the world, we will bring our voices together and sing loudly,&quot; he said.

Manchester police said in a statement Sunday that there would be &quot;additional security&quot; in place at the event and asked people not to bring bags in order to speed up entry as &quot;everyone will be searched&quot;.

Grande will perform for a sell-out crowd of 50,000, less than a fortnight after the blast at the Manchester Arena which killed 22 people -- a third of them children -- and injured 116 more.

She is being joined by some of pop&#39;s biggest names including four of the most-followed celebrities on Instagram in a show of musical solidarity.

Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Robbie Williams, Pharrell Williams, Miley Cyrus, Take That, Usher, the Black Eyed Peas, Little Mix and One Direction&#39;s Niall Horan are all expected to take part.

Proceeds from the &quot;One Love Manchester&quot; concert will be donated to a fund set up to help the victims&#39; families.

Grande, who described herself as &quot;broken&quot; following the May 22 bombing, immediately returned to the US, interrupting her Dangerous Woman world tour.

&#39;In honour&#39; of victims&nbsp;

But the 23-year-old singer pledged to return for the charity concert, writing on her Instagram: &quot;Music is meant to heal us, to bring us together, to make us happy.

&quot;We will continue in honour of the ones we lost, their loved ones, my fans and all affected by this tragedy,&quot; she added.

Fellow US pop singer Perry said she felt &quot;humbled&quot; to be part of the show.

&quot;The music community stands together with love and in solidarity. I am humbled to be a part of this show,&quot; she wrote on her social media accounts.

Grande on Friday made a surprise visit to injured fans being treated at the Royal Manchester Children&#39;s Hospital.

&quot;This means more to us than all the amazing things people have done,&quot; Peter Mann, whose daughter Jaden was injured in the bombing, said after Grande&#39;s visit.

Twenty-four children from a local school, some of whom were at the targeted Manchester Arena concert, will also join Grande on stage to perform her hit song &quot;My Everything&quot;.

They previously recorded their own version as a tribute to the victims.

The school&#39;s music teacher Daniel McDwyer told a local newspaper, he was &quot;so so proud&quot; adding that it would be a &quot;beautiful tribute&quot;.

&#39;Unscrupulous applications&#39;&nbsp;

The 35,000 tickets put up for sale on Thursday at &pound;40 each ($51, 46 euros) sold out in minutes with 14,200 free tickets set aside for those who attended Grande&#39;s May 22 concert.

&quot;Over 10,000 unscrupulous applications&quot;, however, were made for free tickets, Ticketmaster said, with people applying despite not having attended the original concert.

Others tried to resell their tickets on eBay for &pound;1,200. The online auction platform has since then pledged to immediately remove any item &quot;which profits in any way from the tragedy in Manchester&quot;.

Authorities who expect 130,000 people to be in the area on Sunday evening have taken steps to increase security measures.

&quot;We have dedicated resources, with a significant number of officers from both Greater Manchester Police and colleagues from other forces, some of whom will be armed,&quot; Chief Superintendent Stuart Ellison said.

The concert at the Old Trafford cricket ground will be broadcast by the BBC and livestreamed across several online platforms including Twitter, Apple and YouTube.

MTV also announced it would livestream the concert to make it available in 180 countries, encouraging fans around the world to donate and send supportive messages over social media.

(AFP)

Ariana Grande tweeted 'Pray for London' and insisted that people should not be 'afraid'

Nearly two weeks after a deadly suicide bombing at her concert in Manchester, US star Ariana Grande is planning to press ahead with a charity gig later on Sunday despite a terror attack on the streets of London. Grande tweeted "Praying for London" after Saturday's attack in which seven people were killed and 48 injured, while her manager Scooter Braun said the concert would go ahead "with greater purpose". Praying for London ? — Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) June 4, 2017 × "We must not be afraid, and in tribute to all those affected here and around the world, we will bring our voices together and sing loudly," he said. Manchester police said in a statement Sunday that there would be "additional security" in place at the event and asked people not to bring bags in order to speed up entry as "everyone will be searched". Grande will perform for a sell-out crowd of 50,000, less than a fortnight after the blast at the Manchester Arena which killed 22 people -- a third of them children -- and injured 116 more. She is being joined by some of pop's biggest names including four of the most-followed celebrities on Instagram in a show of musical solidarity. Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Robbie Williams, Pharrell Williams, Miley Cyrus, Take That, Usher, the Black Eyed Peas, Little Mix and One Direction's Niall Horan are all expected to take part. Proceeds from the "One Love Manchester" concert will be donated to a fund set up to help the victims' families. Grande, who described herself as "broken" following the May 22 bombing, immediately returned to the US, interrupting her Dangerous Woman world tour. 'In honour' of victims But the 23-year-old singer pledged to return for the charity concert, writing on her Instagram: "Music is meant to heal us, to bring us together, to make us happy. "We will continue in honour of the ones we lost, their loved ones, my fans and all affected by this tragedy," she added. Fellow US pop singer Perry said she felt "humbled" to be part of the show. "The music community stands together with love and in solidarity. I am humbled to be a part of this show," she wrote on her social media accounts. Grande on Friday made a surprise visit to injured fans being treated at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. "This means more to us than all the amazing things people have done," Peter Mann, whose daughter Jaden was injured in the bombing, said after Grande's visit. Twenty-four children from a local school, some of whom were at the targeted Manchester Arena concert, will also join Grande on stage to perform her hit song "My Everything". They previously recorded their own version as a tribute to the victims. The school's music teacher Daniel McDwyer told a local newspaper, he was "so so proud" adding that it would be a "beautiful tribute". 'Unscrupulous applications' The 35,000 tickets put up for sale on Thursday at £40 each ($51, 46 euros) sold out in minutes with 14,200 free tickets set aside for those who attended Grande's May 22 concert. "Over 10,000 unscrupulous applications", however, were made for free tickets, Ticketmaster said, with people applying despite not having attended the original concert. Others tried to resell their tickets on eBay for £1,200. The online auction platform has since then pledged to immediately remove any item "which profits in any way from the tragedy in Manchester". Authorities who expect 130,000 people to be in the area on Sunday evening have taken steps to increase security measures. "We have dedicated resources, with a significant number of officers from both Greater Manchester Police and colleagues from other forces, some of whom will be armed," Chief Superintendent Stuart Ellison said. The concert at the Old Trafford cricket ground will be broadcast by the BBC and livestreamed across several online platforms including Twitter, Apple and YouTube. MTV also announced it would livestream the concert to make it available in 180 countries, encouraging fans around the world to donate and send supportive messages over social media. (AFP)

Star-studded Manchester benefit gig to go ahead despite London attack

The terror&nbsp;attack&nbsp;in a&nbsp;London&nbsp;nightlife hub on Saturday unfolded in just a few minutes, bringing terror to a bustling part of the city filled with football fans watching the Champions League final.

Here is a timeline of the night, in which three assailants went on a stabbing rampage after smashing into pedestrians with a van, killing a total of seven people before being shot dead by police:

10:07 pm (2107 GMT): The&nbsp;London&nbsp;Ambulance Service receives a call to an emergency incident on&nbsp;London&nbsp;Bridge, a crossing between the City of&nbsp;London&nbsp;financial hub to the north and the trendy Borough area to the south.

10:08 pm: Police are called to reports of a van hitting pedestrians on&nbsp;London&nbsp;Bridge. A BBC reporter at the scene said she saw a van travelling at around 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) and casualties on the street.

Witnesses say they rushed to help five or six people who were hit by the van, including a woman who was thrown into the air by the force of the impact.

The van comes to a stop outside The Barrowboy &amp; Banker pub on Borough High Street and witnesses see three assailants armed with knives rush out, headed for the packed bars and restaurants in the area.

10:10 pm: Police officers arrive at the scene, according to&nbsp;London&nbsp;Mayor Sadiq Khan.

10:14 pm: Paramedics arrive at the scene.

10:16 pm: Armed officers kill the three attackers outside the Wheatsheaf, a trendy pub dating back to the 19th century on the edge of Borough Market.

Italian photographer Gabriele Sciotto takes a picture of the scene showing the three assailants on the ground.

One of them appears to be wearing military trousers.

The three were also wearing belts with canisters attached to them that looked like suicide vests but were in fact &quot;hoaxes&quot;, the police said.

11:30 pm: British Transport Police report &quot;multiple casualties&quot;.

11:46 pm: Police release an urgent message urging people to run to a place of safety, turn their phones to silent and call the police only if safe to do so.

It is the first time police have released this particular message, which was designed in the wake of Paris terror attacks in November 2015.

00:25 am:&nbsp;London&#39;s Metropolitan Police Service declares the events at&nbsp;London&nbsp;Bridge and Borough Market as &quot;terrorist incidents&quot;.

00:38 am: Prime Minister Theresa May condemns &quot;a terrible incident&quot; and says: &quot;Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events&quot;.

04:00 am: National counter-terrorism policing chief Mark Rowley says six people have died and three assailants have been shot dead by police.

He says one of the injured is a member of the British Transport Police who was stabbed in the face.

Around 08:00 am: An emergency ministerial meeting hosted by May begins after the Conservatives and main opposition Labour parties suspend campaigning ahead of a general election on Thursday.

Around 9.30 am: The death toll rises to seven.

Around 10.45 am: May condemns the London attack as an &quot;evil ideology of Islamist extremism&quot;.

(AFP)

A minute-by-minute detail of the ghastly event in which three men stabbed and ran over people, killing a total of seven people before being shot dead by police

The terror attack in a London nightlife hub on Saturday unfolded in just a few minutes, bringing terror to a bustling part of the city filled with football fans watching the Champions League final. Here is a timeline of the night, in which three assailants went on a stabbing rampage after smashing into pedestrians with a van, killing a total of seven people before being shot dead by police: 10:07 pm (2107 GMT): The London Ambulance Service receives a call to an emergency incident on London Bridge, a crossing between the City of London financial hub to the north and the trendy Borough area to the south. 10:08 pm: Police are called to reports of a van hitting pedestrians on London Bridge. A BBC reporter at the scene said she saw a van travelling at around 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) and casualties on the street. Witnesses say they rushed to help five or six people who were hit by the van, including a woman who was thrown into the air by the force of the impact. The van comes to a stop outside The Barrowboy & Banker pub on Borough High Street and witnesses see three assailants armed with knives rush out, headed for the packed bars and restaurants in the area. 10:10 pm: Police officers arrive at the scene, according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan. 10:14 pm: Paramedics arrive at the scene. 10:16 pm: Armed officers kill the three attackers outside the Wheatsheaf, a trendy pub dating back to the 19th century on the edge of Borough Market. Italian photographer Gabriele Sciotto takes a picture of the scene showing the three assailants on the ground. One of them appears to be wearing military trousers. The three were also wearing belts with canisters attached to them that looked like suicide vests but were in fact "hoaxes", the police said. 11:30 pm: British Transport Police report "multiple casualties". 11:46 pm: Police release an urgent message urging people to run to a place of safety, turn their phones to silent and call the police only if safe to do so. It is the first time police have released this particular message, which was designed in the wake of Paris terror attacks in November 2015. 00:25 am: London's Metropolitan Police Service declares the events at London Bridge and Borough Market as "terrorist incidents". 00:38 am: Prime Minister Theresa May condemns "a terrible incident" and says: "Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events". 04:00 am: National counter-terrorism policing chief Mark Rowley says six people have died and three assailants have been shot dead by police. He says one of the injured is a member of the British Transport Police who was stabbed in the face. Around 08:00 am: An emergency ministerial meeting hosted by May begins after the Conservatives and main opposition Labour parties suspend campaigning ahead of a general election on Thursday. Around 9.30 am: The death toll rises to seven. Around 10.45 am: May condemns the London attack as an "evil ideology of Islamist extremism". (AFP)

Timeline: London terror attack unfolded in just a few minutes

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday condemned the &quot;evil ideology of Islamist extremism&quot; as being behind three terror attacks in Britain since March, saying the perpetrators were &quot;copying one another&quot;.

While not part of the same plot, &quot;they are connected in one important sense. They are bound together by the evil ideology of Islamist extremism,&quot; she said, adding that the &quot;perpetrators are inspired to attack... by copying one another&quot;.

More to follow

(AFP)

She said the perpetrators are 'copying one another'

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday condemned the "evil ideology of Islamist extremism" as being behind three terror attacks in Britain since March, saying the perpetrators were "copying one another". While not part of the same plot, "they are connected in one important sense. They are bound together by the evil ideology of Islamist extremism," she said, adding that the "perpetrators are inspired to attack... by copying one another". More to follow (AFP)

London attack: British PM May condemns 'evil ideology of Islamist extremism'

Britain&#39;s main political parties suspended campaigning Sunday for this week&#39;s election after an attack in London left seven people dead -- although the UK Independence Party (UKIP) said it would carry on.

The truce is the second in the race for the June 8 vote, after campaigning was halted for several days following the Manchester concert attack on May 22.

But with the race tightening between Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s Conservatives and the main opposition Labour party, the suspension is only for national events -- and is likely to last only a few hours.

&quot;The Conservative party will not be campaigning nationally today. We will review as the day goes on and as more details of the attack emerge,&quot; a spokesman for the centre-right party told AFP.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: &quot;The Labour party will be suspending national campaigning until this evening, after consultations with other parties, as a mark of respect for those who have died and suffered injury.&quot;

The Scottish National Party (SNP) said it was suspending national campaigning &quot;this morning&quot;, adding: &quot;Appropriate local campaigning will continue.&quot;

The smaller Liberal Democrats also followed suit.

However, Paul Nuttall, the leader of the pro-Brexit, anti-immigration UKIP, said: &quot;I refused to suspend campaigning because this is precisely what the extremists would want us to do.&quot;

He added: &quot;It is more important than ever for us to confront this evil with the democratic principles that have made this country what it is.&quot;

(AFP)

Britain's main political parties suspended campaigning Sunday for this week's election after an attack in London left seven people dead -- although the UK Independence Party (UKIP) said it would carry on. The truce is the second in the race for the June 8 vote, after campaigning was halted for several days following the Manchester concert attack on May 22. But with the race tightening between Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives and the main opposition Labour party, the suspension is only for national events -- and is likely to last only a few hours. "The Conservative party will not be campaigning nationally today. We will review as the day goes on and as more details of the attack emerge," a spokesman for the centre-right party told AFP. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "The Labour party will be suspending national campaigning until this evening, after consultations with other parties, as a mark of respect for those who have died and suffered injury." The Scottish National Party (SNP) said it was suspending national campaigning "this morning", adding: "Appropriate local campaigning will continue." The smaller Liberal Democrats also followed suit. However, Paul Nuttall, the leader of the pro-Brexit, anti-immigration UKIP, said: "I refused to suspend campaigning because this is precisely what the extremists would want us to do." He added: "It is more important than ever for us to confront this evil with the democratic principles that have made this country what it is." (AFP)

UK parties suspend election campaign after London attack

Three assailants stabbed people at random after smashing into pedestrians in a van Saturday, killing six in a &quot;terrorist&quot; attack in central London before armed officers shot all three dead.

As they rampaged through a busy night-life hub around London Bridge, the trio wore what looked like suicide vests which turned out to be &quot;hoaxes&quot;, said Mark Rowley, head of counter-terrorism policing.

&quot;We believe that six people have died in addition to the three attackers shot dead by police,&quot; Rowley said.

Forty-eight people have been taken to hospital after the attack, the London Ambulance Service said Sunday.

&quot;We took 48 patients to five hospitals across London and treated a number of others at the scene for minor injuries,&quot; the LAS said in a statement on Saturday night`s attack.

The attack came just five days ahead of a general election and just minutes after the end of the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus in an area teeming with bars where many fans were watching the football on television.

Britain is on high alert only 12 days after a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a concert in Manchester, north-west England and ahead of Thursday&#39;s general election, in which security is a major theme.

It is the latest in a string of attacks to hit Europe, including in Paris, Berlin and Saint Petersburg. 
&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash">#BREAKING</a> VIDEO Several <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/London?src=hash">#London</a> police officers enter pub at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LondonBridge?src=hash">#LondonBridge</a> telling people to &#39;get down!&#39; <a href="https://t.co/qSlczUdvBL">pic.twitter.com/qSlczUdvBL</a>
&mdash; Lucid Hurricane&trade;? (@Lucid_Forever) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lucid_Forever/status/871142856873955329">June 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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BREAKING: London Bridge cordoned off, due to a &#39;major police incident&#39;. Reports of a vehicle hitting pedestrians. (Video: <a href="https://twitter.com/joshdcaplan">@joshdcaplan</a>) <a href="https://t.co/5O3KBHj7QV">pic.twitter.com/5O3KBHj7QV</a>
&mdash; London Updates (@LondonUpdates) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonUpdates/status/871126940593250304">June 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

&#39;This is for Allah&#39;

Witnesses described the van speeding into several pedestrians on London Bridge and then one or more knife-wielding men sprinting towards bars packed with revellers enjoying a Saturday night out.

One witness described seeing five assailants and several people said they were locked inside pubs and restaurants by police and had to come out with their hands on their heads.

Italian photographer Gabriele Sciotto, who was watching the Champions League final at the Wheatsheaf pub in Borough Market, said he saw three men shot just outside the pub.

In his picture, a man wearing combat trousers, with a shaved head and what looked like a belt with canisters attached to it could be seen on the ground with two more bodies behind him.

A man called Gerard told the BBC: &quot;They were stabbing everyone. They were running up and going &#39;This is for Allah&#39;.&quot;

Police responded rapidly with dozens of emergency vehicles and authorities led shell-shocked members of the public away from the scene.

The three suspects were shot by armed police within eight minutes of the first call to the emergency services.

The attack had harrowing echoes of an attack on London&#39;s Westminster Bridge when 52-year-old British Muslim convert Khalid Masood rammed his car into pedestrians before crashing into the barriers surrounding parliament and then stabbing a police officer to death.

&#39;Potential act of terrorism&#39;

Police said the first reports of a &quot;vehicle in collision with pedestrians on London Bridge&quot; came at 10:08 pm (2108 GMT) and were quickly followed by &quot;reports of stabbings in Borough Market,&quot; at the south end of the bridge.

Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed the &quot;terrible incident in London&quot; was being treated as &quot;a potential act of terrorism.&quot;

She will hold an emergency ministerial meeting later on Sunday and Facebook activated its safety check function for people in London to let their loved ones know they are safe.

US President Donald Trump offered his help, tweeting &quot;WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!&quot;

French President Emmanuel Macron said France was &quot;more than ever at Britain&#39;s side.&quot;&nbsp;

US pop star Ariana Grande, whose concert in Manchester was the scene of last week&#39;s fatal terror attack, tweeted: &quot;Praying for London&quot;.

&#39;Her throat had been cut&#39;&nbsp;

Witnesses on London Bridge reported seeing a van mounting the pavement and hitting pedestrians.

&quot;There was a van that crashed into the fences on London Bridge. And then there was a man with a knife, he was running. He came down the stairs and went to the bar,&quot; Dee, 26, who was visibly in shock and declined to give her last name, told AFP.

BBC reporter Holly Jones, who on London Bridge at the time of the incident, said she saw a van driven by a man travelling &quot;at about 50 miles (80 kilometres) an hour&quot;.

Alex Shellum at the Mudlark pub near the scene of the attack said a woman had come into the bar &quot;bleeding heavily from the neck&quot;.

&quot;It appeared that her throat had been cut,&quot; he told the BBC.

&#39;Large blade&#39;

Another witness, who gave his name as Alessandro, also told BBC radio that he saw a van strike several people on London Bridge.

&quot;I saw this van going left and right, left and right, trying to catch as many people as he could. And people just tried to get out of the way of the van.

&quot;Then I tried to help people, wounded people.&quot;

Husband and wife Ben and Natalie told BBC radio they were outside Borough Market when they witnessed a stabbing.

Ben said: &quot;We saw people running away and then I saw a man in red with a large blade, at a guess 10 inches (25 centimetres) long, stabbing a man, about three times.

&quot;It looked like the man had been trying to intervene, but there wasn&#39;t much he could do. He was being stabbed quite coldly and he slumped to the ground.&quot;

Ben said the man then walked towards another pub. He said they saw a metal chair being thrown towards the man.

&quot;Then we heard three gunshots, definitely gunshots, and we ran.&quot;

(AFP)

Three assailants stabbed people at random after smashing into pedestrians in a van Saturday

Three assailants stabbed people at random after smashing into pedestrians in a van Saturday, killing six in a "terrorist" attack in central London before armed officers shot all three dead. As they rampaged through a busy night-life hub around London Bridge, the trio wore what looked like suicide vests which turned out to be "hoaxes", said Mark Rowley, head of counter-terrorism policing. "We believe that six people have died in addition to the three attackers shot dead by police," Rowley said. Forty-eight people have been taken to hospital after the attack, the London Ambulance Service said Sunday. "We took 48 patients to five hospitals across London and treated a number of others at the scene for minor injuries," the LAS said in a statement on Saturday night`s attack. The attack came just five days ahead of a general election and just minutes after the end of the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus in an area teeming with bars where many fans were watching the football on television. Britain is on high alert only 12 days after a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a concert in Manchester, north-west England and ahead of Thursday's general election, in which security is a major theme. It is the latest in a string of attacks to hit Europe, including in Paris, Berlin and Saint Petersburg. #BREAKING VIDEO Several #London police officers enter pub at #LondonBridge telling people to 'get down!' pic.twitter.com/qSlczUdvBL — Lucid Hurricane™? (@Lucid_Forever) June 3, 2017 × BREAKING: London Bridge cordoned off, due to a 'major police incident'. Reports of a vehicle hitting pedestrians. (Video: @joshdcaplan) pic.twitter.com/5O3KBHj7QV — London Updates (@LondonUpdates) June 3, 2017 × 'This is for Allah' Witnesses described the van speeding into several pedestrians on London Bridge and then one or more knife-wielding men sprinting towards bars packed with revellers enjoying a Saturday night out. One witness described seeing five assailants and several people said they were locked inside pubs and restaurants by police and had to come out with their hands on their heads. Italian photographer Gabriele Sciotto, who was watching the Champions League final at the Wheatsheaf pub in Borough Market, said he saw three men shot just outside the pub. In his picture, a man wearing combat trousers, with a shaved head and what looked like a belt with canisters attached to it could be seen on the ground with two more bodies behind him. A man called Gerard told the BBC: "They were stabbing everyone. They were running up and going 'This is for Allah'." Police responded rapidly with dozens of emergency vehicles and authorities led shell-shocked members of the public away from the scene. The three suspects were shot by armed police within eight minutes of the first call to the emergency services. The attack had harrowing echoes of an attack on London's Westminster Bridge when 52-year-old British Muslim convert Khalid Masood rammed his car into pedestrians before crashing into the barriers surrounding parliament and then stabbing a police officer to death. 'Potential act of terrorism' Police said the first reports of a "vehicle in collision with pedestrians on London Bridge" came at 10:08 pm (2108 GMT) and were quickly followed by "reports of stabbings in Borough Market," at the south end of the bridge. Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed the "terrible incident in London" was being treated as "a potential act of terrorism." She will hold an emergency ministerial meeting later on Sunday and Facebook activated its safety check function for people in London to let their loved ones know they are safe. US President Donald Trump offered his help, tweeting "WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!" French President Emmanuel Macron said France was "more than ever at Britain's side." US pop star Ariana Grande, whose concert in Manchester was the scene of last week's fatal terror attack, tweeted: "Praying for London". 'Her throat had been cut' Witnesses on London Bridge reported seeing a van mounting the pavement and hitting pedestrians. "There was a van that crashed into the fences on London Bridge. And then there was a man with a knife, he was running. He came down the stairs and went to the bar," Dee, 26, who was visibly in shock and declined to give her last name, told AFP. BBC reporter Holly Jones, who on London Bridge at the time of the incident, said she saw a van driven by a man travelling "at about 50 miles (80 kilometres) an hour". Alex Shellum at the Mudlark pub near the scene of the attack said a woman had come into the bar "bleeding heavily from the neck". "It appeared that her throat had been cut," he told the BBC. 'Large blade' Another witness, who gave his name as Alessandro, also told BBC radio that he saw a van strike several people on London Bridge. "I saw this van going left and right, left and right, trying to catch as many people as he could. And people just tried to get out of the way of the van. "Then I tried to help people, wounded people." Husband and wife Ben and Natalie told BBC radio they were outside Borough Market when they witnessed a stabbing. Ben said: "We saw people running away and then I saw a man in red with a large blade, at a guess 10 inches (25 centimetres) long, stabbing a man, about three times. "It looked like the man had been trying to intervene, but there wasn't much he could do. He was being stabbed quite coldly and he slumped to the ground." Ben said the man then walked towards another pub. He said they saw a metal chair being thrown towards the man. "Then we heard three gunshots, definitely gunshots, and we ran." (AFP)

Death toll from London Bridge attack rises to seven: Police

British Prime Minister Theresa May called on Sunday for a stronger response to Islamist extremism after three&nbsp;attackers drove a hired van into pedestrians on London Bridge and stabbed others nearby, killing seven people and injuring 48.

The attack occurred five days before a parliamentary election and was the third to hit Britain in less than three months. May said the vote would go ahead as planned on Thursday.

&quot;It is time to say enough is enough,&quot; the Conservative leader said in a televised statement outside her Downing Street office, where flags flew at half-mast.

&quot;We cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are,&quot; May said, calling for a beefed-up counter-terrorism strategy that could include longer jail sentences for some offences and new cyberspace regulations.

One French national has died after the attack, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Sunday.

Le Drian said on BFM TV that seven French citizens were in hospital, four of them with serious injuries, and one French national was still missing.

A Canadian national was also among those killed, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement. None of the dead were identified by name.

Australian authorities said nationals from their countries were among those injured.

London&#39;s Metropolitan Police arrested 12 people in the Barking district of east London in connection with the attack and raids were continuing there, the force said. A Reuters photographer saw another raid take place in nearby East Ham.

Less than two weeks ago, a suicide bomber killed 22 children and adults at a concert by US&nbsp;singer Ariana Grande in Manchester in northern England. In March, in a attack similar to Saturday&#39;s, five people died after a man drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in central London and stabbed a policeman.

On Saturday night, police shot dead the three male assailants in the Borough Market area near London Bridge within eight minutes of receiving the first emergency call shortly after 10 p.m. (2100 GMT).

Mark Rowley, head of counter-terrorism police, said eight officers had fired about 50 bullets to stop the attackers, who appeared to be suicide bombers because they were wearing what turned out to be fake suicide vests.

&quot;The situation these officers were confronted with was critical &ndash; a matter of life and death &ndash; three armed men, wearing what appeared to be suicide belts, had already attacked and killed members of the public and had to be stopped immediately,&quot; Rowley said.

Harrowing scenes

Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes as the attackers&#39; white van veered on and off the bridge sidewalk, hitting people along the way, and the three men then ran into an area packed with bars and restaurants, stabbing people indiscriminately.

Accounts emerged of people trying to barricade themselves in a pub while others tried throwing tables and other objects to fend off the attackers.

England&#39;s health authority said on Sunday afternoon that 36 of those injured remained in hospital, of whom 21 were in a critical condition.

May made a private visit to staff and patients at King&#39;s College Hospital, where some of the injured were being treated, a spokeswoman said.

The government announced that a nationwide minute of silence would be held at 1000 GMT on Tuesday to pay respect to the victims of the attack and flags would remain at half-mast on government buildings until Tuesday evening.

At an apartment block in Barking, a resident told Sky News he heard controlled explosions early on Sunday morning as police gained access to the building. A Reuters photographer later saw four women being removed from the building, shielding their faces as they stepped into police vans.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the London Bridge attack.

Islamic State, losing territory in Syria and Iraq to an advance backed by a U.S.-led coalition, had sent out a call on instant messaging service Telegram early on Saturday urging its followers to carry out attacks with trucks, knives and guns against &quot;Crusaders&quot; during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Islamist militants have carried out scores of deadly attacks in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the United States over the past two years.

&quot;We believe we are experiencing a new trend in the threat we face as terrorism breeds terrorism,&quot; May said.

&quot;Perpetrators are inspired to attack not only on the basis of carefully constructed plots ... and not even as lone attackers radicalised online, but by copying one another and often using the crudest of means of attack.&quot;

&quot;Tolerance of extremism&quot;

She said the series of attacks were not connected in terms of planning and execution, but were inspired by what she called a &quot;single, evil ideology of Islamist extremism&quot; that represented a perversion of Islam and of the truth. She said this ideology had to be confronted both abroad and at home.

&quot;While we have made significant progress in recent years, there is - to be frank - far too much tolerance of extremism in our country,&quot; she said, urging Britons to be more robust in stamping it out in the public sector and in wider society.

U.S. President Donald Trump, taking to Twitter on Sunday, urged the world to stop being &quot;politically correct&quot; in order to ensure public security against terrorism.

Most of the main political parties suspended election campaigning on Sunday, but May said this would resume on Monday. The anti-European Union UK Independence Party said it would not suspend its campaign because disrupting democracy was what the extremists wanted.

London Bridge is a major transport hub and nearby Borough Market is a fashionable warren of alleyways leavened with bars and restaurants that is always bustling on a Saturday night.

The area remained cordoned off and patrolled by armed police and counter-terrorism officers on Sunday, with train stations closed. Forensic investigators could be seen working on the bridge, where buses and taxis stood abandoned.

At several points outside the cordon, people laid flowers and messages of grief and solidarity.

Ariana Grande and other music stars were due to give a benefit concert at Manchester&#39;s Old Trafford cricket ground on Sunday evening to raise funds for victims of the concert bombing and their families. Police said the event would go ahead as planned though security would be increased.

&quot;Today&#39;s One Love Manchester benefit concert will not only continue, but will do so with greater purpose,&quot; Grande&#39;s manager, Scooter Braun, said on Twitter after the London attack.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the official threat level in Britain remained at severe, meaning a militant attack is highly likely. It had been raised to critical after the Manchester attack, then lowered again days later.

&quot;One of the things we can do is show that we aren&#39;t going to be cowed is by voting on Thursday and making sure that we understand the importance of our democracy, our civil liberties and our human rights,&quot; Khan said.

In tweets, Trump offered help to Britain but also levelled apparent criticism of Khan for saying there was no need to be alarmed. Khan had earlier said Londoners would see an increased police presence on the streets of the city and people should not be alarmed by that.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin were among those who sent messages of condolence and made statements of solidarity.

The Manchester bombing on May 22 was the deadliest attack in Britain since July 2005, when four British Muslim suicide bombers killed 52 people in coordinated assaults on London&#39;s transport network.

(Reuters)

London's Metropolitan Police arrested 12 people in the Barking district of east London

British Prime Minister Theresa May called on Sunday for a stronger response to Islamist extremism after three attackers drove a hired van into pedestrians on London Bridge and stabbed others nearby, killing seven people and injuring 48. The attack occurred five days before a parliamentary election and was the third to hit Britain in less than three months. May said the vote would go ahead as planned on Thursday. "It is time to say enough is enough," the Conservative leader said in a televised statement outside her Downing Street office, where flags flew at half-mast. "We cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are," May said, calling for a beefed-up counter-terrorism strategy that could include longer jail sentences for some offences and new cyberspace regulations. One French national has died after the attack, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Sunday. Le Drian said on BFM TV that seven French citizens were in hospital, four of them with serious injuries, and one French national was still missing. A Canadian national was also among those killed, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement. None of the dead were identified by name. Australian authorities said nationals from their countries were among those injured. London's Metropolitan Police arrested 12 people in the Barking district of east London in connection with the attack and raids were continuing there, the force said. A Reuters photographer saw another raid take place in nearby East Ham. Less than two weeks ago, a suicide bomber killed 22 children and adults at a concert by US singer Ariana Grande in Manchester in northern England. In March, in a attack similar to Saturday's, five people died after a man drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in central London and stabbed a policeman. On Saturday night, police shot dead the three male assailants in the Borough Market area near London Bridge within eight minutes of receiving the first emergency call shortly after 10 p.m. (2100 GMT). Mark Rowley, head of counter-terrorism police, said eight officers had fired about 50 bullets to stop the attackers, who appeared to be suicide bombers because they were wearing what turned out to be fake suicide vests. "The situation these officers were confronted with was critical – a matter of life and death – three armed men, wearing what appeared to be suicide belts, had already attacked and killed members of the public and had to be stopped immediately," Rowley said. Harrowing scenes Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes as the attackers' white van veered on and off the bridge sidewalk, hitting people along the way, and the three men then ran into an area packed with bars and restaurants, stabbing people indiscriminately. Accounts emerged of people trying to barricade themselves in a pub while others tried throwing tables and other objects to fend off the attackers. England's health authority said on Sunday afternoon that 36 of those injured remained in hospital, of whom 21 were in a critical condition. May made a private visit to staff and patients at King's College Hospital, where some of the injured were being treated, a spokeswoman said. The government announced that a nationwide minute of silence would be held at 1000 GMT on Tuesday to pay respect to the victims of the attack and flags would remain at half-mast on government buildings until Tuesday evening. At an apartment block in Barking, a resident told Sky News he heard controlled explosions early on Sunday morning as police gained access to the building. A Reuters photographer later saw four women being removed from the building, shielding their faces as they stepped into police vans. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the London Bridge attack. Islamic State, losing territory in Syria and Iraq to an advance backed by a U.S.-led coalition, had sent out a call on instant messaging service Telegram early on Saturday urging its followers to carry out attacks with trucks, knives and guns against "Crusaders" during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Islamist militants have carried out scores of deadly attacks in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the United States over the past two years. "We believe we are experiencing a new trend in the threat we face as terrorism breeds terrorism," May said. "Perpetrators are inspired to attack not only on the basis of carefully constructed plots ... and not even as lone attackers radicalised online, but by copying one another and often using the crudest of means of attack." "Tolerance of extremism" She said the series of attacks were not connected in terms of planning and execution, but were inspired by what she called a "single, evil ideology of Islamist extremism" that represented a perversion of Islam and of the truth. She said this ideology had to be confronted both abroad and at home. "While we have made significant progress in recent years, there is - to be frank - far too much tolerance of extremism in our country," she said, urging Britons to be more robust in stamping it out in the public sector and in wider society. U.S. President Donald Trump, taking to Twitter on Sunday, urged the world to stop being "politically correct" in order to ensure public security against terrorism. Most of the main political parties suspended election campaigning on Sunday, but May said this would resume on Monday. The anti-European Union UK Independence Party said it would not suspend its campaign because disrupting democracy was what the extremists wanted. London Bridge is a major transport hub and nearby Borough Market is a fashionable warren of alleyways leavened with bars and restaurants that is always bustling on a Saturday night. The area remained cordoned off and patrolled by armed police and counter-terrorism officers on Sunday, with train stations closed. Forensic investigators could be seen working on the bridge, where buses and taxis stood abandoned. At several points outside the cordon, people laid flowers and messages of grief and solidarity. Ariana Grande and other music stars were due to give a benefit concert at Manchester's Old Trafford cricket ground on Sunday evening to raise funds for victims of the concert bombing and their families. Police said the event would go ahead as planned though security would be increased. "Today's One Love Manchester benefit concert will not only continue, but will do so with greater purpose," Grande's manager, Scooter Braun, said on Twitter after the London attack. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the official threat level in Britain remained at severe, meaning a militant attack is highly likely. It had been raised to critical after the Manchester attack, then lowered again days later. "One of the things we can do is show that we aren't going to be cowed is by voting on Thursday and making sure that we understand the importance of our democracy, our civil liberties and our human rights," Khan said. In tweets, Trump offered help to Britain but also levelled apparent criticism of Khan for saying there was no need to be alarmed. Khan had earlier said Londoners would see an increased police presence on the streets of the city and people should not be alarmed by that. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin were among those who sent messages of condolence and made statements of solidarity. The Manchester bombing on May 22 was the deadliest attack in Britain since July 2005, when four British Muslim suicide bombers killed 52 people in coordinated assaults on London's transport network. (Reuters)

London attack: 'Time to say enough is enough', says PM Theresa May

Donald Trump lashed out Sunday at London&#39;s mayor Sadiq Khan, accusing him of downplaying the threat of terrorism a day after knife-wielding men mowed down and stabbed revelers in the British capital.

London&#39;s mayor swiftly shot down the US president&#39;s remarks, made in a series of overnight tweets, as critics accused Trump of exploiting a terror attack for political gain -- and not for the first time.

A spokesman said Khan &quot;has more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump&#39;s ill-informed tweet.&quot;

Trump poured scorn on Khan&#39;s attempt to reassure the public after three assailants smashed a van into pedestrians on London Bridge then attacked revelers with knives.

&quot;At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is &#39;no reason to be alarmed!&#39;&quot; the US president said in one tweet.

Trump said the attack showed it was time to &quot;stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people,&quot; after tweeting the night before -- as the scenes of panic in London were still unfolding -- that it underscored the need for his contested &quot;travel ban&quot; on several Muslim-majority nations.

Khan, in an interview with BBC just hours after the attack, had said, &quot;My message to Londoners and visitors to our great city is to be calm and vigilant today. You will see an increased police presence today, including armed officers and uniformed officers. There is no reason to be alarmed by this.&quot;

Responding Sunday to Trump&#39;s criticism, a Khan spokesman issued a pointed statement saying that the mayor -- busy coordinating a response to the attack even while reassuring Londoners and visitors -- had &quot;more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump&#39;s ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context his remarks.&quot;

&#39;Nasty &amp; unbecoming&#39;&nbsp;

The attack in central London came just weeks after a suicide bombing at a concert in Manchester left 22 dead, and it recalled an attack in March when a man drove a car into pedestrians near the seat of Parliament, killing five.

It was not the first time Trump has been accused of using a terror attack to make a political point, and with Londoners still in shock Sunday, the president&#39;s tweets drew angry responses on both sides of the Atlantic.

David Lammy, a Labor Party member of Parliament, tweeted: &quot;Cheap nasty &amp; unbecoming of a national leader. Sort of thing that makes me want to quit politics on a day like this. Evil everywhere we look.&quot;

In the United States, former vice president Al Gore told CNN that &quot;I don&#39;t think that a major terrorist attack like this is the time to criticize a mayor who is trying to organize his city&#39;s response to this attack.&quot;

Regarding Trump&#39;s plug for his contested travel ban -- which has been blocked by the courts -- Cecillia Wang, deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, tweeted, &quot;We need to be outraged when the president exploits a terrible violent crime to push his discriminatory and illegal policy.&quot;

Last June, after the deadly shooting attack on a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, Trump had tweeted: &quot;Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don&#39;t want congrats, I want toughness &amp; vigilance. We must be smart!&quot;

That tweet drew angry rebukes from critics saying that the immediate aftermath of an attack that left 49 people dead was not a time for a president to be &quot;basking in congratulations.&quot;

(AFP)

The US president asked why Sadiq Khan was downplaying the threat of terrorism, to which Khan's office said he had 'more important things to do' than to respond to Donald Trump

Donald Trump lashed out Sunday at London's mayor Sadiq Khan, accusing him of downplaying the threat of terrorism a day after knife-wielding men mowed down and stabbed revelers in the British capital. London's mayor swiftly shot down the US president's remarks, made in a series of overnight tweets, as critics accused Trump of exploiting a terror attack for political gain -- and not for the first time. A spokesman said Khan "has more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump's ill-informed tweet." Trump poured scorn on Khan's attempt to reassure the public after three assailants smashed a van into pedestrians on London Bridge then attacked revelers with knives. "At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is 'no reason to be alarmed!'" the US president said in one tweet. Trump said the attack showed it was time to "stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people," after tweeting the night before -- as the scenes of panic in London were still unfolding -- that it underscored the need for his contested "travel ban" on several Muslim-majority nations. Khan, in an interview with BBC just hours after the attack, had said, "My message to Londoners and visitors to our great city is to be calm and vigilant today. You will see an increased police presence today, including armed officers and uniformed officers. There is no reason to be alarmed by this." Responding Sunday to Trump's criticism, a Khan spokesman issued a pointed statement saying that the mayor -- busy coordinating a response to the attack even while reassuring Londoners and visitors -- had "more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump's ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context his remarks." 'Nasty & unbecoming' The attack in central London came just weeks after a suicide bombing at a concert in Manchester left 22 dead, and it recalled an attack in March when a man drove a car into pedestrians near the seat of Parliament, killing five. It was not the first time Trump has been accused of using a terror attack to make a political point, and with Londoners still in shock Sunday, the president's tweets drew angry responses on both sides of the Atlantic. David Lammy, a Labor Party member of Parliament, tweeted: "Cheap nasty & unbecoming of a national leader. Sort of thing that makes me want to quit politics on a day like this. Evil everywhere we look." In the United States, former vice president Al Gore told CNN that "I don't think that a major terrorist attack like this is the time to criticize a mayor who is trying to organize his city's response to this attack." Regarding Trump's plug for his contested travel ban -- which has been blocked by the courts -- Cecillia Wang, deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, tweeted, "We need to be outraged when the president exploits a terrible violent crime to push his discriminatory and illegal policy." Last June, after the deadly shooting attack on a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, Trump had tweeted: "Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!" That tweet drew angry rebukes from critics saying that the immediate aftermath of an attack that left 49 people dead was not a time for a president to be "basking in congratulations." (AFP)

London mayor brushes aside Trump's London attack comments

&nbsp;A woman who was injured in the March 22 attack on Westminster has died, police said on Friday, taking the death toll from the incident to six including the attacker.

Police said they believed the woman, who died on Thursday, was Andreea Cristea, a Romanian national who had been visiting London at the time of the attack.&nbsp;

Police have said she fell into the River Thames from Westminster Bridge after being driven at by Khalid Masood who ploughed a rented car into pedestrians and stabbed a policeman to death before being shot dead.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

The woman is believed to be Andreea Cristea, a Romanian national

A woman who was injured in the March 22 attack on Westminster has died, police said on Friday, taking the death toll from the incident to six including the attacker. Police said they believed the woman, who died on Thursday, was Andreea Cristea, a Romanian national who had been visiting London at the time of the attack. Police have said she fell into the River Thames from Westminster Bridge after being driven at by Khalid Masood who ploughed a rented car into pedestrians and stabbed a policeman to death before being shot dead. (Reuters)

Woman who fell into Thames during Westminster attack dies in hospital

All 12 people arrested in connection with the March 22 attack that left five people dead close to the British parliament have now been released without charge, London&#39;s Metropolitan Police said on Saturday.

British-born Khalid Masood sped across Westminster Bridge in a car, killing three pedestrians and injuring dozens more, before running through the gates of parliament and stabbing a policeman to death. He was then shot dead by police.

&quot;All those arrested in connection with the terrorist attack in Westminster on Wednesday, 22 March have now been released with no further action,&quot; the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

Eleven of those arrested had already been released, and on Saturday police freed the 12th person, a 30-year-old man arrested on March 26 in Birmingham on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts.

Police say Masood had copied the low-cost, low-tech attacks encouraged by Islamic State, but investigators have not found any evidence linking Masood to extremist groups at home or militants abroad.

British media have reported Masood accessed the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp moments before the attack, leaving open the possibility someone else could have been involved.

&quot;Whilst we believe at this stage Masood acted alone in his execution of the attack, our investigation continues to establish whether there are any others involved in any way and I do emphasise this is a live investigation,&quot; Craig Mackey, acting head of London police, said on Wednesday.

(Reuters)

Twelve people were arrested in connection with the March 22 attack that left five people dead close to the British parliament

All 12 people arrested in connection with the March 22 attack that left five people dead close to the British parliament have now been released without charge, London's Metropolitan Police said on Saturday. British-born Khalid Masood sped across Westminster Bridge in a car, killing three pedestrians and injuring dozens more, before running through the gates of parliament and stabbing a policeman to death. He was then shot dead by police. "All those arrested in connection with the terrorist attack in Westminster on Wednesday, 22 March have now been released with no further action," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Eleven of those arrested had already been released, and on Saturday police freed the 12th person, a 30-year-old man arrested on March 26 in Birmingham on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. Police say Masood had copied the low-cost, low-tech attacks encouraged by Islamic State, but investigators have not found any evidence linking Masood to extremist groups at home or militants abroad. British media have reported Masood accessed the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp moments before the attack, leaving open the possibility someone else could have been involved. "Whilst we believe at this stage Masood acted alone in his execution of the attack, our investigation continues to establish whether there are any others involved in any way and I do emphasise this is a live investigation," Craig Mackey, acting head of London police, said on Wednesday. (Reuters)

British police says all those arrested after London attack now released

As a deadly terror attack strikes London, the world discovers how lone wolves can go on a rampage. The authorities, however, remain clueless about methods to avert such incidents.

On March 17, a suicide bomber in Dhaka blew up himself at a site demarcated for Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) headquarters.

Such attacks are often called &quot;lone wolf&quot; attacks. Serious questions are being raised as to how these attackers are drifting so radically away from their societies to indulge in such insane acts of terrorism.

The attack on a cafe in Dhaka on July 2016 is another classic instance of how young men from affluent backgrounds get drawn into the paths of radicalism. At least three were from privileged backgrounds and one had studied in the reputed Monash University of Malaysia.

To quote Anna Erelle from her non-fiction book &quot;In the skin of a Jihadist&quot;, &quot;Recent cases of young people moving to the Middle East have often involved solitary radicalisation.&quot;

Erelle has written from her experience of interviewing radical youth&nbsp;below 20 until she had begun interacting with a jihadist in Syria who had firmer compassion in what he believed he was doing.

It is important to note that from 1980s onwards,&nbsp;generations&nbsp;are growing up in close association with&nbsp;cyberspace. For the members of these generations, self-development is happening through interactions in the cyber world and not through socialisation with real people. &nbsp;

The father of the assassin Meer Saameh Mubasheer had a hard time believing&nbsp;how his son, who was afraid of driving even a car on the streets of Dhaka, could kill people at the Dhaka cafe. Mubasheer had disappeared in February 2016 and returned in an avatar his parents could hardly recognise.

His father claimed that Mubasheer was not even religiously driven. He had not read the Quran, so any reference to his transformation on the path of Islam is feeble and was based on the influence of vested quarters.

Last week, the Islamic State released a posthumous video by Neaz Morshed Raja, a Bangladeshi who died in Tikrit in 2015. He appeals to the people of Bangladesh to wage &quot;lone wolf&quot;&nbsp;attacks against the infidels.&nbsp;

Two days into the release of the video, a suicide bomber trespassed into the premise of a security agency in Dhaka to blow up himself. The Islamic State&#39;s Amaq news agency claimed the attack.

This incident brings to the forefront how lone wolf attacks are so difficult to prevent. While some extremists may share their views publicly, there are many introverts like Mubasheer who may not have been as vocal. However, traits of extremism have&nbsp;been noticed in all kinds of individuals, both extroverts and introverts as well as among socialites and loners.

Only a day before&nbsp;the Westminster attack, authorities in US and UK imposed restrictions on carrying electronic devices on flights from Middle Eastern countries.

Electronics ban on aircraft and blanket restrictions on Muslims are examples of ethnocentrism: a religious community is being targeted which is already suffering from a crisis. This is likely to give radicals all the more reason&nbsp;to spread extremist sentiments among youths and mobilise them. It is important to remember that Islamist militancy has not even spared Muslim-majority countries like Bangladesh.

While it is important to counter violent extremism, several global strategies of the United States and United Kingdom will be responsible for the course that extremism would take.

Isolating communities is certainly not an answer. 
 
(WION)

'Lone wolf' terrorists feed off each other

As a deadly terror attack strikes London, the world discovers how lone wolves can go on a rampage. The authorities, however, remain clueless about methods to avert such incidents. On March 17, a suicide bomber in Dhaka blew up himself at a site demarcated for Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) headquarters. Such attacks are often called "lone wolf" attacks. Serious questions are being raised as to how these attackers are drifting so radically away from their societies to indulge in such insane acts of terrorism. The attack on a cafe in Dhaka on July 2016 is another classic instance of how young men from affluent backgrounds get drawn into the paths of radicalism. At least three were from privileged backgrounds and one had studied in the reputed Monash University of Malaysia. To quote Anna Erelle from her non-fiction book "In the skin of a Jihadist", "Recent cases of young people moving to the Middle East have often involved solitary radicalisation." Erelle has written from her experience of interviewing radical youth below 20 until she had begun interacting with a jihadist in Syria who had firmer compassion in what he believed he was doing. It is important to note that from 1980s onwards, generations are growing up in close association with cyberspace. For the members of these generations, self-development is happening through interactions in the cyber world and not through socialisation with real people. The father of the assassin Meer Saameh Mubasheer had a hard time believing how his son, who was afraid of driving even a car on the streets of Dhaka, could kill people at the Dhaka cafe. Mubasheer had disappeared in February 2016 and returned in an avatar his parents could hardly recognise. His father claimed that Mubasheer was not even religiously driven. He had not read the Quran, so any reference to his transformation on the path of Islam is feeble and was based on the influence of vested quarters. Last week, the Islamic State released a posthumous video by Neaz Morshed Raja, a Bangladeshi who died in Tikrit in 2015. He appeals to the people of Bangladesh to wage "lone wolf" attacks against the infidels. Two days into the release of the video, a suicide bomber trespassed into the premise of a security agency in Dhaka to blow up himself. The Islamic State's Amaq news agency claimed the attack. This incident brings to the forefront how lone wolf attacks are so difficult to prevent. While some extremists may share their views publicly, there are many introverts like Mubasheer who may not have been as vocal. However, traits of extremism have been noticed in all kinds of individuals, both extroverts and introverts as well as among socialites and loners. Only a day before the Westminster attack, authorities in US and UK imposed restrictions on carrying electronic devices on flights from Middle Eastern countries. Electronics ban on aircraft and blanket restrictions on Muslims are examples of ethnocentrism: a religious community is being targeted which is already suffering from a crisis. This is likely to give radicals all the more reason to spread extremist sentiments among youths and mobilise them. It is important to remember that Islamist militancy has not even spared Muslim-majority countries like Bangladesh. While it is important to counter violent extremism, several global strategies of the United States and United Kingdom will be responsible for the course that extremism would take. Isolating communities is certainly not an answer. (WION)

'Lone wolf' attackers not really alone

Lights on the Eiffel Tower will be switched off at midnight (2300 GMT) on Wednesday in solidarity with those killed and injured in a terror attack outside Britain`s parliament.&nbsp;

The decision was taken by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo following the deadly attack in which a man ploughed his car into pedestrians on London&#39;s Westminster Bridge then leapt out and stabbed a policeman, killing three people and wounding more than 20.

Hidalgo had earlier expressed her &quot;solidarity&quot; in a message to her London counterpart Sadiq Khan, adding: &quot;Paris and London have very close links which have become stronger in the last few decades.&quot;

She said the two capitals &quot;share a common love of freedom and an attachment to democracy&quot; and were &quot;tolerant and cosmopolitan cities, open to the world&quot;.

(AFP)&nbsp;

The decision was taken by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo following the deadly attack in London

Lights on the Eiffel Tower will be switched off at midnight (2300 GMT) on Wednesday in solidarity with those killed and injured in a terror attack outside Britain`s parliament. The decision was taken by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo following the deadly attack in which a man ploughed his car into pedestrians on London's Westminster Bridge then leapt out and stabbed a policeman, killing three people and wounding more than 20. Hidalgo had earlier expressed her "solidarity" in a message to her London counterpart Sadiq Khan, adding: "Paris and London have very close links which have become stronger in the last few decades." She said the two capitals "share a common love of freedom and an attachment to democracy" and were "tolerant and cosmopolitan cities, open to the world". (AFP)

Eiffel Tower to go dark in solidarity with London attack victims

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Thursday the safety of Londoners was his top priority and the public should remain calm and vigilant after a knife attack in central London. 
 
One woman was killed and five others injured by a man with suspected mental health issues who went on the rampage with a knife in central London late on Wednesday, an attack police said could be linked to terrorism. 
 
&quot;The safety of all Londoners is my number one priority,&quot; Khan said in a statement. 
 
&quot;I urge all Londoners to remain calm and vigilant. Please report anything suspicious to the police&lrm;. We all have a vital role to play as eyes and ears for our police and security services and in helping to ensure London is protected.&quot; 
 
Londoners said they were nervous following the knife attack in central London. 
&quot;I think that the recent attacks in the rest of Europe have got everyone on high alert and I think that there is a lot more anxiety running through London right now,&quot; said Londoner Cal Strode. 
 
London&#39;s Metropolitan police force had set up a cordon around the scene in Russell Square, near the centre of the city. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s such a busy area, it is right by Euston station. There must be thousands of people who pass through this area every day. I heard on the news this morning that the police response was quite quick I mean so that gives some comfort but yeah I&#39;m shocked,&quot; Strode added. 
 
Robert Burns, a teacher walking past the site of the attack on his way to work said he thought chances of being killed in an attack were slim. 
 
&quot;I look at the statistics - there are about two million people in central London at any one time. If one person is killed, the chances are it won&#39;t be me. It&#39;s the only way I can look at it and still feel comfortable,&quot; he told Reuters. 
 
A woman in her 60s was treated at the scene of the attack but was pronounced dead a short time later. 
 
(Reuters) 
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Nervous Londoners are on high alert after the stabbing in the central city left one person dead and injured five others

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Thursday the safety of Londoners was his top priority and the public should remain calm and vigilant after a knife attack in central London. One woman was killed and five others injured by a man with suspected mental health issues who went on the rampage with a knife in central London late on Wednesday, an attack police said could be linked to terrorism. "The safety of all Londoners is my number one priority," Khan said in a statement. "I urge all Londoners to remain calm and vigilant. Please report anything suspicious to the police‎. We all have a vital role to play as eyes and ears for our police and security services and in helping to ensure London is protected." Londoners said they were nervous following the knife attack in central London. "I think that the recent attacks in the rest of Europe have got everyone on high alert and I think that there is a lot more anxiety running through London right now," said Londoner Cal Strode. London's Metropolitan police force had set up a cordon around the scene in Russell Square, near the centre of the city. "It's such a busy area, it is right by Euston station. There must be thousands of people who pass through this area every day. I heard on the news this morning that the police response was quite quick I mean so that gives some comfort but yeah I'm shocked," Strode added. Robert Burns, a teacher walking past the site of the attack on his way to work said he thought chances of being killed in an attack were slim. "I look at the statistics - there are about two million people in central London at any one time. If one person is killed, the chances are it won't be me. It's the only way I can look at it and still feel comfortable," he told Reuters. A woman in her 60s was treated at the scene of the attack but was pronounced dead a short time later. (Reuters)

London mayor Sadiq Khan urges public to stay calm, vigilant after knife attack

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