Thousands gather at poignant vigil for London Bridge terror attack victims

Vigil: Hundreds gather for vigil in the heart of London following the terror attack
PA

Thousands of people gathered for a vigil near London Bridge in solidarity with the victims of Saturday’s horrific terror attack.

Seven people died and 18 others are fighting for their lives in hospital after three attackers targeted Londoners enjoying themselves at a popular nightspot.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan led the vigil, which was held less than a mile from London Bridge and Borough Market - where the attack was carried out.

People gathered in Potters Fields Park on the bank of the river Thames at 6pm, where large crowds observed a moment of silence for the victims.

Senior representatives from the Met Police, City of London Police, British Transport Police, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade are expected to attend, as well as civic, faith and community leaders.

Speaking at the vigil, Mr Khan said: “We stand together tonight to honour the memories of the innocent lives lost and the people injured in the barbaric attack on our city on Saturday night.

“London stands in defiance against this cowardly attack on our city, our people, our values and our way of life.

People gathered in their hundreds at the vigil
EPA

“As Mayor of London, I want to send a clear message to the sick and evil extremists who commit these hideous crimes. We will defeat you. You will not win.”

It comes as police named two of the three attackers who carried out the attack.

Floral tributes were set down during a vigil outside City Hall
EPA

The UK's terror threat level was today held at severe as Londoners returned to work after the "barbaric" massacre in the heart of the capital.

The crowd came after an open invite by Mr Khan for everyone to "come together in solidarity" and "united in the face of those who seek to harm us and our way of life".

The latest killings came in the third terror attack to hit the UK in three months.

Pedestrians were mowed down by a van on London Bridge before attackers stabbed a police officer and revellers around Borough Market with 12-inch knives.

The three men wearing fake suicide bomb vests men were shot dead by eight officers outside a pub after police opened fire with an "unprecedented" hail of 50 bullets, while a bystander was also shot.

Salman Abedi detonated a bomb in the foyer of the Manchester Arena, after an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, killing 22.

There were also five people who were killed when Islamist extremist Khalid Masood drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge on March 22 and then stabbed a police officer outside the Palace of Westminster.

Vigil for London Bridge terror attack

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