London terror: What we know about the attacks

EIGHT minutes is all it took for three terrorists to mow down pedestrians on London Bridge before going on a stabbing rampage leaving six people dead and dozens injured before they were shot dead by police.

• SEVEN FEARED DEAD IN LONDON TERROR ATTACKS
• POLICE SHOOT TWO ATTACKERS ‘WEARING CANISTERS’

EIGHT minutes is all it took for a terrorist attack to unfold in central London overnight resulting in six members of the public killed and dozens more injured before the three attackers were shot dead by police.

10.08pm: A gang of three terrorists driving a white transit van travelling about 80km/h plough into pedestrians on London Bridge before crashing near Borough Market. The terrorists, armed with hunting knives and wearing knife-proof vests with hoax bomb canisters strapped to them get out and start moving through the area attacking people. Armed police rush to the scene.

* A woman enters the Mudlark pub under London Bridge bleeding heavily from the neck seeking assistance after being attacked.

10.14pm: Police and London Ambulance Service paramedics arrive at the scene.

Emergency services attend to people on London Bridge.

The van used by the attackers where it crashed at the south end of London Bridge just after 10pm. Picture: Twitter

A closer view of the smashed van driven by the terrorists. Picture: Supplied

11.15pm: Scotland Yard announces it is dealing with a second attack in the nearby Borough Market. The three terrorists from the van had left their vehicle and attacked pedestrians with hunting knives in the street. People in restaurants tried to fight off the attackers with chairs. Video footage in a restaurant in the area shows police telling diners to get down on the floor. Gunshots are heard.

Attackers stabbed people in restaurants and pubs at Borough Market.

10.16pm: Police confront attackers outside the Wheatsheaf pub where revellers were locked inside. One man is reportedly stabbed in the chest five times as the attackers attempt to smash their way in through the windows to attack people inside. Police open fire and one man is reportedly shot in the head in the crossfire. Police shoot two of the attackers dead outside.

Armed police stand over two of the terrorists after shooting them outside the Wheatsheaf pub near Borough Market. Picture: AFP/Gabriele Sciotto

Counter-terrorism special forces assemble near the scene of the attack. Picture: Getty

11.30pm: A police officer setting up a cordon tells people to move away from the area and stop filming. Sounding emotional she says “people have died”.

11.50pm: A stabbing is reported in Vauxhall and a man is arrested. Metropolitan police later say this is believed to be an unrelated attack.

11.55pm: British Transport Police confirm there have been “multiple casualties”.

A man is treated on a stretcher for stab wounds in Thrale Street near London Bridge. Picture: AP

Injured people lie on the ground as paramedics treat them for injuries in Thrale Street near London Bridge, Picture: AP

12.10am: Prime Minister Theresa May says the “terrible” incidents are being treated as acts of terror and praises the bravery of emergency services.

12.25am: Both the incidents at London Bridge and Borough Market are declared “terrorist incidents” by police.

1.30am: Three loud bangs are heard in the Borough Market area. It is later revealed they are controlled explosions from police.

1.50am: A photograph shows two men lying on the ground after being shot by police. One had canisters of some kind strapped to his body.

3:15am: Metropolitan Police say “the suspects had been confronted and shot by the police within eight minutes of the first call” which was received just after 10pm local time.

4:00am: Police announce six people have died in the incidents and at least 20 injured and taken to six hospitals around London. They also reveal the three terrorists have been shot dead by police.