London Bridge terror attack: new footage reveals bravery of unarmed police

New footage emerges of unarmed police taking on terrorists who were armed with knives | WATCH

New footage has emerged of the moment unarmed police confronted the 2017 London Bridge terrorists, who had knives and apparent suicide vests.

Police officer Sam Balfour told an inquest into the attacks, which killed eight people including two Australians, about the moment he confronted the attackers.

“One of them was raising it (a knife) above his head,” PC Balfour told the inquest. “They were shouting at us straight away. I drew my baton and got on the radio to tell everyone where they were.”

PC Bartek Tchorzewski, 36, who was also at the scene, said: “We were just thinking about stopping them. But to be honest nothing can prepare you for that. No briefings.”

The evidence was heard before a found the terrorists — Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22 — were lawfully killed by police.

Mobile phone footage showed PC Tchorzewski advancing on the attackers and coming within several metres of one of them.

Two bakers are also seen in the video, armed with a plastic crate and broom, ready to confront the attackers.

In 10 minutes on the night of June 3 the trio ploughed into pedestrians and run around attacking people with knives.

They were wearing fake suicide belts.

The jury found the attackers ignored clear warning shouts from the police before being shot dead.

Chief coroner Mark Lucraft QC had directed them that the only “safe” conclusion was that the three men were lawfully killed.

He told the court no-one during the inquest had criticised the officers involved and it was agreed using anything other than “lethal force” would not have been appropriate.

The eight people killed during the London terror attack: Alexandre Pigeard, Christine Archibald, Ignacio Echevarria, Sara Zelenak. Bottom from left: James McMullen, Kirsty Boden, Xavier Thomas and Sebastien Belanger. Picture: AFP

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick welcomed the verdict and paid tribute to the “tremendous courage and professionalism” shown by armed officers on the night of the attack.

“Faced with an appalling and confused scene, they acted calmly, quickly, decisively, and in accordance with their training,” she said.

“There is no greater responsibility for an officer than having to make the split-second decision whether or not to use lethal force.”

City of London Police Commander Karen Baxter said: police had “put themselves in the way of danger to protect and preserve life: a principle at the very core of policing”.

“The response to the attack showed how officers from all forces have the courage and dedication necessary to defeat the hatred and fear that terrorists seek to sow in our community.”