LONDON — Seven people were killed in London late Saturday in the third major terrorist attack in Britain in the past three months.
British police arrested 12 people Sunday in connection with the attack. But Metropolitan Police announced Monday that all of those arrested have now been released without being charged.
The Islamic State group said it is behind the attack.
A van rammed into people on London Bridge and continued on to nearby Borough Market, where police said three assailants jumped out and stabbed multiple people.
Mark Rowley, assistant commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police Service, said the attackers were shot and killed by officers.
Here’s what we know:
The Attack
At least one bystander was shot and injured by police as they responded to the attackers. Eight officers fired as many as 50 bullets to stop the carnage.
Police believe that the three people shot and killed by police.
"Our current belief is that there were three attackers," Rowley said early Sunday. "But we've still got some more inquires to do to be 100 percent confident of that."
Two of the attackers were identified by police Monday as Khuram Shazad Butt, a 27-year-old British man born in Pakistan, and Rachid Redouane, a 30-year-old man who claimed to be Moroccan and Libyan. Police said he also used the name Rachid Elkhdar with a different date of birth.
Updates: Two men shot dead by police following terrorist attack in #LondonBridge #BoroughMarket named https://t.co/prQUaxy2k4 pic.twitter.com/LR4klVhZ64
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 5, 2017
Authorities continued work to confirm the identity the third suspected attacker.
Rowley said the suspects were killed within eight minutes of the first call to police warning them of the attacks.
reports that at least 12 people - five men and seven women - were arrested Sunday in connection with the attacks. British authorities also "searched two homes Monday and detained 'a number' of people in the investigation," the
. Police are still trying to determine if others were involved in planning the attack.
Islamic State group "fighters" were responsible, the group said in a statement Sunday through its Aamaq news agency.
The Victims
Police confirmed Monday that a Canadian tourist was among those killed in the attack.
Christine Archibald, 30, was on vacation in London when she was killed.
One of the victims of #London terror attack is named https://t.co/x6ZNng3bOV pic.twitter.com/UAtL6JQvRX
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 5, 2017
"She had room in her heart for everyone and believed strongly that every person was to be valued and respected," the Archibald family said in a statement released by police. "She lived this belief, working in a shelter for the homeless until she moved to Europe to be with her fiance. She would have had no understanding of the callous cruelty that caused her death. Please honor her by making your community a better place. Volunteer your time and labor or donate to a homeless shelter. Tell them Chrissy sent you."
Authorities have not released the identities of the other victims.
At least 48 people were injured in the attack, according to the London Ambulance Service.
We have taken 48 patients to hospital following the incident at #LondonBridge https://t.co/hCiKVCBrnb pic.twitter.com/5ipl5vtcTB
— London Ambulance Service (@Ldn_Ambulance) June 4, 2017
British Prime Minister Theresa May visited victims at the hospital Sunday. The Associated Press is reporting 21 people are in critical condition.
Among those injured was a British Transport Police officer, authorities said. He suffered injuries to his head, face and leg, according to police.
His injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.
Third Attack in Three Months
Police are calling the latest attack an act of terrorism.
"A full investigation is underway, led by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command," Rowley said.
It is the third terror attack in London this year. Last month a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, killing 22 people. In March, police said that 52-year-old Khalid Masood drove a car into pedestrians on the Westminster Bridge, killing four people before fatally stabbing a police officer.
He was shot and killed by police.
Trump administration reaction
U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed on the situation and offered his support for the United Kingdom in a tweet Saturday.
"Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U.K., we will be there," Trump wrote.
U.S. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation and offered his support for the United Kingdom in a tweet Saturday.
“Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U.K., we will be there,” Trump wrote.
Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there - WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2017
That tweet came minutes after Trump renewed calls for his travel ban.
We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2017
Trump later lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan and pointed out that the attackers did not use guns, but “knives and a truck."
At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is "no reason to be alarmed!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017
Do you notice we are not having a gun debate right now? That's because they used knives and a truck!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2017
A representative for Khan said the mayor “has more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump’s ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context his remarks urging Londoners not to be alarmed when they saw more police – including armed officers – on the streets.
Sadiq Khan has "more important things to do" than respond to Trump's tweets, says an aide pic.twitter.com/COH4kxikfM
— Matt Chorley (@MattChorley) June 4, 2017
At a gala at Washington’s Ford’s Theatre on Sunday, Trump said, “This bloodshed must end. This bloodshed will end. As president, I will do what is necessary to prevent this threat from spreading to our shores.”
Vice President Mike Pence issued a statement on Twitter, as well.
“Our thoughts (and) prayers are (with) the victims, courageous first responders (and) all the people of London,” Pence wrote.
Our thoughts & prayers are w/ the victims, courageous first responders & all the people of London. As President Trump said: WE ARE WITH YOU.
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) June 3, 2017
British reaction
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May called for a meeting of the government's emergency response committee Sunday, according to The Associated Press. In a statement, the prime minister thanked first responders.
"Our thoughts are with those who are caught up in these dreadful events," she said.
BREAKING: Theresa May says thoughts with those caught in "dreadful events". Praises emergency services. #London pic.twitter.com/JSl2j074GU
— Ben Riley-Smith (@benrileysmith) June 3, 2017
On Sunday, May added, “It is time to say, enough is enough.”
“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.
Cox Media Group