Armed plainclothes British police officers shot and killed a suspected terrorist in London on Sunday afternoon, London’s Metropolitan Police said.
The man, who witnesses said was “armed with a machete” and “silver canisters on his chest” stabbed at least two people on Streatham High Road, a busy shopping area in south London. One is believed to be in serious condition.
Footage of the incident in Streatham, Londonpic.twitter.com/fNlB4788Mn
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“The circumstances are being assessed; the incident has been declared as terrorist-related,” police said shortly after 3 pm local time (5 pm Israel time, 10 am ET). It is not believed there are other suspects, police added.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a tweet, “My thoughts are with the injured and all those affected.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also weighed in, saying in a tweet, “Terrorists seek to divide us and to destroy our way of life – here in London we will never let them succeed.”
Metropolitan Police noted in a more recent tweet, “The scene has been fully contained,” and later added, “Please use common sense sand restraint in circulating pictures and videos of the #Streatham incident, including images of the officers involved.”
Motive and nationality of the perpetrator have yet to be determined.