London Attacker was Convicted Terrorist with Jihadist Ties

UPDATE — 7:46 PM EST/00:46 GMT: The man who carried out the London Bridge terror attack has been identified as 28-year-old Usman Khan, Metropolitan Police confirm. He was jailed in 2012 as part of a plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange and build a terrorist training camp. He was also believed to have supported al-Muhijaroun, a militant jihadist network in the United Kingdom, reports The Guardian. Read the original article below.

The suspected attacker responsible for Friday’s deadly stabbing in central London was a convicted terrorist who was recently released from prison and believed to possess ties to Islamic extremist groups, according to The Times.

Earlier, a knife-wielding man stabbed several people at London Bridge, killing two and wounding three others. Police shot the suspect dead at the scene. He is said to have worn a fake explosive vest and an electronic prison tag. Prior to the attack, the knifeman threatened to blow up Fishmongers’ Hall, where he was reportedly planning to attend a conference on prisoner rehabilitation organized by the University of Cambridge, reports The Times. Authorities are treating the deadly incident as a terror attack.

Pedestrians and vehicular commuters described the fear they felt and the chaos at the scene. Ulig Bek of Uzbekistan told The Times: “I saw the guy lying on the ground and didn’t know what was going on.”

Erika Kirk sounds off after long-awaited university report on husband’s assassination

Federal illegal voting arrest becomes latest flashpoint in Sherrill’s battles with Trump administration

BREAKING: Trump Handed Huge Election Win as Supreme Court Allows Voter Verification Database to Stand

Reporter’s Notebook: Democrats face an impeachment tractor beam that could derail their affordability message

Trump Gets China’s Xi Jinping to Belly Laugh While Showing Him Biden White House ‘Autopen’ Photo

Trump and Xi compare histories during National Archives visit

Xi assured Trump he would cease aid to Iran, US ambassador to China claims

Ole Miss toxicology reports expected soon and results may trigger anti-fentanyl law, official says

DHS Pleads with Far-Left Public Officials to Tone Down Anti-ICE Rhetoric Amid 1,600 Percent Increase in Assaults

Suspect in Pittsburgh doctor’s murder had been released without bail on prior burglary charge: court docs

‘Red carpet for a despot’: Trump’s lavish Xi welcome collides with GOP anti-communism message

Ex-Dem insider blows lid off fundraising ‘gimmicks’ during 2024 election: ‘Pyramid scheme’

When Politicians Call Data Centers ‘100% Renewable,’ They May Not Mean What You Think

Dem Gov. of NJ Tells Her Hand-Picked Lt. Gov. to Get Out as Investigation Points to Sordid Sexual Past

Clancy Lawyers Make Big Mistake Going After Lone Holdout Juror’s Phone – Now He’s Going Public with What He Noticed About Other Jurors’ Phones

Bek, who video-recorded shots being fired, added: “The police were shouting at him and he was shouting, ‘Help, help, help’. Everyone was so shook up. Police were screaming, ‘Put it down.’”

Authorities shut off traffic to London Bridge and closed a nearby train station during the incident. They later said that enhanced patrols would be implemented throughout the city during this busy shopping period.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it is a “mistake” to allow criminals to leave prison early and vowed to increased police presence following the “heartbreaking” attack.

“Obviously our thoughts are very much them and their families, their loved ones, everybody affected by the attack,” Johnson told reporters. “My thanks go first of all to the emergency services — the police, for their bravery and their professionalism, and to repeat again and give thanks again to members of the public who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. I think they represent the best of our country.”

“I thank them on behalf of the rest of our country,” he added.

A NATO official said the alliance is not making any change in plans for next week’s summit in London. President Donald Trump is among those scheduled to attend.