Another Knife Attack at London Bridge
Passers-by who tackled a man wielding a knife on London Bridge has been praised as "everyday heroes".
The man had stabbed two people to death and wounded three others in a "terror-related" incident.
Footage on social media shows the knifeman being held down by members of the public before firearms officers intervene and shoot him dead.
One man who intervened said they had been trying to dislodge a knife from the man's hand.
The suspect, Usman Khan, 28, a convicted terrorist, was shot dead by police officers.
The Queen praised the emergency services and "the brave individuals who put their own lives at risk to selflessly help and protect others".
Members of the public also expressed their admiration for those involved.
George Robarts tweeted that one man, filmed walking away from the attacker holding a knife, "ran through traffic and jumped the central partition to tackle the attack with several others".
He continued: "We ran away but [it] looks like he disarmed him, amazing bravery."
Twitter user Tom replied "an even bigger one to the man who restrained him" referencing one of the other civilians involved, who was seen pinning the attacker to the floor. Amy Coop, who was inside Fishmongers' Hall where the attack began, tweeted her praise of a man who went to confront the attacker.A guy who was with us at Fishmongers Hall took a 5’ narwhale tusk from the wall and went out to confront the attacker. You can see him standing over the man (with what looks like a white pole) in the video. We were trying to help victims inside but that man’s a hero #LondonBridge
6,432 people are talking about this
End of Twitter post by @theamycoop
One person took a fire extinguisher and let it off in the face of the attacker to try to keep him at bay.
Tour guide Stevie Hurst was one of those who helped restrain Khan.
He told BBC 5 live he saw the suspect being held down and kicked his head.
People were screaming that the attacker had "stabbed a couple of women", he said.
STEVE HURST
"Everyone was just on top of him, trying to bundle him to the ground.
"We saw that the knife was still in his hand... I just put a foot in to try and kick him in the head.
"We were trying to do as much as we could to try and dislodge the knife from his hand so he wouldn't harm anyone else.
“The guys that were there were absolutely amazing. Heroes beyond belief."
GETTY IMAGES
Mr Hurst's colleague, Thomas Gray, 24, said he stamped on the terrorist's wrist to try to make him release one of two large knives he was carrying.
The tour manager said: "I was brought up on rugby and the rule is 'one in, all in'. I did what any Londoner would do and tried to put a stop to it.
"He had two knives on him, one in each hand, and it looked like they were taped to his hands.
"I stamped on his left wrist while someone else smacked his hand on the ground and kicked one of the knives away."
- London Bridge: What we know so far
- 'Turn off your engine, get out and run'
- Follow the latest updates
BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker joined hundreds on Twitter to praise two men who helped stop the attacker.
"These fellas are amazing. The terrorist has already killed two people, injured others and they chase him down with a whale tusk and a fire extinguisher.
"He's wearing a suicide vest which they don't know is fake. Incredible. True heroes," said Walker.
Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said she wanted to thank the members of the public who have helped, "showing extraordinary courage by stepping in to tackle this attacker".
'A lot of courage'
Brendan Cox, whose wife MP Jo Cox was murdered, said: "I hope the front pages tomorrow are full of the stories of the everyday heroes who helped stop the attack, not fixated on the low-life attention seekers who carried it out."
Similarly, Kera Stewart said, rather than see the face of the attacker, she wanted to see the faces of the "brave, heroic pedestrians who took him down, disarmed him and saved people's lives."
Harvey Bateman added: "It takes a lot of courage to do something like that."
Still can’t believe what’s going on at #LondonBridge today. Massive respect for the civilians that intervened, takes a lot of courage to do something like that. Thoughts and prayers to any injured, apparently someone has been killed as well... horrible events
See Harvey Bateman's other Tweets
End of Twitter post by @Harvey_Bman
Spencer Owen said: "To the brave pedestrians who held the man with a knife down on London Bridge before the armed police got there, you're all heroes."
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Boris Johnson both offered their thanks.
Mr Johnson praised emergency services and said members of the public "who physically intervened to protect the lives of others" showed "extraordinary bravery".
"For me they represent the very best of our country and I thank them on behalf of all of our country," he said.
Mr Khan said the people who confronted the attacker "risked their own safety".
"They are the best of us," he said.
Comments