London Bridge attack survivor tells of moment friend ‘died in his arms’
A LONDON Bridge attack survivor begged "I just want my friend back" after cradling their dying pal in their arms.
Two people were killed when terrorist Usman Khan unleashed a stabbing attack near London Bridge yesterday afternoon - with armed cops shooting the suspect dead.
It was last night confirmed the 28-year-old man was a convicted terrorist who had been freed from prison in December last year.
Police confirmed he was wearing a fake suicide vest as he unleashed the rampage about 2pm.
Terrified witnesses were rushed to Salvation Army Headquarters yesterday after the attack unfolded at the historic Fishmongers' Hall in central London.
One man who witnessed the attack told reporters: "My friend died in my arms today.
"I just want my friend back."
Brave heroes had rushed to pin down Khan yesterday after the stabbing attack unfolded near London Bridge yesterday.
Yesterday, Khan was a guest at a Cambridge University conference on prisoner rehabilitation when he threatened to blow up the historic Fishmongers' Hall in central London.
Those at the event at the Grade II listed building said he entered the main hall and went on a rampage, attacking anyone who crossed his path.
Reports suggest that Khan was wearing a tag when he went on his bloodthirsty mission.
He then made his way on to London Bridge - the scene of the 2017 terror attack which killed eight - but was eventually pinned down by heroes who tackled him with a fire extinguisher and a whale tusk.
TERROR SCENES
Horrified witnesses then saw a suicide vest - later found to be fake - strapped to Khan, with officers shooting the terrorist.
Pictures from the scene showed one large kitchen knife lying next to Khan's body with a second blade removed by a hero passerby.
The shocking incident comes 15 months after the capital was gripped by terror when a man ploughed into cyclists outside the Houses of Parliament in August, 2018 - and two years on from the London Bridge terror attack that killed eight in 2017.
Two people, a man and a woman, were killed in the attack.
Three others, a man and two women, were also injured and remain in hospital.
Fight to save life
By Shaun Wooller
AMBULANCE crews were on the scene fighting to save victims within seven minutes of the attack.
A video shared on social media showed staff taking it in turns to give chest compressions to one lying in the road.
One of the walking wounded seemed to have been stabbed in his left shoulder. Another image appeared to show a body covered with a blanket.
Three victims were rushed to two London hospitals while a helicopter was put on standby.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: “Thank you to the NHS staff, esp brave paramedics from @Ldn-Ambulance & emergency services for their fast response in face of the terrorist attack at London Bridge, & the incredible bravery of many members of the public.
“My thoughts are with the victims & their families.”
Other ambulance services from across the country showed their support for London colleagues. The Welsh Ambulance service tweeted: “Thoughts with colleagues @Ldn_Ambulance and everyone caught up in #LondonBridge incident.”
London Ambulance Service spokesman Khadir Meer said: “We were called at 2:02pm and sent a number of ambulance crews and specialist response teams.
“I would like to thank all our staff and the other emergency services who responded to this incident, including our medics at the scene, everyone in our control rooms and all those working hard behind the scenes.
“Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by what happened.”
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Police overnight confirmed a "key line" on inquiry was to establish how Khan came to carry out the attack after being released from prison in December 2018.
Khan had been part of a nine-man terror group who plotted to bomb the London Stock Exchange and build a terrorist training camp.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night vowed Britain would not be cowed by terror attacks, praising the bravery of witnesses who stepped in to halt the terrorist.
