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MILLIONS of Brits have today fallen silent to mark the anniversary of the London Bridge attack, as the PM praised the capital’s resolve to crush ISIS "cowards".

Across the country, the eight victims of the brutal terror rampage were remembered with flowers, tears, and an inspiring show of defiance.

Messages defying terror were shone onto London Bridge to mark the first anniversary of the atrocity
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Messages defying terror were shone onto London Bridge to mark the first anniversary of the atrocityCredit: Gary Stone -The Sun

At the site of the atrocity, a throng of families and friends affected by the horror lay flowers and notes at the Southwark Needle, ahead of a minute's silence at 4.30pm.

The sombre crowd then broke out into a spontaneous round of applause as the service was brought to a close.

The group were joined by religious leaders, politicians and emergency services, many of whom who had joined the earlier commemoration service at Southwark Cathedral.

While many wore black, many chose to wear bright colours in a show of defiance as bells from the Cathedral rang out.

Campaigners showed a united front with the slogan #turntolove at the site of the attack
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Campaigners showed a united front with the slogan #turntolove at the site of the attackCredit: PA:Press Association
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Prime Minster Theresa May, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary Sajid David pay tribute

Campaign group #TurnToLove campaign for unity, regardless of faith
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 Campaign group #TurnToLove campaign for unity, regardless of faithCredit: PA:Press Association
A woman from the Turn To Love campaign shows defiance in the face of last year's horrendous attack
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A woman from the Turn To Love campaign shows defiance in the face of last year's horrendous attackCredit: London News Pictures
Thousands of Londoners and tourists came together at Southwark Needle to remember those who died in the June 3 atrocity
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Thousands of Londoners and tourists came together at Southwark Needle to remember those who died in the June 3 atrocityCredit: London News Pictures

The names of those killed in the London Bridge terror attack were read out ahead of the minute's silence, as many family members were brought to tears as they stood at the site sick terrorists unleashed their horror attack.

The tragedy unfolded on the evening of June 3, 2017, when three jihadists drove a van into pedestrians at 50mph on London Bridge.

Wearing stab-proof vests, they then attacked revellers around Borough Market with hunting knives at random, killing eight people and injuring 48.

One year on, a young woman was seen quietly crying as the families, who have travelled from across the world, gathered at the spot of the massacre this afternoon.

Crowds had gathered to lay flowers at the Southwark Needle this afternoon
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Crowds had gathered to lay flowers at the Southwark Needle this afternoonCredit: AP:Associated Press
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan spoke at a service of commemoration at Southwark Cathedral to mark one year since the terror attack on London Bridge and Borough
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Mayor of London Sadiq Khan spoke at a service of commemoration at Southwark Cathedral to mark one year since the terror attack on London Bridge and BoroughCredit: PA:Press Association
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the service at Southwark Cathedral, ahead of a national minute's silence for the London Bridge terror attack victims
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the service at Southwark Cathedral, ahead of a national minute's silence for the London Bridge terror attack victimsCredit: PA:Press Association
Theresa May took part in a service to remember the victims of the London Bridge terror attack
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Theresa May took part in a service to remember the victims of the London Bridge terror attackCredit: PA:Press Association

The silence - which was marked by millions across the country - will be followed by a strong message of hope, as #LondonUnited is beamed onto the bridge at midnight.

Londoners, Brits and tourists of all faiths have come together to condemn the attacks.

In the crowd was Jermaine Bernard, a young man who had rushed to help a German tourist badly injured on the fateful night.

The 26-year-old had been walking across the bridge on the fateful night with friends when they saw the van careering into a path.

Even now, the memories give the young man goosebumps.

Speaking today just yards from the tragedy, Jermaine said: “We saw the van come onto the path, I thought it had lost control.

Stumbling into street of bloody violence

By Ben Leo, Sun Reporter on Scene

A LUNCHTIME stroll from the office to Borough Market is never without a flashback to the terror I stumbled into a year ago.

The strewn bodies I saw included a female victim of that terrible night.

I remember the blood pouring from a stab wound and people leaping over her as I stood and stared, trying to comprehend what I was seeing.

Since then I’ve often imagined her excitement at going out that night in London.

For me, it is a reminder that life is fickle.

I take inspiration from the bravery of others there, from cops and paramedics to Londoners who fought the animals off.

There are no more tears and the memories are not so painful, for me.

But the same cannot be said for the victims’ families, and my thoughts and prayers have been with them as the anniversary loomed.

“But when I saw it keep going, my senses went to high alert. I started to run away but out of the corner of my eye, I saw the can come past me.

“The van came across the path and hit a lady from Germany, it knocked her eight or nine feet in the air.”

The young man, of East London, said despite his terror at the unfolding violence, his natural instinct was to stop and help her.

Only knowing her first name, Regina, Jermaine said he helped the woman with her injuries as they called emergency services.

But he has not seen her since the fateful night - saying he would one day want to know how she is.

And he praised the city for coming together today with a message of love.

Heider Reidha of campaign group Turn to Love was also among the crowd, saying he wanted to share the message of love and unity.

Speaking to the Sun Online, he said the Muslim community had been shocked by the terror attack that rocked London.

Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick left a heartfelt tribute to victims of the attack
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Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick left a heartfelt tribute to victims of the attackCredit: Getty Images - Getty
A message written on a floral tribute by Cressida Dick, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service is displayed at Southwark Cathedral
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A message written on a floral tribute by Cressida Dick, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service is displayed at Southwark CathedralCredit: Getty Images - Getty
People of all faiths and nationalities hold placards as they gather on London Bridge to give a strong show of unity
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People of all faiths and nationalities hold placards as they gather on London Bridge to give a strong show of unityCredit: AFP or licensors

He said: “This is about showing love and unity.

“It’s not about Muslims, it’s about evil people doing harm to innocent people.”

The group has gathered in shirts emblazoned with Turn to Love message, as well as signs and placards saying #lovewillwin and #isiswill lose.

Among the crowds are those with flowers and messages of hope - with the stories of the lives lost touching even those who never met them.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said she had brought flowers to remember the lives lost, with her friends directly impacted by the tragedy.

She said: “Seeing all the signs and posters are amazing.

“It’s about people coming together and showing the world we are stronger than ever.”

Theresa May PM, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joined families and friends of victims at the service this afternoon.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick also took part, leaving a heartfelt message to those affected by the tragedy.

JIHAD HEADS-UP

SECURITY services will share information with headteachers, police and social workers in a bid to disrupt terror networks.

The Home Secretary will announce a new strategy to tackle a “step change” in terrorism today. It follows last year’s attacks that claimed 36 lives.

Sajid Javid said lessons had been learned and MI5 would in future share intelligence with local authorities, schools and police forces.

London Bridge attack victims are remembered at the scene of the rampage, one year on
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London Bridge attack victims are remembered at the scene of the rampage, one year onCredit: AFP or licensors
A man carries floral tributes from Borough Market to London Bridge ahead of the remembrance service
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 A man carries floral tributes from Borough Market to London Bridge ahead of the remembrance serviceCredit: AFP or licensors

Lion Roy Larner - hailed a hero for fighting off knife-wielding jihadis during the terror attack - was also at the service.

Wearing Millwall cufflinks, the brave footy fan told the Sun Online: “I had a few tears in there.

“I just hope it never happens again.”

The footy fan was even stopped by those who had attended the service, with one man stopping him to shake his hand saying: “I’m Millwall too.”

Roy Larner was hailed a hero for fighting off jihadists on the night of terror
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Roy Larner was hailed a hero for fighting off jihadists on the night of terrorCredit: Darren Fletcher - The Sun
Religious leaders were among those at the moving service
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Religious leaders were among those at the moving serviceCredit: AFP or licensors

Roy said: “There are still bad nights. But I’m getting there.”

Candles were lit by relatives of the victims during the private ceremony, before an olive tree - known as the Tree of Healing - was planted in the cathedral grounds using compost from floral tributes left on the bridge in the aftermath of the murders last year.

The Prime Minister earlier spoke of the "stories of courage" which emerged from the attack.

Police officer Wayne Marques, who was stabbed in the head during the attack, attended the first anniversary commemorations today
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Police officer Wayne Marques, who was stabbed in the head during the attack, attended the first anniversary commemorations todayCredit: Reuters
A corbel of Wayne Marques was unveiled at Southwark Cathedral on Sunday
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A corbel of Wayne Marques was unveiled at Southwark Cathedral on SundayCredit: AFP
Friends Alex Palermo, 23, and Benjamin Feist, 26, said they had wanted to pay their respects to the lives lost
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Friends Alex Palermo, 23, and Benjamin Feist, 26, said they had wanted to pay their respects to the lives lostCredit: The Sun
The London Ambulance Service left floral tributes at London Bridge in memory of those affected by the tragedy
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The London Ambulance Service left floral tributes at London Bridge in memory of those affected by the tragedy

She described it as a "cowardly attempt to strike at the heart of our freedoms by deliberately targeting people enjoying their Saturday night with friends and family".

Mrs May said: "Today we remember those who died and the many more who were injured, and also pay tribute to the bravery of our emergency services and those who intervened or came to the aid of others.

"The many stories of courage demonstrated that night will always stay with me - such as Ignacio Echeverria, who died after confronting the terrorists with the only thing he had, his skateboard, and Geoff Ho, who spent almost two weeks in hospital after being stabbed in the neck as he shielded his friends."

Those killed in the attack were Canadian Christine Archibald, 30, James McMullan, 32, from Hackney, Frenchmen Alexandre Pigeard, 26, Sebastien Belanger, 36 and Xavier Thomas, 45, Australians Kirsty Boden, 28 and Sara Zelenak 21, and Spaniard Ignacio Echeverria, 39.

All eight victims of the London Bridge terror attack
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All eight victims of the London Bridge terror attack

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack and all three attackers were shot dead by police.

Earlier, speaking outside Southwark Cathedral, Mayor Sadiq Khan said the city would “remain defiant” in the face of the atrocity.

“Our response shows what an amazing city we are," he said.

“A year on, while our thoughts and prayers are for those who were injured and still affected we remain defiant and we remain united.”

Airport style security was in force for Southwark Cathedral, with those attending the private service asked to present their invite before being frisked by officers.

Police also kept up a visible presence, with dozens of officers securing the area and operating airport style security for those walking past.

Borough Market traders stop for a minute of silence to remember 2017 London terror attack

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