London Bridge attack – Incredible speed of police who killed terrorist thanks to well-drilled plan to stop 2017 copycats

THE  gun cops who downed the knife maniac were part of an armed patrol roving the London Bridge area to react to copycats of the 2017 attack.

The specialist teams from the Met and City forces were on the scene moments after the 999 call and had shot the terrorist dead within five minutes.

The incredible speed of the police response was down to a well-drilled plan known as Operation Plato.

As well as those going straight to the scene, other officers went building-to-building to ensure there were no other attackers on the loose.

Armed cops and uniformed officers also flooded the area to seal off the surrounding roads and bridges, as well as guiding London’s tourists, workers and residents to safety.

The scenes were reminiscent of June 2017, when three jihadis went on the rampage across London Bridge and then into Borough Market — killing eight and injuring dozens more.

All three were eventually shot dead by armed police.

Yesterday, it was a City of London officer who shot twice into the chest of the killer.

He opened fire seconds after members of the public who bravely wrestled him to the ground were cleared.

A bomb vest worn by the suspected jihadi, who had killed two on a knife rampage, was then found to be a fake.

One City worker had to be dragged off the attacker by cops as they first moved into to deploy a Taser.

Another had earlier jogged along the bridge away from the melee having snatched the knife from the terrorist’s grasp.

But one source suggested the have-a-go heroes may have made the police’s job harder and put their own lives at risk.

‘WE SHOULD BE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL’

They said: “Nobody wants to criticise members of the public who reacted so bravely, but it made the job more difficult for the officers arriving at the scene as they had no idea who was good and bad.

“The guy with the knife was lucky he didn’t get slotted himself by a firearms officer.”

But Met Police chief Dame Cressida Dick praised their actions, saying: “I also want to thank the members of the public who have helped — either by showing extraordinary courage by stepping in or by following the instructions they’ve been given by officers at the scene and in the area.

“This support from our  public assists us more than you could know.”

She also confirmed two people had been killed by the attacker before he was stopped.

She added: “My heart goes out to their loved ones and to the three further injured victims who I understand are being treated in hospital, and of course to everybody who has been affected by today’s terrible and mindless events.’’

Ms Dick said there will be more officers, armed and unarmed, on patrol in the coming days to “reassure those who are understandably concerned”.

She added: “We are also working at full-tilt to understand exactly what has happened and whether anyone else was involved. For this reason we expect cordons to remain in place around the London Bridge area for some time.’’

An investigation into the shooting of the attacker will now be carried out by police watchdogs, who immediately sent investigators to the scene.

CCTV footage of the incident will be closely analysed to ensure the officer who fired the fatal shots acted with reasonable justification.

The cop will be suspended from gun duties as a matter of procedure until the Independent Office for Police Conduct confirms his response was proportionate in the circumstances.

Last night there were calls for him to receive a medal.

Colonel Richard Kemp, a former head of the Government’s COBRA security committee, added: “The police officer who shot the terrorist was incredibly brave.

“He did so because he identified what appeared to be a bomb and, instead of taking cover for his own safety, killed the attacker to save the lives of others. He deserves a medal for his courageous actions.'

LONDON FIGHTS BACK

“In taking such a split-second decision, every police officer also knows that he also faces months and perhaps years of investigations and scrutiny of his actions.

“We should be extremely grateful there are still officers who are prepared to go  through all of this to protect us.”

Col Kemp said the terrorist is likely to have deliberately engineered his own “death by cop”.

The former security chief added: “It is likely the terrorist used a fake bomb to increase the likelihood he would be shot and killed. That would thereby supposedly gain his reward as a martyr in the next life as well as heroic status among fellow jihadists.”

The killer was pronounced dead at the scene, emphasising that the firearms officer is likely to have been shooting to kill.

As well as the firing officer being placed on restricted duties, all cops who attended the scene will be asked to provide initial independent accounts of what happened.

They will be fully interviewed in due course, but a source added: “There is nothing to suggest the officers behaved anything other than heroically.”

Yesterday’s attack had chilling similarities to the bloody tragedy that rocked the London Bridge area two years ago.

On both occasions, twisted killers went on the rampage in the capital with the loss of innocent lives.

But both times, the people of London fought back, resulting in the jihadis being shot dead by cops.

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