Police release pics of the fake suicide belts worn by the London Bridge terrorists as they carried out their killing spree
THIS is the blood-spattered fake suicide belt worn by one of the terror gang.
All three strapped on the props, comprising water bottles covered in masking tape, as they carried out the attack.
Police believe the tactic was used to stop people fighting back and make police wary of opening fire.
They also believe Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, hoped to take hostages before being shot.
Counter-terror Commander Dean Haydon said: “I’ve not seen this tactic in the UK before where terrorists create maximum fear with fake explosives. It could be that they had plans to take the attack into a siege situation.
“Or it might be that they saw it as protection from being shot themselves. If you are fighting back you would be very aware you could be caught in an explosion.
"It makes the bravery of those police officers and members of the public who tackled the terrorists even more remarkable."
Inspector Cole - a cop for 18 years – added: “Without a shadow of a doubt, it was the most challenging, most intense situation I’ve dealt with.
"I’ve dealt with a lot of death and I’ve been to some pretty horrific scenes in my career, but nothing has ever been on that scale. It’s going to stick with me for a long time."
The gang injured 48 in the terrifying rampage, which started with them mowing down pedestrians on London Bridge and ended when armed cops shot them in Borough Market.
Among the dead was ‘Angel of London Bridge’ Kirsty Boden, whose boyfriend yesterday told of his pride in here brave actions.
Australian nurse Kirsty, 28 - dating James Hodder after meeting in London four years ago – ran toward danger and tried to tend to victims but was killed herself by the knife-wielding Jihadis.
James, 30, said: “Kirsty was eating in a restaurant with friends next to where the van went into the wall.
“People were running the other way but before her friends could stop her, she ran up the stairway towards it all. Nobody was surprised because that’s the kind of person she was.
“As well as being friendly and outgoing, she was brave and selfless.
"I am very, very proud of her and her actions that night.”
Kirsty worked at Guy's Hospital – close to where the terrorists struck - and James was at home at their London flat when he heard about the attack.
He added: “She loved nursing - it was her life.
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“I knew Kirsty was in the area so I was ringing her phone non-stop.
“After about half an hour I got through and one her friends and a policeman relayed to me what had happened.
"My whole life has been ripped from under me.”
It also emerged yesterday that Spanish bank worker Ignacio Echeverria, 39 – who bravely confronted the terrorists with his skateboard - died from a stab wound to the back.
He was hailed a hero after trying to defend a woman he saw being attacked as he cycled back from a park with friends.
His body was due to be flown back to Madrid yesterday on a Spanish military plane.
Ignacio’s sister Isabel, who also lives in London, said after learning of her brother’s death: “My brother tried to stop terrorists and he lost his life trying to save others. We love you Ignacio and we will never forget you.”
£50K APPEAL FOR TRADERS
A FUND to support traders in Borough Market — shut since last Saturday — raised more than £26,000 in 24 hours.
The #LoveBorough campaign aims to raise £50,000 for those affected.
Borough Market Trust boss Donald Hyslop said: “Some of these traders, although none would be quick to admit it, are struggling.”
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It comes as a cop who was a first responder gave a detailed account of the “Battle of Britain” horror that unfolded as he raced to London Bridge.
Inspector Jim Cole revealed that police thought there were more than three attackers on the rampage – and feared the gunshots he heard were coming from terrorists not armed cops.
He admitted: “We didn’t know if the bad guys had guns."
Heroic Inspector Cole, 41, told how he was getting ready to finish his shift at Peckham Police Station, south London when the call came in at 10.08pm last Saturday.
He rushed to get 200 bystanders into the basement of a bar for safety – and they gave him a round of applause when the threat was later lifted.
He said: "My colleague had been listening to the police radio channel and he came running in to tell me a van had ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge. I instantly knew it was serious and feared the worst.
"It was all hands to the pump - like something out of a Battle of Britain film.
“Everyone went running and every available police vehicle was filled with officers. My lot got into a police carrier and we went up to London Bridge."