As the Conservative party of Theresa May launched an unpresidented personal Facebook Ad attack on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, three individuals launched an terror attack on London Bridge and began knifing passers-by shortly afterwards on Burroughs Market. Theresa May had taken the opportunity six weeks ago to call for snap elections for her to look strong as Britain’s leader … she has succeeded to prove the contrary.
○ Theresa May approval rating sinks as Tory lead shrinks
Theresa May still has the lead in major polls but for certain she will not enjoy the predicted majority she was aiming for. Well done Maggie v2.0!
London Bridge attack: six killed; three terror suspects shot dead by police ∣ The Guardian ∣
- Attackers drove van into pedestrians before stabbing people in Borough Market
- 48 injured people taken to hospitals
- General election campaigning suspended
- London attacks: what we know so far
- Full report: Police shoot dead three London Bridge terror suspects
As the incident was underway, the London Metropolitan police issued an alert through social media channels, warning people in the area to run away from any threat, rather than surrender or attempt to negotiate. If that wasn’t possible, they should instead hide, turn their phone to silent and barricade themselves in before calling police.
Many people out in London did not get the chance. Others, according to reports, instead took on the attackers head-on in an attempt to rescue victims, fighting back with chairs and pint glasses.
In an information video about the new campaign, assistant commissioner Mark Rowley said the instructions were based on proven advice.“Everyone’s aware of the terrorism challenges across the world,” he said. “It can never cater for every possible eventuality and, if someone acts on instinct and perhaps decides to fight because they have no choice, we would never criticise them for that.”
[Update-1] Terror attacks in London kill several, injure dozens | DW |
At least seven people have been killed in London after a vehicle attack on London Bridge followed by a stabbing spree. The attacks come less than two weeks after a suicide attack in Manchester killed 22.
Three knife-armed attackers in a van plowed into pedestrians on London Bridge on Saturday evening before going on a stabbing spree in nearby streets and bars in what police have described as “terrorist incidents.”
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, which come days ahead of a June 8 national election, and less than two weeks after 22 people were killed in a suicide attack in the northern UK city of Manchester while attending a concert by US pop singer Ariana Grande.
- ○ Ariana Grande’s Manchester tribute concert today in One Love line-up
○ Welsh FA claim security for Champions League final will be the biggest ever – June 3, 2017
Frank Schnittger’s UK Election Update
The latest opinion poll by Survation conducted today after the Leaders’ Question time appearances is the closest yet, putting the gap between the Tories and Labour at 1% – 40% to 39%. This compares to the previous week’s Survation poll which put the gap at 43-37%. A swing of 5% in one week.
Of course we have to be careful about being selective in our choice of polls. A ComRes/Independent/Mirror poll conducted before the Leaders’ TV appearances puts the Tory lead at 12% – the same as their survey the previous week.
The overall trend of polling is unmistakeable, however, and the only question is whether it continues right until polling day – and whether polling day comes too soon for Labour to have a chance of taking the lead.
Tories’ ‘dark ad’ attacking Corbyn a big hit
« click
textA US-style “attack ad” showing Jeremy Corbyn opposing anti-terrorism legislation that was released after the Manchester bombing has become the most-watched advert in British political history.
The one-minute clip has been viewed almost 5 million times on Facebook since it was published on Friday and an undisclosed number of times on YouTube – estimated to be in the millions. In its non-ad form on the Tories’ YouTube channel it has almost one million hits.
I truly hope the UK Conservatives get a BIG voter back-lash for an election campaign turning ugly!
Tory PM Theresa May and Home Secretary Amber Rudd haven’t got the faintest clue about blow-back from Middle East foreign policy.
More below the fold …
PM Theresa May doesn’t impress after COBRA meeting at Downing Street 10 …
[Update-2] London attack: Theresa May says ‘enough is enough’ after seven killed
Theresa May has warned that there has been “far too much tolerance of extremism” in the UK and promised to step up the fight against Islamist terrorism following the London Bridge attack, saying “enough is enough”.
The prime minister struck a sombre and serious tone as she spoke outside No 10 on Sunday morning after chairing a meeting of the Cobra committee following the attack in the centre of the capital in which seven people were killed.
She said internet companies must not allow extremism a place to exist, but that there was also a need to tackle “safe spaces in the real world”, which would require “difficult” conversations.
Islamist militancy was the thread that linked the otherwise unconnected attacks in London Bridge, Westminster and Manchester, she said.
The home secretary, Amber Rudd, said security services did not believe the attackers were part of a wider plot, which is why the independent Joint Terrorism Analysis centre (JTAC) had not advised raising the national alert level.
After Manchester attack: Home Secretary Amber Rudd on threat level, Corbyn speech [Video]
