The three terrorists who plowed through pedestrians on the London Bridge last week attempted to rent a 7.5-ton truck.
The three terrorists who plowed through pedestrians on the London Bridge last week attempted to rent a 7.5-ton truck, suggesting the men were hoping to carry out a much larger attack.
Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, tore across the bridge on June 3 before running through Borough Market and stabbing those in their path. The attack left eight people dead and dozens more injured.
All three of the attackers were fatally shot by police.
London Metropolitan Police told CNN Butt — the group’s alleged ringleader — attempted to rent a larger truck the morning of the attack, but failed to provide payment details. Instead they rented a van from a firm in Harold Hill, Romford, in East London, according to the Guardian.
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Officers said it appeared the men originally planned a rampage that echoed a similar atrocity in Nice, France. Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, who was eventually shot by police, killed 86 people after he drove through crowds celebrating Bastille Day in July 2016.
Metropolitan Police released images of the vehicle used in the attack in an appeal to the public for any additional details or information regarding the deadly rampage on the London Bridge.
Inside the van, they found 13 supposed Molotov cocktails — made from wine bottles and an apparent flammable liquid — and two blow torches, according to the news station.
Officers also released images of three ceramic pink knives, found either near or on the attackers. Commander Dean Haydon described them as “kitchen knives” — about 12 inches in length — adapted with a leather strap.
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Because the knives are distinct, he called on anyone familiar with the weapons to come forward.
“So far we have over 250 witnesses, but I’ m sure there’s more out there, and I would appeal to them to contact us, ” Haydon said.
Law enforcement have conducted a series of raids in connection with the London Bridge attack and arrested 19 people in the week after. Six were still in custody on Saturday and one was released on bail.
