British Police name Two of the London Attackers as Thousands Gather for Peaceful Vigil

British Police name Two of the London Attackers as Thousands Gather for Peaceful Vigil

By Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (ANS, June 5, 2017) -- Two of the men who carried out Saturday night's terror attack in London have been named by police, according to the BBC.

The broadcaster said Scotland Yard named Pakistan-born Khuram Butt, 27, from Barking, east London and was known to police and MI5 but there was no intelligence to suggest an attack. The other attacker was Rachid Redouane, 30, from Barking, who police said claimed to be Moroccan-Libyan. Redouane, who was a chef, also used the name Rachid Elkhdar.

The pair and one other man were shot dead by police after killing seven people and injuring 48. They drove a hired van into pedestrians on London Bridge before stabbing people in the area around Borough Market.

A vigil was held at Potters Field Park near London Bridge earlier to remember the victims, while the NHS (National Health Service) England said 36 people remained in hospital, with 18 in a critical condition.

Assistant Commander Mark Rowley said: "Inquiries are ongoing to confirm the identity of their accomplice." He said the investigation into Butt began two years ago but "there was no intelligence to suggest that this attack was being planned and the investigation had been prioritized accordingly."

He added: "Work is ongoing to understand more about them, their connections and whether they were assisted or supported by anyone else."

The BBC reports that Butt once featured in a Channel 4 documentary about Islamist extremists with links to the jailed preacher Anjem Choudary. The attacker, who had at least two older siblings, can be seen in last year's TV documentary arguing with police officers in the street.

An online CV seen by the BBC shows that he got an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) Level 2 In business administration and went on to work in an administrative role for a company called Auriga Holdings based in East Ham which manages Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets.

The BBC said he had also worked in a customer services role for Transport for London and was the sole director of a now-dissolved company called Kool Kosmetics.

BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani said two people in Barking had raised concerns about him.

One man called the anti-terrorism hotline in 2015, while a woman went to the local police station because she was scared Butt was trying to radicalize her children. Security planners made him a lower priority than other targets because of a lack of information that he was involved in attack-planning, the correspondent said.

Sources in Dublin said Redouane was understood to have been carrying an identification card issued in the Republic of Ireland when he was shot dead, the Press Association (PA) reported.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said he was not a member of a "small group" being monitored by Irish police in respect of radicalization.

One man called the anti-terrorism hotline in 2015, while a woman went to the local police station because she was scared Butt was trying to radicalize her children.

Security planners made him a lower priority than other targets because of a lack of information that he was involved in attack-planning, the correspondent said.

Sources in Dublin said Redouane was understood to have been carrying an identification card issued in the Republic of Ireland when he was shot dead, the Press Association reported.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said he was not a member of a "small group" being monitored by Irish police in respect of radicalization.

Police said six women and four men arrested by police after the attack are still being questioned.

Canadian national Chrissy Archibald, 30, is the first victim to be named. Her family said she died in her fiancé's arms after being struck by the speeding van.

Among other developments: Prime Minister Theresa May chaired a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra, there will be a minute's silence on Tuesday at 11:00 BST in memory of those who lost their lives and all those affected by the attacks, and barriers have been installed on Westminster, Lambeth and Waterloo bridges following the attack to stop vehicles from mounting the pavement.

It is the third terror attack in the UK in three months, following the car and knife attack on Westminster Bridge in March, in which five people were killed, and the Manchester bombing less than two weeks ago, in which 22 people were killed.

London attack: Vigil held to remember victims

In the wake of the attacks, Jennifer Meierhans, BBC News, reports that a vigil began as a somber and quiet gathering under the trees in Potters Field Park, where people stood in quiet contemplation looking out over the Thames.

She stated that “thousands of people gathered under leaden skies to remember those who were killed and injured in Saturday night's terror attack in London. The crowd of all ages and backgrounds filled Potters Field Park, less than a mile from where three men drove into pedestrians on London Bridge before launching a knife attack in Borough Market.”

The crowd filled the park and spilled out on to the area around City Hall, a snaking line of people waiting to leave flowers. The area is now a sea of floral tributes.

The reporter said: “So many did not have the words to describe how they were feeling, but spoke of their desire to stand together with others and show love.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan led the short ceremony with a defiant speech that was welcomed by applause. The reporter said that Khan's speech “roused the quiet crowd of thousands into hearty applause of agreement when he spoke of his disgust of -- and defiance at -- the horror of Saturday's events.”

After a minute's silence, many went forward to lay flowers beneath the flagpoles of City Hall and lingered to speak with one another.

“It was a dignified show of solidarity and strength in the face of fear and hate,” the reporter said.

Photo captions: 1) Butt and Redouane named by British police (BBC) 2) A peaceful vigil held near the attack site (BBC) 3) Michael Ireland.

About the Writer: Michael Ireland is a volunteer internet journalist serving as Chief Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, as well as an Ordained Minister who has served with ASSIST Ministries and written for ANS since its beginning in 1989. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China, and Russia. Please consider helping Michael cover his expenses in bringing news of the Persecuted Church, by logging-on to: https://actintl.givingfuel.com/ireland-michael

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