Police say incidents in London "terrorist" attacks

People evacuate near the London Bridge in London, Britain, on June 3, 2017. Unidentified attackers drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge Saturday night and stabbed people in the nearby Borough Market area. British authorities have classified the incidents as terrorist attacks. (Xinhua/Xu Hui)

LONDON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified attackers drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge Saturday night and stabbed people in the nearby Borough Market area. British authorities have classified the incidents as terrorist attacks.

"At 0025hrs 4/6/17 the incidents at #LondonBridge & #BoroughMarket were declared as terrorist incidents," police posted on its official Twitter account on Sunday.

Six people have been killed and three suspects shot dead by police after terror attack at London Bridge and Borough Market, local police said early Sunday.

The London Ambulance Service said that at least 20 people were being treated across London following terror incidents.

In the first incident, at least one person died after the van ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge, BBC reported, quoting police on site.

Witnesses said a white van ran into people on a pavement at a high speed.

They said three men got of the van and attacked people with knives on the bridge.

British Transport Police confirmed that there were "a number" of casualties and said there was an "incident that possibly involved a van and a knife."

About 15 minutes later, police said they were responding to a second and third incident involving stabbing at Borough Market area and Vauxhall, south of London Bridge. It said later the third one at Vauxhall was not related to the two previous incidents.

Borough Market, next to London Bridge, was busy at the weekend night with lots of people enjoying food and drinks in the bars.

Peter Rhodes, London Ambulance Service Assistant Director of Operations, said at least 20 people were injured in the attack.

"We can confirm we have taken at least 20 patients to six hospitals across London following the incident at London Bridge," he said in a statement released on Sunday.

"We have also treated a number of people at the scene for less serious injuries," he added.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said she was following updates from police and security officials, and confirmed that the attack in London "is being treated as a potential act of terrorism."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the attack in a statement released on Sunday.

"It was a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying Saturday night. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. There is no justification whatsoever for such barbaric acts," he said.

Armed police have been deployed around London Bridge which is already closed.