Just In! ISIS Claims Responsibility Of London Bridge Terrorist Attack

By Oluwadamilare Oyedun & Agency Reports

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) has claimed responsibility of the London Bridge terrorist attack which happened late on Saturday, 3rd June, 2017.

All through the night, supporters of so-called Islamic State celebrated the London attack, even before any claim was made by IS.

There was never much doubt either in their minds, or in those of British counter-terrorism officials, that this was a jihadist attack inspired by IS.

It follows a widely-circulated propaganda message put out by the group on social media urging its followers to attack civilians in the West using trucks, knives or guns.

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The message makes reference to the current Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Last year, attacks intensified during this month with deaths resulting in Istanbul, Dhaka and Baghdad.

Some analysts see this as a last desperate bid by IS to its supporters, following multiple setbacks in the Middle East where its self-proclaimed caliphate is shrinking fast.

But the ideology of IS is likely to survive those defeats – and will continue to fuel terrorist attacks around the world.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the capital remained the “safest global city” and would not be cowed by terrorism.

Harun Khan, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said Muslims everywhere were “outraged and disgusted at these cowards who once again have destroyed the lives of our fellow Britons”.

With three attacks in three months, terrorism against soft targets is beginning to feel, to some people, like the new normal.

The brutal reality is that this kind of threat is absolutely typical of what jihadists sought to achieve in all their attacks across Europe.

Since 2013 security services in the UK have foiled 18 plots. A large proportion of those have involved suspects who set out to commit acts of violence similar to the attack on Westminster Bridge and London Bridge.

Plans to use bombs, such as at Manchester Arena, are rarer because plotters need to have the technical skills for such an appalling attack – but attacking people with cars and knives is far easier and has long been encouraged by so-called Islamic State and other jihadists.

The aim of the three attackers last night is abundantly clear – not only did they want to kill, but they wanted to lose their own lives.

They would’ve known full well that attacking people in the street would draw armed police in their direction and the fake bomb belts they were wearing would, in their own warped minds, hasten their demise.

The area around the attack scene remains cordoned off, with London Bridge closed.

Police said the cordon would remain in place overnight and “well into Monday” and people would not be able to access their properties until it was lifted.