Nov 30, 2019

Queen praises "brave individuals" who wrestled London Bridge attacker

Rebecca Falconer

A police officers patrols near London Bridge in London, on November 30 — A police officer patrols near London Bridge Saturday, a day after the stabbing attack. Photo: Niklas Halle'n/AFP via Getty Images

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II led tributes Saturday to first responders and the "brave individuals who put their own lives at risk" to confront a terrorist who killed two people and wounded three others at London Bridge.

Details: Moments before police shot the attacker dead on Friday, several people rushed him, trying to disarm him of his two knives while he wore a fake suicide bombing vest. One man who helped hold down the attacker left the scene carrying a large knife, video posted to social media shows.

A Polish immigrant used a 5-foot narwhal tusk on the attacker, whom police named as convicted terrorist Usman Khan, 28, from Staffordshire in the West Midlands of England (no relation to the London mayor). The bypasser, identified as Lukasz, grabbed the tusk from the wall of his nearby workplace at Fishmongers' Hall from where the attack began, The Times reports.
Another man used a fire extinguisher on Khan, video posted online shows.
Tour guide operator Thomas Gray, 24, told Sky News of his role in tackling Khan, "I stamped on his left wrist while someone else smacked his hand on the ground and then kicked one of the knives away. I went to pick up the knife when I heard a cop say 'he has got a bomb'."
Convicted murderer James Ford, 42, who was on day release from prison, also helped, Kent Online first reported.

What they're saying: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to the "sheer bravery" of those who helped. London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted he's in "awe of the people who ran towards danger to keep us all safe."

Sensitive content warning: The below video shows the moment "Lukasz" and the man with the fire extinguisher approach the attacker.

Go deeper: PM vows review as convicted terrorist named in London Bridge attack

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Queen praises "brave individuals" who wrestled London Bridge attacker

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