Armed London police close London Bridge after van hits pedestrians

Armed police closed off London Bridge in the heart of the capital after a white van veered off the road and hit pedestrians on Saturday night, Metropolitan Police said.

The BBC cited a witness as saying the van mounted the sidewalk and hit pedestrians. The bridge and London Bridge station have been closed.

The incident follows an attack on Westminster Bridge when Khalid Masood killed four pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before stabbing a police officer to death, Masood was then shot dead by police.

The incident also coincided with a concert in Manchester tomorrow night to commemorate the victims of last week's suicide bombing attack in Manchester which killed 22 people.

BBC reporter Holly Jones, on the bridge at the time of the accident, said it was travelling south across the bridge at about 50 mph when it veered onto the sidewalk.

London's ambulance service said it was sending "multiple resources" to the scene.

Buses were being diverted and rail links to the area shut down.