Call for unity 9 years after London Bridge attacks

The community marking the ninth anniversary of the London Bridge terror attacks, in which eight people were killed, has called for "hope, unity and compassion".

Bereaved families, survivors and local residents came together to remember those affected by the attack on 3 June 2017, including the 48 people injured.

Flowers were laid in memory of those who died, and for those still living with the aftermath. The attack saw three men drive a hired van into pedestrians before carrying out a knife attack.

Organising charity Living Bankside said plans were under way to create a memorial garden at the site for next year's 10-year anniversary.

Christine Archibald, 30, and Xavier Thomas, 45, were killed when they were struck by the van on London Bridge.

Alexandre Pigeard, 26, Sara Zelenak, 21, Kirsty Boden, 28, Sebastien Belanger, 36, and James McMullan, 32, were stabbed near Boro Bistro on the South Bank.

Ignacio Echeverria, 39, died while trying to protect others from the attackers in nearby Borough High Street.

The attackers – Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22 – were confronted in Stoney Street and shot dead by armed police who arrived on the scene within eight minutes.

Abdirahman Hassan, a representative for The London Bridge Islamic Centre said: "Know that we as local Muslims stand with you in our commitment to hope, peace and compassion, defying the division and hate the attackers sought to create and breed."

Hassan added that the terrorists involved "hijacked Islam" and "what they did goes against everything Islam teaches and proscribes".

Amir Eden, who witnessed the attacks, said that the horrors of that evening have not left him.

"It was an attack on my neighbourhood, where I was born and grew up and where I call home. It felt like the area had been defiled".

However, he said the local community and those affected have stood together in unity.

"The terrorists failed in what they hoped to achieve. They sought to divide us with their hate but they utterly failed.

"Division, hatred and evil will never win, we stand united in our humanity and our commitment to working together to encourage what is good and to make a positive difference," Eden added.

Maureen Lynch, patron of Living Bankside, said the organisation was honoured to host the gathering once again and to "recommit ourselves to unity, peace and compassion".

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