London Bridge attacker identified

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday that people convicted of terrorism offences should not be allowed out of prison early.

The Prime Minister made the remarks after it was revealed the London Bridge attacker was released from jail last year before the end of his sentence.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Priti Patel and London police chief commissioner Cressida Dick arrive at the scene of a stabbing on London Bridge, in which two people were killed, in London, Britain, November 30, 2019. /Reuters Photo

The suspect from Friday's London Bridge attack has been identified as 28-year-old Usman Khan, who had been convicted for terrorism offenses in 2012 and left the prison in December 2018 on license, UK police confirmed in a statement.

During Friday's attack, the suspect, wearing a fake explosive device, knifed a man and a woman to death before being shot dead by police on London Bridge.

Three other people, a woman and two men, were also injured and are receiving treatment at a hospital.

The UK police have officially declared the stabbing as a terror incident.

The counter-terrorism command has taken over the investigation, but the police are keeping "an open mind as to any motive."

Police said officers are carrying out a search at an address in Staffordshire on Friday night, where the suspect resided, and they are not actively seeking anyone else in connection to the incident right now.

According to videos circulating on social media, the attacker was wrestled to the ground by a group of bystanders, and a man in a suit dislodged his knife before armed police arrived and shot him.

Bystanders look down at the scene of the incident at London Bridge. /AFP Photo

A screen grab taken from a video shows armed police surrounding a white truck that jackknifed across London Bridge. AFP/LUKE POULTON)

Emergency services cordoned off the area around London Bridge. /AFP Photo

Armed officers were at the scene. /AFP Photo

Forensic teams were sent to the area. /AFP Photo

The violence comes two-and-a-half years after a van and knife attack in the same area killed eight people and less than two weeks before Britain holds a national election.

The main political parties temporarily suspended campaigning in London as a mark of respect.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "this country will never be cowed, or divided, or intimidated by this sort of attack." He also praised the bravery of bystanders who tackled Khan to the ground.

British police will look at the conditions placed on people like the London attacker, said junior interior minister Brandon Lewis.

The incident happened on the north side of the bridge.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct will investigate the fatal shooting of the suspect.

British law stipulates there has to be a full investigation into all police shootings – the nation's police are not routinely armed.

Police said there would be more armed officers patrolling in London over the next few days.

London Bridge was the site of an attack in June 2017 after pedestrians were run over by a van, with three men then attacked people in the surrounding area, killing eight.