British Prime Minister Says “Enough Is Enough,” Vows to Boost Terrorism Fight

British Prime Minister Theresa May said it was way past time to step up the fight against Islamist extremism a day after attackers killed seven people and injured 48 in the heart of London. Three attackers sparked fear and chaos on Saturday night by plowing a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before going on a random stabbing spree nearby. Within eight minutes, police officers unloaded around 50 bullets to stop the attackers who appeared to be wearing suicide vests, which were later determined to be fake.

The Saturday attack was the third to hit Britain in as many months and illustrated why the country needs to take stronger action against terrorism, the prime minister said in a televised statement outside her office, where flags flew at half-mast. Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, May said it was tied to Islamic extremism.

“We cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are. Things need to change,” May said. “It is time to say enough is enough.” The prime minister, who is facing a crucial election on Thursday, described the threat form radical Islamism as “one of the great challenges of our time” and warned there has been “far too much tolerance of extremism” in the country.

Most parties suspended their political campaigning on Sunday but May made it clear the vote would go on as planned on June 8. “Violence can never be allowed to disrupt the democratic process,” she said. Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn agreed, saying that while he was “absolutely shocked and horrified” about the attacks, “If we allow these attacks to disrupt our democratic process, then we all lose.”

As of Sunday afternoon a total of 36 people remained in hospital, 21 of whom were described as being in critical condition. None of the seven who were killed have been identified by name yet, but Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a Canadian national was among the dead.

Authorities have also not identified any of the attackers, but police did conduct raids in the eastern London and arrested 12 people on Sunday. Neighbors of the site of one of the raids said they recognized one of the men who was shown in news reports as one of the attackers. “He’s lived here for about three years,” one man told the Associated Press. “He’s one of our neighbors. I’ve said hello in passing more than 50, 60 occasions. He has two young kids. He was a very nice guy.”