The UK today marked the first anniversary of the terrorist attack in London Bridge and Borough Market with a nationwide minute's silence and special memorial service at Southwark Cathedral here.
Eight people died and 48 others were injured when a white van hit pedestrians on London Bridge at about 10pm last year on the same day.
Three men then got out and attacked people in nearby Borough Market. Police arrived within a few minutes and the three men Pakistani-origin ringleader Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba believed to be responsible for the attack were killed by officers.
Today we remember those who died and the many more who were injured, and also pay tribute to the bravery of our emergency services and those who intervened or came to the aid of others, British Prime Minister Theresa May said.
My message to those who seek to target our way of life or try to divide us is clear our resolve to stand firm and overcome this threat together has never been stronger, she added.
Christopher Chessun, the bishop of Southwark who addressed the private service of commemoration at Southwark Cathedral on Sunday, said he wanted to send out a message of hope and faith and love in the midst of the loss of humanity that was demonstrated by these terrorist action.
Even within those eight minutes of terror, the seeds of hope were being sown by those behaving so bravely, standing their ground, refusing to let terror triumph at enormous cost, said Chessun.
At the end of the cathedral service for victims, relatives, members of the local community and the emergency services, Chessun blessed an olive tree called the tree of healing, which was planted in compost created from floral tributes left on the bridge last June.
Afterwards a short procession walked from the cathedral to Southwark Needle, at the corner of London Bridge, for a national minute's silence at 16:30 local time.
The victims of the attack were Christine Archibald, 30, from Canada, James McMullan, 32, from Hackney in London, Alexandre Pigeard, 26, and Sebastien Belanger, 36, from France and Xavier Thomas, 45, the Australians Kirsty Boden, 28 and Sara Zelenak 21, and Ignacio Echeverra, 39, from Spain.
The words #LondonUnited were projected on to London Bridge in their memory last night night and will be projected again today.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said: Our city faced some incredibly difficult times last year, with the terrorist attacks in Westminster, London Bridge, Finsbury Park and Parsons Green ... I'm proud of the way we have responded: standing united in defiance and staying true to our values and way of life.
He along with British Prime Minister Theresa May laid wreaths at the end of the memorial service, attended by 700 people, with hundreds of other members of the public gathering in the area to pay their tribute.
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