Jerusalem mayor sends condolences to London counterpart

In letter to Sadiq Khan, Nir Barkat calls Saturday night’s terror attack an assault on ‘the values of freedom and democracy’

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat on Sunday sent his condolences to his London counterpart, Sadiq Khan, a day after the deadly terror attack in the British capital, calling the killing spree “an attack against the values of freedom and democracy.”

“Terror is terror — anywhere in the world — and the free world must come together to fight evil. An attack in London is an attack against the values of freedom and democracy around the world,” he said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with victims and their families at this time. Jerusalem stands with London — today and always,” Barkat added.

On Sunday, British police arrested a dozen people in the widening investigation into the terrorists, who used a van and large knives to kill seven people in London.

Police staff a cordon on a street leading to London Bridge on the southern side of the River Thames in London on June 4, 2017, as investigations continue following the June 3 terror attack. (AFP Photo/Odd Andersen)

The assault unfolded over a few terrifying minutes late Saturday, starting when a rented van veered off the road and barreled into pedestrians on busy London Bridge. Three men then got out of the vehicle with large knives and attacked people at bars and restaurants in nearby Borough Market until they were fatally shot by police.

London police said officers killed the attackers within eight minutes of arriving at the scene. Eight officers fired some 50 rounds, said Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, the force’s head of counterterrorism.

The three attackers were wearing what appeared to be suicide belts, but the belts turned out to be fake. Investigators were working to determine whether others assisted them, Rowley said.

A bystander was also wounded by the gunfire, but the civilian’s injuries were not believed to be critical.

Armed police officers stand guard on London Bridge in central London, Saturday, June 3, 2017. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP)

Forty-eight people, including two police officers, were treated at hospitals across London. Twenty-one remained in critical condition Sunday. Among the wounded were German, French and Spanish citizens, officials said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a Canadian was among the dead.

The death toll of seven did not include the three attackers.

Counterterrorism officers raided several addresses in Barking, an east London suburb, and arrested 12 people there Sunday, police said.