London attackers faked suicide vests for ‘maximum fear’

Fake suicide vests worn by the assailants in the London Bridge attack were made with disposable water bottles attached to leather belts, UK police say

“I have not seen this tactic in the UK before where terrorists create maximum fear by strapping fake explosives to themselves,” says police commander Dean Haydon, who is leading the investigation.

His force released photographs of the blood-smeared bottles covered in silver and black tape, through which the brown belts had been laced.

“Anyone who saw them on the night would have thought they were genuine. It is hard to speculate what the motive was for wearing the belts,” Haydon says in a statement.

“It could be that they had plans to take the attack into a siege situation or it might be that they saw it as protection from being shot themselves.”

— AFP