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Increased police deployment on trains and at railway stations

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Rail passengers will see more armed police on trains and at stations following the Manchester attack.

British Transport Police (BTP) is deploying additional officers amid the UK terror threat level rising to critical. The force insisted the measure does not mean there is “any specific intelligence” relating to the rail network or that there is an increased risk of travelling by train.

BTP Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock said: “Over the coming days we’ll be keeping a close eye to keep you safe, as well as making sure the nation’s railways keep functioning as usual. I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone to stay calm, be vigilant, and if you spot anything at all which gives you cause for concern, let us know.”

Hanstock added: “In light of the dreadful events over these last few days, and last night’s increase to the national threat level, nothing should be considered too trivial to report and any information, regardless of whether you feel it is significant or not, may be important to all of us.”

The blast happened at Manchester Arena, which is attached to Manchester Victoria station.

The station was closed to allow a forensic search of the area and is not expected to reopen for several days.

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York Minster police given back power of arrest

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A ceremony was held at York Minster to offically confer power back to the force

A cathedral police force has been given back the power of arrest for the first time in nearly 80 years.

York Minster Police has been given the same powers as regular police officers within the minster's precinct.

Eight constables and the cathedral's head of security were sworn in at a special ceremony on Tuesday.

The force, established in the 13th Century, lost its powers in the 1930s when officers ceased to be attested.

York Minster is one of only a handful of cathedrals to maintain its own police force. Those that do have a police force include Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, St Peter's Basilica in Rome, and Washington's National Cathedral in Washington DC.

Mark Sutcliffe, Inspector of Cathedral Police at York Minster, said: "I feel very proud of the whole team for attaining their attestation. It has been an important day for everyone involved but also a significant milestone in the history of the force, which has played an important role in life at the cathedral for hundreds of years. The attestation and training the officers have completed ensures our cathedral constables have the professional skills and powers necessary to execute their duties."

Powers were returned to the force following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Chapter of York and the chief constable of North Yorkshire. The memorandum recognises that although security provision inside the minster and its precinct remain the responsibility of cathedral constables, North Yorkshire Police will be responsible for investigating all crime. Any arrested people will be handed over to North Yorkshire Police for transport and processing and the force will be responsible for the submission of prosecution files.

The Minster Police constabulary is thought to be the oldest continuing police service in the country.

According to the BBC local TV news, there was some show of force at Reading. Didn't see anything at Wokingham, but then ...

Now here's an example of how to really pile on the security measures. Maybe.

Meanwhile, in England - from the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-40019315):

A cathedral police force has been given back the power of arrest for the first time in nearly 80 years.

I did want to take a picture of this plethoric policing, but reckoned that at least one of those groups would object to having their picture took by a dodgy-looking foreigner, so I hope you'll understand that omission.

Personally, I find the thought of police with machine guns on-board trains to be more worrying than the minute risk of a terrorist attack.  Without putting officers on every train, what's the chance of a police officer being on the same train as a terrorist?

As regards the question "would troops with assault weapons really open fire in a crowded station" ?

Surely the answer is "yes but only as a last resort" Firearms are of little use against a suicide bomber, but other modes of attack exist including mass shooting such as occurred in a French nightclub. Shooting the terrorist dead as quickly as possible is the sensible response in such an attack, despite the risks to bystanders.

Alternatively terrorists might kill by use of an HGV as was done in Nice, France. Shooting the driver dead as quickly as possible is the most effective way of limiting the death toll, again despite the risks to bystanders.

It would be very sad indeed if an innocent passenger was shot dead under such circumstances, but it might be unavoidable to preserve other lives.

Photographs on Twitter today of armed officers on-board trains: https://twitter.com/elliotwagland/status/867749792084099072

I can't help but think the size of the weapon is totally inappropriate for the limited space in which they are working.

Personally, I find the thought of police with machine guns on-board trains to be more worrying than the minute risk of a terrorist attack.  Without putting officers on every train, what's the chance of a police officer being on the same train as a terrorist?

Twelve people have been arrested after the London terror attack which left seven people dead and 48 injured.

The arrests in Barking, east London, followed a raid at a flat belonging to one of the three attackers.

A van hit pedestrians on London Bridge at 21:58 BST on Saturday. Three men then got out and stabbed people in nearby Borough Market.

The attackers were shot dead by eight officers who fired 50 bullets. A member of the public was accidentally shot.

The member of the public remains in hospital in a non-critical condition, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said.

"The situation these officers were confronted with was critical, a matter of life and death - three armed men wearing what appeared to be suicide belts," he said. "They had already attacked and killed members of the public and had to be stopped immediately."

The suspected suicide vests were later found to be hoaxes.

Thirty-six people are in hospital with a "range of injuries", he said, and 21 are in a critical condition.

And only one round went into a bystander

Hmm, not sure about the choice of weapon. They only carry one machine gun, and there was phone footage shown of them using these.

Hmm, not sure about the choice of weapon. They only carry one machine gun, and there was phone footage shown of them using these.

Yes, of course I was suggesting training together with the carrying, goes without saying.

I think the general public might see them as a halfway house to a full firearm, especially currently. AS long as use was confined absolutely to use against trhose carrying/using or threatening to use a knife as well as anything else currently permitted, I'd be ok with that. At least gives them a semblance of proper protection without causing (long-lasting) harm to those it is used against.

London attack: Video emerges of police shooting

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A video has emerged showing armed police shooting dead the three men who carried out the London terror attack.

CCTV footage shows the three men attacking a pedestrian in Borough Market before charging at armed officers. The men are then shot dead.

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The video shows armed officers getting out of a police car

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They can then be seen pointing rifles at the three men

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Officers then surround the men having shot them

The new footage - which first emerged on social media - shows police shooting dead the men within seconds of arriving in Borough Market.

Police have been praised for ending the attack within eight minutes of the first 999 call.

The video shows a person walking into shot, before being chased and apparently being stabbed by the three men.

While the attack is ongoing, armed police arrive, prompting the three men to then charge at officers. However, the three men are shot dead within seconds.

Armed officers can then be seen examining the bodies of the men, who were wearing fake suicide vests.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has said 46 shots had been fired at the three attackers by eight police officers - five from the Met and three from the City of London force.

The footage makes both compelling and harrowing viewing. The first grainy images show a man being set upon by the three attackers as he walks along one of the narrow roads around Borough Market.

They repeatedly stab him, bundling him to the ground, before a police car arrives. Armed officers, guns raised, get out of the car. Six seconds later the attackers are dead.

The speed, professionalism, nerve and expertise shown by the firearms officers shines through in the video. Their actions undoubtedly saved many lives.

A British Transport Police officer who was seriously injured after confronting the three attackers armed only with a baton has said he did "everything I could" to fight them off.  The officer, who has not been named, has been praised for his bravery, and added: "I want to say sorry to the families that lost their loved ones. I'm so sorry I couldn't do more."