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The London Bridge terrorists spent more than two hours driving around the capital before they struck, raising fears they were scouting out other targets.

The trio did two dry runs before driving at pedestrians on London Bridge, killing three people and smashing into railings.

They then used identical pink ceramic knives with twelve inch blades which were bound to their hands with leather strapping to murder five more victims.

Police have revealed that Pakistani born, British citizen Khuram Butt , 27, was the mastermind of the attack and could have killed many more if his attempts to obtain a 7.5 tonne truck earlier that day had succeeded.

Commander Dean Haydon, from the Met’s counter-terrorism command, said: “The effects could have been a lot worse.”

(Image: Metropolitan Police/PA) (Image: Metropolitan Police/PA)

Mr Haydon warned about the possibility of copycat attacks and said security was being reviewed at iconic locations and forthcoming major events.

He said: “We also need to watch out for those who may be inspired by these recent attacks.”

Police had been aware Butt had links to hate preacher Anjem Choudary’s banned group al-Muhajiroun (ALM), Mr Haydon said.

(Image: Metropolitan Police/PA) (Image: Metropolitan Police/PA)

Mr Haydon also spoke with pride about off-duty PC Charlie Guenigault, who was stabbed in the stomach as he took on the terrorists with his bare hands.

And he lauded the bravery of a doctor who sprang into action after hearing screaming while he enjoyed dinner at Lobos restaurant on Borough High Street.

He said: “With no regard for his own safety he ran downstairs and outside into the street to help.

(Image: Metropolitan Police/PA)

(Image: Metropolitan Police/PA)

“And even when armed police stated that the place was unsafe he continued and assisted in carrying a fatally injured male to the other side of the bridge.”

A PR consultant who ignored the terrorists to help a seriously injured man as they attacked people just yards away from him was also singled out for praise.

The man leaped into action after hearing seeing a white van crashed into railings near London Bridge. He said: “Even though he could see that the area was not safe, as others were being attacked in front of him, he remained in the area and attempted to give first aid to the victim.”

The commander also thanked a worker at EL Pastor Mexican restaurant who drove away the attackers by throwing missiles at them in a desperate effort to defend his customers.

He said: “I have personally seen the CCTV of that area and it’s fair to say that other members of the public picked up items such as chairs, dustbins and anything they could get their hands on to either protect themselves or protect others.”

(Image: Metropolitan Police/PA)

And the commander reserved high praise for off-duty police officer Mr Guenigault, who was badly injured as he intervened in the attackers’ deadly rampage.

The 25-year-old, who is in a stable condition in hospital, was helping two people near Tooley Street treat a member of the public who had been stabbed in the neck when he himself was attacked.

Eight people died and 48 were left in hospital after Saturday’s attack.

Butt, Rachid Redouane , 30, and Youssef Zaghba , 22, mowed down pedestrians with a van on London Bridge and stabbed scores of people as they ran amok through Borough Market, before being gunned down by armed police.

Mr Haydon said Butt was being investigated for alleged fraud offences at the time of the attack.

He had previously been probed by anti-terror police over his links to an organisation run by hate preacher Anjem Choudary.

Mr Haydon said: “These are unprecedented times at the moment and we are doing everything we can to keep the public safe.”

He said the “tempo of work is extraordinary” and his team are running around 500 investigations into 3,000 people at any one time.

(Image: Getty)

Officers investigating the London Bridge attack have so far interviewed 262 witnesses from 19 different countries with 78 regarded as “significant”.

Mr Haydon said Butt was the “ringleader” and had used a recently activated mobile phone to hire the white Renault van.

The booking was for the period between 17.50 on Saturday 3 June and 10.00

on Sunday 4 June. A text was received confirming the vehicle hire at 17.47 on the Saturday.

The three men drove in a red Corsa to Harrold Hill, Romford, to pick up the van shortly after 18.30.

At 19.17 they arrived at Zagbha’s home in Barking, where they stayed for a short time before leaving in the van at 19.38 heading into central London.

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The nine mile journey should have only taken 25 minutes at that time of day but it was not until 21.58, that the van drove onto London Bridge. It is not known where in central London they went but they did not stop before launching their attack.

They travelled over the bridge three times, and on the third occasion mounted the pavement and collided with pedestrians.

At 22.07, it crashed into railings on the south side of London Bridge, just slightly north of the Barrowboy and Banker pub where it was abandoned.

The three men, armed with knives, then ran into the Borough Market area,

stabbing numerous people, including a BTP officer and an off duty Met officer.

On leaving the van they separated to attack different victims before coming together again in the market. Police receive the first call to the incident at 22.08

At 22.16 eight firearms officers shot them dead with an “unprecedented” 46 rounds.

(Image: PA)

My Haydon said: “In my view Butt was the ringleader. He bought the mobile phone and arranged for the hire of the van, we believe he was driving the van.”

Police found 13 wine bottles with lighter fluid inside the van along with two blow torches which police suspect the gang planned to use as Molotov cocktails in a third wave of attacks if they had not been shot.

Also in the van were bags of rubble, believed to have been used to increase the weight of the van, to make it a more deadly battering ram.

The men had also put chairs and a suitcase in the back of the vehicle in an attempt to make it look like they were innocently moving the gear.

They each used identical 12 inch knives with pink blades made of ceramic,

possibly to avoid metal detection. At least one had to be cut off the hand of the dead attacker after he was shot.

Redouane’s flat on the Barking Road was used as the safe house where the terrorists made the petrol bombs and prepared their weapons.

He had moved in in April, meaning the attack could have been planned for at least two months.

Police are investigating how the “diverse bunch” of men, with links to Morocco, Libya, Ireland, Italy, Pakistan and the UK, came to meet.

There was no evidence they were directed from abroad and they do not appear to have been part of a wider network.

A Koran was found at the safe-house open on a page about martyrdom and cloth matching that used for the Molotov cocktails was on the floor.

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Police have found no DNA or other forensic evidence in the flat to indicate any other individual was involved in preparing the attack.

Also in the flat was a box containing superglue, Stanley knives, bits of rubber and duck tape.

Butt was arrested for “low level fraud” in October 2016. The case had been referred to the CPS but he was about to be told he was not going to be charged when he launched the attack..

Butt had been cautioned in 2008 for fraud and in 2010 for common assault. The other two men had no convictions in the UK but police are investigating if they had any in their home countries.