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Five terror attacks , some of which were just minutes away from being carried out, have been thwarted by police in the capital.

Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick appeared on radio this morning and gave the first insight into the force's successes over the last three to four months.

She said despite the attacks on Westminster Bridge, at Borough Market and the van attack in Finsbury Park, it could have been much worse.

Speaking to LBC breakfast host Nick Ferrari, the chief said she needed to be careful with how much she spoke about as people were in custody and going through the court system.

Mr Ferrari asked: "You talk about five attempts. How many weeks, you mentioned five possible threats that were investigated? How many weeks?

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(Image: LBC)

She replied: "I think this is over the last three to four months."

"And how far progressed were they?" he pushed.

Commissioner Dick replied: "Some of them were very close to...these are where people have been charged, so I need to be careful with what I say.

"But some of them were very close to an attack.

"Very close," she reiterated.

"What? Literally minutes," asked Mr Ferrari.

"Yes," she replied.

Speaking on the nationwide phone-in show, the London police chief was also asked about the acid attacks last night, which saw five people squirted in the face in just 72 minutes.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

Commissioner Dick said that it was too easy for people to get hold of acid and said she was working with the Home Office to get the law changed.

She said: "Acid attacks are completely barbaric.

"It's a new trend in this country.

"The acid can cause horrendous injuries."

(Image: Getty Images) (Image: Getty)

Some of Mr Ferrari's callers said acid attacks should be treated more harshly in the courts than stabbings, as the long term implications for a victim were much worse.