A police officer in London shot and killed a man reportedly wearing a fake suicide vest who police say stabbed several people on the London Bridge. Two of the stabbing victims later died.

According to the New York Times, the man attacked pedestrians on the historic bridge that crosses the River Thames in an incident that revived memories of a similar attack in which eight people were killed on the same bridge in 2017.

The assailant was initially held to the ground by citizens who tackled him, and when police arrived the civilians deferred to the officers, one of whom shot the subject. Police say the man died at the scene.

"It has been declared a terrorist incident," said Neil Basu, the assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. "I must stress, however, that we retain an open mind as to any motive."