British leader: 'Strong indication' London attack was terror related

By CASSANDRA VINOGRAD and PAISLEY DODDS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) -- British Prime Minister David Cameron says there are "strong indications" that a brutal attack in London is terror-related.

Two men attacked another man near a London military barracks on Wednesday. One man died and the two others believed to be have weapons were shot by police. Speaking at a press conference in Paris with French President Francois Hollande, Cameron called the attack "the most appalling crime" and said there are "strong indications" that it is a terrorist incident. Hollande says a British soldier was killed in the attack, but Cameron didn't immediately confirm that.

Cameron said he would be cutting his trip short to return to London.

Cameron asked Home Secretary Theresa May to call an urgent meeting of the government's emergency committee.

A British government official who spoke only on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the investigation said the details that had emerged were indicative of a "terrorist-motivated attack."

May said she had been briefed by Britain's domestic security service, MI5, and by police on what she called a "sickening and barbaric" attack.

Britain's Ministry of Defense said it was urgently investigating reports that a serving soldier was involved in the incident.

Police said armed officers responded to reports of the assault Wednesday afternoon just a few blocks from a military training barracks in southeast London. Commander Simon Letchford said reports indicated that one man was being assaulted by two other men, and that a number of weapons -- including possibly a firearm -- were used in the attack.

He confirmed that one man was found dead at the scene and that two men were shot by police and taken to separate London hospitals. One of them is in serious condition, according to London Ambulance Service.

Live television images of the scene showed a trail of blood staining a pavement, cordoned off streets and crime scene investigators marking the scene.

David Dixon, head teacher of a nearby primary school, said police told him there was a serious incident. He said he saw body lying in the road outside.

He told the BBC that he then made sure children were inside and put the school into lockdown mode. He said he then heard shots fired.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is called in when officers are involved in shootings, confirmed that it is investigating the incident, which took place near the Royal Artillery Barracks.

The barracks -- which house a number of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and independent companies of the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards -- were the site of shooting events during the 2012 London Olympics.