LONDON, June 10 (UPI) — Police in England made another arrest on Saturday after releasing additional details about the recent London Bridge terrorist attack.
London Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command conducted a raid in east London that resulted in the arrest of a 28-year-old man on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Police also released details saying Khuram Butt, the suspected ringleader of the June 3 attack that killed eight people and wounded 48 more, attempted to rent a larger 7.5-ton truck, but was denied after he failed to provide payment details. Investigators say he then used a recently activated cellphone to rent the white Renault van that was used in the attack.
Police shared images of the knives found on or near the bodies of Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba after police shot them dead at the scene.
The 12-inch, pink, ceramic kitchen knives made by Ernesto were wrapped with black duct tape around the handles to make them easier to grip. Butt’s knife also had a leather strap attached to the handle to keep the knife secured around his wrist.
“We’ve been working round the clock to understand what these men did in the lead-up to the attack but we need to know more about these unusual knives. Where have they come from? Where might the attackers have bought them from?” Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, told ABC News. “If you know anything about these particular types of knives, please let us know — it could prove a crucial lead in our investigation.”
Police also found 13 Molotov cocktails made of wine bottles filled with flammable liquid and two blowtorches inside the white van alongside several office chairs and a suitcase, which police say the men may have used to cover their motive.
The three men drove up and down the London Bridge twice before ultimately carrying out the attack, police said.
Police also conducted a series of raids on properties including an east London apartment rented by Redouane, where investigators say they found materials to make the molotov cocktails and an English-language copy of the Koran open to a page describing martyrdom.
In total, 19 people have been arrested in connection to the attack. Police released 12 without charge, six remain in custody and one was released on bail.
