June 6 (UPI) — Metropolitan Police on Monday identified the third man believed to have launched the attack on London Bridge as Youssef Zaghba, a 22-year-old Italian national of Moroccan descent.
Seven people died in the assault that occurred Saturday when three masked men drove a van into pedestrians on the bridge before jumping out and stabbing people at random, police said. The men continued the assault in the adjacent Borough Market area, a popular bar and restaurant district.
The first two suspects were identified on Monday as Khuram Shazad Butt and Rachid Redouane, both residents of London. The third was identified on Tuesday.
“While formal identification is yet to take place, detectives believe he is 22-year-old Youssef Zaghba, from east London. The deceased’s family have been informed,” Met Police said in a statement. “He was not a police or MI5 subject of interest. All three men involved in the attack were confronted and shot dead by armed officers within 8 minutes of the first call.”
Butt, 27, was a British citizen who was born in Pakistan, while Redouane, 30, who also used the name Rachid Elkhdar and a different age, claimed to be Moroccan and Libyan.
The Islamic State took responsibility for the attack, though British officials have yet to confirm the militant group’s involvement.
“Detectives would like to hear from anyone who has any information about these men that may assist them with the investigation,” Met Police added. “They are particularly keen to hear about places they may have frequented and their movements in the days and hours before the attacks.”
Police have arrested at least 13 people in connection to the attack. The latest person arrested is a 27-year-old man, detained Tuesday morning under Britain’s Terrorism Act. The 12 others arrested have been released without charge.
London officials installed barriers on various bridges to protect pedestrians. The barriers, made of concrete and metal, were placed on Lambeth Bridge, London Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and Westminster Bridge, where a similar attack occurred in March.
The London Bridge attack occurred a week after the Manchester Arena bombing in which 23 people, including the bomber, died following a concert.
