Streatham terror attack: Suspect ‘had silver canisters on his chest’ before he was shot

A man has described how he saw a terror suspect with a machete and silver canisters on his chest being chased apparently by undercover police before he was shot dead.

It came after three people were injured in a stabbing attack in Streatham, south London.

A 19-year-old student from Streatham, who did not want to be named, said he witnessed the shooting on the high road in front of a shop.

:: Live updates – Streatham attack was Islamist-related, say security sources

He said: “I was crossing the road when I saw a man with a machete and silver canisters on his chest being chased by what I assume was an undercover police officer – as they were in civilian clothing.

“The man was then shot. I think I heard three gun shots but I can’t quite remember.

“After that I ran into the library to get to safety. From the library I saw a load of ambulances and armed police officers arrive on the scene.”

The student added that people began running into nearby stores after the incident.

“We were all informed to stay in buildings by armed police, until we were evacuated,” he said.

Witness Karker Tahir said he was working in a nearby shop when he saw the suspect being chased and then was shot about 20 metres away on Streatham High Road.

Mr Tahir told Sky News: “It was around 2pm this afternoon. At the time I was working with my colleague and I saw this guy literally running on the pavement and behind him there were two or three police officers undercover with a gun.

“They kept telling him ‘stop, stop’. But he didn’t stop and then I saw that they shot him three times. It was horrible seeing it. The man was on the floor and it looked like he had something which police said may be a device.

“Police came to us and said ‘you have to leave the shop because he has a bomb in his bag’.”

“Police after shooting him went to check on him while he was alive and then they found something – I believe there was a bomb or something and they stepped back and told everybody to step back.

“We had to leave immediately because maybe the bomb goes off and could hurt everybody. I’m still shocked.”

Mariam Qureshra, 16, told Sky News that she was in a library when she heard screaming outside, before people “came running in and hiding behind doors and windows.”

She added: “Police came in and told us to stay away from windows and doors and eventually escorted us out of the back.

“Outside there were lots of people running.

“You never think it’s going to happen on your doorstep. You see it happen but you don’t think it will happen to you.”

(c) Sky News 2020: Streatham terror attack: Suspect ‘had silver canisters on his chest’ before he was shot