Update 16:33 BST: Eye-witness, Karker Tahir has told Sky News that the suspect was being chased by undercover armed police along Streatham High Street, who commanded him to stop on numerous occasions, the suspect refused and was then shot three times by the officers in pursuit.
Police then demanded all members of the public step back after approaching the suspect, who was still alive, and noticing what appeared to be the suicide vest. The police then kept their distance and aimed their weapons at the suspect until uniformed officers arrived, moments later.
STREATHAM (Bywire News) - Today a man was shot dead by armed officers from the Met Police. The incident occurred in Streatham, South London. The police are believed to have shot the man in response to a terror-related incident. Information is still patchy, but we are hearing reports that at least two people have been stabbed and the police have declared this as a ‘terrorist-related’ incident.
Emergency services including London ambulance services, paramedics and armed police are located and active on Streatham High Road.
Eyewitnesses from the event have reported hearing multiple gun shots at around 2pm BST. Although these reports are still unconfirmed.
One of those on the scene was Alanah Murphy, who told BBC News: "I was walking to the shops and saw helicopters came down, and lots of ambulances.
"I didn't see what happened but just the aftermath - loads of armed police and like nine, 10 ambulances. The police were screaming at people to get back."
There are also unconfirmed reports from Twitter indicating that the man who was shot by police may have been wearing a suicide vest, or more likely given recent similar incidents, a fake suicide vest. Again, this is all unconfirmed at this stage.
Multiple videos of the scene have been published on Twitter, but not verified by Bywire News. In one, a man can be seen lying on the pavement, clearly dead, wearing what appears to be a sucide vest, on Streatham High Street, and at least two armed police officers are pointing their guns from behind an unmarked car with its blue lights flashing. Other officers can be heard screaming for members of the public to retreat.
Another video showed helicopters overhead and police cars in the surrounding streets.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tweeted his response:
“Thank you to all emergency services responding to the incident in Streatham, which the police have now declared as terrorism-related. My thoughts are with the injured and all those affected.”
This article will continue to be updated as we learn more information.
(Written by Michael O’Sullivan)