Alleged London attacker was a known radical Islamist

The attack launched by three men in the London Bridge area Saturday night is shaping the final days of an election campaign, focusing attention on Prime Minister Theresa May's role in reducing the ranks of police officers.

Butt appeared in a television documentary that aired previous year on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom.

The other attacker was named as Rachid Redouane, 30, from Barking.

The pair and one other man were shot dead by police after killing seven people and injuring 48.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said United Kingdom security and intelligence forces have stopped 18 plots since 2013, including five since the Westminster attack in March. After an Irish ID card was found on his body, Irish news outlet RTE reported that he had lived in south Dublin for some time and was believed to have been married to a British woman.

During the eight-minute long slaughter, the three knifemen ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge using a van and went on to stab people in Borough Market with 12-inch knives. As well as carrying knives, the attackers wore fake suicide vests, created to spread more fear. He also used the name Rachid Elkhdar. All three men were shot and killed by police during the incident.

Police said there would be "increased physical measures on London's bridges to keep the public safe".

Both men are from Barking, east London.

May defended her government's stance on the issue, saying that her Conservative government had protected police budgets.

One of the victims in Saturday's attack was identified as Chrissy Archibald, a Canadian who had moved to Europe to be with her fiance.

NHS England said 36 people remained in hospital, with 18 in a critical condition.

Counter terrorism police made two fresh raids on Monday on addresses in east London in connection with Saturday's deadly terror attack in London.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on Sunday night, although they provided no evidence for their involvement or details of the attack.