London's Borough Market, always buzzing with activity on weekends, was particularly lively on Saturday night, its pubs packed with football fans watching the Champions League final.
The first sign that something was wrong came when a flurry of smashed concrete descended upon the market from London Bridge above, where a van had just crashed into the railings.
The three attackers, who had driven the van into pedestrians on the bridge, ran into the market and began a stabbing spree. The attack ended only after police shot all three assailants dead. Six people were killed, and at least 48 were injured.
Just beneath the bridge, Alex Shellum was in a pub called the Mudlark when, shortly after 10pm, a woman in her 20s entered, her neck bleeding profusely.
"It appeared that her throat had been cut," Mr Shellum told Fairfax Media. "I could see on my left a further individual was having CPR performed on them by the emergency services."
Eye-witnesses described the men's knives as at least a foot long. As the attack progressed through other restaurants and pubs, patrons tried to stall the attackers by throwing cutlery and chairs at them.
The situation grew even more frightening because the three attackers were wearing what looked like explosive vests, although these later turned out to be fake.
Police arrived on the scene as the stabbing continued, and tried to evacuate people from the dining establishments. In one video from the Wright Brothers Oyster and Porter House restaurant, staff members are seen directing customers to leave and run down the street.
A fresh wave of confusion emerged when police officers began to shoot at the attackers.
"I was in the back of the pub," Owen Evans, who was in The Wheatsheaf pub, told The Guardian. "A wave of about 30 people ran in and tried to get into the cellar or cupboard ... We saw police lights and everyone got down under a table. People turned tables over."
Even after the attack ended, the night of uncertainty persisted.
Police cordoned off nearby roads and shut down Tube stations, making it difficult for people trying to get home.
On Twitter, though, homes and businesses in the vicinity offered up beds or sofas for people who needed to spend the night, using the hashtag #SofaForLondon.
"Sikh Gurdwara for help if your [sic] stranded in London after today's attacks and need any help," an account with the handle @SikhYouthUK_ tweeted, along with a map of the temple's location. "Tea, salt and vinegar crisps and comfy cushions. All the essentials," Anthony J Myers, tweeting from @ajmy, promised.
George Moss, who had lost his phone and was unable to reach home because of a public transport cordon, responded to Holly Robinson and Mary Lynch on Twitter. Ms Robinson and Ms Lynch had offered up their home to anyone looking for a place to stay.
"[Without their assistance] I would have been in a pickle. I wouldn't have anywhere else to go. Having someone so close and so willing to help makes a massive difference," Mr Moss told The Guardian.
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