Terror in the UK: Timeline of attacks

Police and emergency services at the scene
Why you can trust Sky News

20 June 2020 Three dead in Reading park

Three people were killed and another three seriously injured after a lone man attacked people in a Reading park as they enjoyed the summer sunshine.

A 25-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder.

Scene of attack
Image: Police tents in Forbury Gardens in Reading

2 February 2020 Three stabbed in Streatham, south London

A man was shot dead by police and two people stabbed in Streatham, south London, in what Scotland Yard described as a terror attack.

Streatham terror attack
Image: Two people were stabbed in Streatham

The current terror threat in the UK is substantial - the third-highest level - meaning "an attack is likely".

29 November 2019 Three dead at London Bridge

Terrorist is subdued by public with fire extinguisher and tusk
Image: Killer Usman Khan was subdued by members of the public before being shot dead by police

Convicted terrorist Usman Khan embarked on a deadly rampage armed with two knives and wearing a fake suicide vest after attending a prisoner rehabilitation programme while out on licence halfway through a 16-year jail sentence.

Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt were both killed and Khan, who was subdued by members of the public using a narwhal tusk and fire extinguisher, was shot dead by police.

11 October 2019 Three stabbed at shopping centre in Manchester

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Flowers are left on Westminster Bridge by the Houses of Parliament in memory of those who died in last weeks Westminster terror attack on March 27, 2017 in London, England. Five people including the assailant were killed and around 40 people injured following last week's attack outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Image: Flowers on Westminster Bridge after the terror attack in March 2017

Police arrested a man on suspicion of terror offences after three people were stabbed at the Arndale shopping centre.

The suspect, in his 40s, was carrying a "large knife" when witnesses said he started lunging and attacking people.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of an act of terrorism.

An armed police officer outside the Arndale Centre in Manchester
Image: An armed police officer outside the Arndale in Manchester

14 August 2018 Car smashes into barriers outside parliament

Three people were injured when a car crashed into security barriers outside parliament.

Salih Khater was later convicted of two charges of attempted murder after he ploughed his Ford Fiesta into a pedestrian and a group of cyclists who had stopped at a red light.

He then smashed into a security barrier as two uniformed police officers dived out of the way.

Forensics officers are at work at the scene
Image: The attacker drove his Fiesta into a pedestrian and a group of cyclists

15 September 2017 Explosive detonated on Tube train

An improvised explosive device was detonated on a packed Tube train during the morning rush hour, injuring 22 people.

Passengers reported seeing a "fireball" and a "wall of flame", with those hurt "covered in blood".

Ahmed Hassan, 18, was jailed for life for the attack.

Ahmed Hassan. Pic: Duncan Gardham
Image: Eighteen-year-old Ahmed Hassan was jailed for life. Pic: Duncan Gardham

19 June 2017 Man killed in van attack near mosque

One man died and several other people were injured when Islamophobic extremist Darren Osborne drove a hire van at a crowd leaving Ramadan prayers in Finsbury Park, north London.

He was handed a life sentence, with a minimum 43 years, for killing 51-year-old Makram Ali and injuring 12 others.

Sentencing Osborne, the judge said: "This was a terrorist attack. You intended to kill."

Darren Osborne is serving at least 43 years in prison
Image: Darren Osborne is serving at least 43 years in prison

3 June 2017 Eight murdered around London Bridge

Three terrorists drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before running into Borough Market.

Rachid Redouane, Khuram Butt and Youssef Zaghba, all wearing fake explosive vests, started chasing and stabbing people and tried to barricade themselves inside bars and restaurants.

Eight people were killed, with armed police shooting the three attackers dead just eight minutes after the first 999 calls.

L-R: London Bridge attackers Rachid Redouane, Khuram Butt and Youssef Zaghba
Image: L-R: London Bridge attackers Rachid Redouane, Khuram Butt and Youssef Zaghba

22 May 2017 Manchester Arena bombing kills 22

Twenty-two people were killed when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a homemade device packed with shrapnel in the lobby of Manchester Arena at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.

More than 200 people were injured in the deadliest terror attack on British soil since the 7/7 bombings 12 years before.

The youngest victim, Saffie Roussos, was eight years old.

Armed police at Manchester Arena after the deadly explosion
Image: Armed police at Manchester Arena after the deadly explosion

22 March 2017 Five killed and dozens injured in Westminster

Khalid Masood, 52, began his attack by driving a grey Hyundai across Westminster Bridge, hitting pedestrians.

He crashed the car into railings outside parliament and entered the grounds of the Palace of Westminster, where he fatally stabbed police officer Keith Palmer.

Masood also killed teacher Aysha Frade, US tourist Kurt Cochran, retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, and Romanian tourist Andreea Cristea before being shot dead by police.

Khalid Masood has been named by police as the Westminster attacker
Image: Khalid Masood smashed into people in his car before stabbing PC Keith Palmer

16 June 2016 Murder of Labour MP Jo Cox

Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right terrorist a week before the 2016 EU referendum.

White supremacist Thomas Mair attacked the mother-of-two as she arrived for her weekly surgery at Birstall Library, shooting and stabbing her after shouting "Britain first".

Mair, who had a stash of neo-Nazi material at his home in the West Yorkshire town, was told by a judge that he had killed the 41-year-old "to advance the cause of violent white nationalism" and was given a whole-life sentence, meaning he will die in jail.

Jo Cox was killed in her constituency after delivering a local surgery
Image: Jo Cox was killed by a far-right fanatic in her Yorkshire constituency

22 May 2013 Fusilier Lee Rigby murdered near barracks

Fusilier Lee Rigby, 25, was mowed down by a car and hacked to death by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale near the Woolwich Barracks in southeast London.

His attackers have never showed remorse for the killing and claimed they were "soldiers of Allah", motivated by the plight of Muslims abroad to carry out their crime.

Adebolajo was given a whole-life jail term and Adebowale was sentenced to life with a minimum of 45 years.

Lee Rigby
Image: Lee Rigby was killed in southeast London in 2013

7 July 2005 52 killed by suicide bombers in London

Fifty-two people were killed and hundreds more were injured in explosions on three Underground trains and a bus, the day after London had been awarded the 2012 Olympic Games.

Shezhad Tanweer detonated his device at Aldgate, Mohammed Sidique Khan at Edgware Road, and Germaine Lindsay between King's Cross and Russell Square - all within three minutes of 8.50am.

Habib Hussain detonated his bomb on board the number 30 bus at Tavistock Square at 9.47am.

Fifty-two people were killed in the attacks
Image: Fifty-two people were killed in the 7/7 attacks