From the very first 999 call at 10.08pm, police knew that every moment would count and, in just eight minutes – or 480 seconds – the three suspected terrorists in Borough Market had been found and shot dead by officers in armed response vehicles.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, has lauded his colleagues, saying: “There can be no doubt that the swift response of our colleagues – both armed and unarmed – saved further lives from being lost.

“There are barely words to describe their bravery – officers who ran towards danger with no thought for their own safety.

“Londoners can rightly be proud of their emergency services.”

Commissioner Dick, similarly, has praised an off-duty police officer who tackled one of the three attackers at the scene. The “utterly heroic” amateur rugby player was stabbed in the attempt, and remains in a critical condition.

Dick added: “It's hard to pick out individual stories but I am immensely proud of him and what he did.”

London terror victim’s mum emotionally pays tribute to the Met Police