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On eve of Ariana Grande’s benefit for Manchester, London Bridge sees violence UPDATED

Elizabeth Scalia - published on 06/03/17

Early reports are always dicey, but Will Heaven, the managing editor of the UK Spectator appears to have been at the London Bridge a half hour ago, when this story broke and he sent two important tweets:

Tomorrow in Manchester, there will be a large concert meant to benefit the victims of terrorism at the Ariana Grande concert, just two weeks ago. Undoubtedly the already tight security in Manchester will be beefed up.

England is under siege just as PM May has brought about a new vote. Who knows how all of this will impact that event, but it likely will color it. These things always do.

Right now an eyewitness is telling CNN that he saw a van approach at a high rate of speed, veering intentionally “swerving back and forth” into pedestrians. Finally hit a bus, and stopped. Others have said two drivers then ran off, into a restaurant, and stabbed patrons. That seems unconfirmed. Also unconfirmed are reports of guns fired about ten minutes after the car incident.

First report from the UK Telegraph. Twitter is everyone’s source at this point. Apparently as I write this, the event is still going on. There are reports of gunfire, of police firing from behind cars, and going into restaurants telling people to get down.

One suspect is reportedly under arrest.

Some of what I am reading, which I can’t repeat because it’s all still unfolding and who knows what is real, is just horrific, and the events appear to be springing up in other locations. Now London Bridge, Borough Market and Vauxhall.

As we did only two weeks ago, let us pray again, and again. Let us pray on this eve of Pentecost:

Triune God, have mercy on us.
God the Father and Creator, be with us,
Christ Jesus, God the Son, save us,
Holy Spirit, third person of the Trinity, breathe Peace upon us;
bring calm to our endless chaos.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us
St. Joseph, patron of families, pray for us
St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us
St. George, patron of England, pray for us

The Lord bless us and keep us; the Lord lift his countenance upon us, and give us peace. The Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us, Amen.

Stuff like this can give us hope:

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