London (IINA) � The London Bridge attackers tried to hire a seven-and-a-half ton lorry to carry out their attack, police said.

But the three men failed to provide payment details and the vehicle was not picked up, prompting them to use a smaller van from a DIY store instead. The men drove into pedestrians on the bridge before stabbing people in Borough Market seven days ago. Police said the men tied 12in (30cm) pink ceramic knives to their wrists and had petrol bombs in the van. Eight people were killed and dozens more were injured in the attack, which began shortly before 22:00 BST on 3 June, according to BBC.

Khuram Shazad Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba have been named as the attackers, who were all shot dead. Scotland Yard wants more witnesses to come forward and is also appealing to companies who hire out vans to report any suspicious activity. Early on Saturday, police said they had arrested a man, 27, on suspicion of preparing terrorists acts, after carrying out a raid in Ilford, east London, linked to the attack. At 02:05 BST, police also arrested another man, 28, at a residential address in Barking, also on suspicion of preparing terrorists acts.

In its most detailed description of the attack yet, the Metropolitan Police said the men had also rented a flat in Barking, east London, to use as a safe house. Inside, they found a copy of the Qur'a opened at a page describing martyrdom. They also discovered equipment for making petrol bombs, plastic bottles and duct tape for constructing fake suicide bomb belts, and an ID card for Redouane. Forensic work at this flat has determined that they acted alone. The investigation has concluded that 27-year-old Butt was the ringleader. He hired the van used in the attack from a B&Q store in Romford on the morning of the attack.

He is thought to have driven the van, with Redouane and Zaghba in the back, into central London. At two minutes before 22:00 BST, the van crossed London Bridge heading south. Six minutes later it returned, crossing over the bridge again and making a U-turn at the northern end. The attack began with the van driving back along the pavements of the bridge, running down pedestrians, three of whom died, before crashing outside the Barrowboy and Banker pub opposite London Bridge station.

The men jumped out clutching the ceramic kitchen knives. Police say the weapons were possibly chosen to prevent them being picked up by metal detectors. They stabbed people who had been enjoying the area's pubs and restaurants, killing five. Police were called within two minutes and arrived eight minutes later, killing the attackers in what officers said was an "unprecedented" volley of 46 bullets.

Source: International Islamic News Agency