Terror plots stopped 'within minutes' of success - police chief - BBC News
Met Commissioner Cressida Dick says police have thwarted five attacks in the past few months.
Eight people died and dozens were injured in the London Bridge attack

Several terror plots that "were very close to an attack" were thwarted "within minutes" of being carried out, London's most senior police officer has said.

Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick told LBC that five terror attacks had been prevented in the last few months.

Four terror attacks have taken place in the UK in 2017 - three in the capital.

Ms Dick, who took charge of the Met in February, said the attacks in London and Manchester had been "horrific".

She said a "very large number of plots" have been foiled over the last few years.

Ms Dick said she could not reveal details about the nature of the terror plots because arrests had been made, but added: "We've had a huge number of successful operations.

"It's well into the teens in the past couple of years, where we know people were intent on attacking and that's been stopped."

Ms Dick told LBC terror culprits were "living in our communities and that's a problem for all of us"

She added: "In addition, [police have made] hundreds and hundreds of arrests of people who are radicalised and are either spreading hatred or supporting terrorism and wanting to carry out a terror attack."

Ms Dick, who was previously the police's lead on counter-terrorism, praised officers for their response to the attacks.

"At London Bridge it was utterly astonishing," she said.

The attackers - who killed eight people on London Bridge and in nearby Borough Market - were shot dead by armed police within eight minutes of the first emergency call.

Ms Dick, who has called for more funding in the wake of recent attacks, said police officers relied on information from local communities to identify terror suspects.

"We clearly need a lot more [information] because what has happened in the last few months alone is horrific," she said.

"We are undoubtedly seeking examples of people who have carried out attacks or people who are violent extremists," she added.

"Essentially they're living in our communities and that's a problem for all of us."