Updated June 05, 2017 02:18:34

Photo: Donald Trump took to Twitter amid the unfolding drama in London. (AP: Susan Walsh)

US President Donald Trump argued in favour of his controversial travel ban on Twitter as London authorities responded to a terror attack.

Seven people were killed and several others injured when a van mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge and three attackers proceeded to stab pub-goers at the nearby Borough Market.

As events were unfolding in London, Mr Trump tweeted:

London police said the three perpetrators were shot dead within eight minutes of the start of the attack.

Mr Trump began tweeting about the incidents an hour or so after initial news reports.

First, he retweeted a Drudge Report item about the attack, then provided his own message about the travel ban.

A few minutes later Mr Trump tweeted a message of support for Londoners:

He went on to criticise London Mayor Sadiq Khan for his response to the attack:

Earlier this week, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to immediately reinstate its ban on travellers from six mostly Muslim countries and refugees from anywhere in the world.

The administration argues that the US will be safer if the policy is put in place.

Lower courts have blocked the policy, citing various reasons including statements Mr Trump made during the 2016 campaign.

The legal fight pits the President's authority over immigration against what lower courts have said is a policy that purported to be about national security but was intended to target Muslims.

AP

Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, law-crime-and-justice, emergency-incidents, terrorism, united-states, united-kingdom

First posted June 04, 2017 11:12:05