The belts, created to look like real explosives, consisted of three disposable water bottles covered in masking tape that were then attached to the belt.
"I have not seen this tactic in the United Kingdom before where terrorists create maximum fear by strapping fake explosives to themselves", said Police Commander Dean Haydon, according CBC News.
The fake explosive belts were visible during the attacks, Haydon said, and may have looked real to those who saw them. It could be that they had plans to take the attack into a siege situation or it might be that they saw it as protection from being shot themselves'.
Three militants rammed a hired van into pedestrians on London Bridge last Saturday (June 3) before going on the rampage through the bustling Borough Market area where they slit throats and stabbed people. They killed eight people and injured many others before they were shot dead by police.
The Metropolitan Police officer leading the investigation said the use of belts that were later established as fake was a tactic he had not seen before in the United Kingdom.
All three of the attackers wore the leather belts.
Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said, "We've been working round the clock to understand what these men did in the lead-up to the attack, but we need to know more about these unusual knives". After his payment was declined, Butt and his two accomplices rented a smaller van.
Police find body in Thames; likely 8th victim
Ms Delcros was seriously injured by the van, although her condition in hospital has stabilised, her family said. The attack came just five days before Thursday's general election and has dominated the debate since.
Londoners and tourists have been handed flowers as a symbol of love at the site of the latest terrorist attack in the UK.
Cole said that when he told the 200 people sheltering in the pub's basement that they were safe and would soon be evacuated, "I got a big round of applause".
"After the events of last weekend we are making a symbolic gesture of love for the communities affected by the attack", said Zakia Bassou, one of the organisers of Sunday's event. He had not been charged in that case due to insufficient evidence, police said.
London police have released photos of the fake suicide belts worn by the London Bridge terrorists.
The van was packed with sacks of gravel and chairs, possibly to increase its weight as a "battering ram".
Three 12-inch pink ceramic kitchen knives were found with tape around the handles and leather straps attached to them to keep the weapons on the attackers' wrists.
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