Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has been told the attacks around London Bridge are being treated as a terrorist incidents by British Police and early reports suggest no Australians have been involved.
Ms Bishop says she has been in contact with UK High Commissioner Alexander Downer shortly after reports of two emergency incidents in London - one on London Bridge involving a van as well as a knife attack at nearby Borough Market. Police are responding to a third incident in Vauxhall.
"I have just received a text from our High Commission in London that tells me British Police are treating it as a terrorist attack," Ms Bishop told Sky News on Sunday.
Frightened people take cover in London bar
"So until we know otherwise we can assume that this does follow a similar pattern to those we have seen elsewhere."
That includes the attack on London's attack on Westminster Bridge earlier this year.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has tweeted support for Britain.
"Shocking news from London, another dark night for the UK. Australian hearts go out to our oldest friends. Stay strong."
Labor Senator Sam Dastiyari was having dinner in the area at the time of the London Bridge attack and described it as horrific.
"This literally happened 20 metres from where we were and we could hear it all and were taken past the bodies," he told Network Nine on Sunday.
"There is a lot of fear, confusion, panic, a lot of elderly people being helped and carried. A lot of shock."
