Ambulance chief quizzed over London Bridge attack response

An ambulance chief today faced questions about the reactions of paramedics during the London Bridge terror attack, telling the inquest that no staff could be sent into “hot zones” where attackers were believed to still be at large.

Paul Woodrow, director of operations for the London Ambulance Service, told the Old Bailey hearing that in the event of a “marauding” terror attack commanders designate “hot” and “warm” zones to assess the danger levels.

He said paramedics would never be sent into areas where terrorists were still an active threat, and only specially trained staff could go into places where there may still be a risk.

Mr Woodrow was giving evidence today at the inquests into the deaths of eight people in the attack on June 3, 2017, and was expected to face tough questions on the response of the ambulance service (LAS) that night.

There was criticism last week when the inquest heard that five paramedics were standing feet away from the spot where half the victims died, but did not go to their aid despite pleas for help from police and the public. The families of at least two victims, James McMullan and Sebastien Belanger, believe they may have stood a better chance of survival if they had received professional medical help sooner.

They were both stabbed in the courtyard of the Boro Bistro restaurant but the first paramedic to enter that area — who was trained to deal with terror attacks — did not do that until three hours afterwards.

Mr Woodrow told the hearing: “Only specialist firearms officers go into hot zones to neutralise the threat.

“Warm zones are areas where commanders make joint decisions about deploying assets — they set up how far they go into warm zones based on the latest intelligence.”

The three attackers were shot dead by police at 10.17pm, and one paramedic in a bulletproof vest has given evidence that he looked over the railings into the courtyard at around 10.23pm, seeing an unarmed police officer pleading for help as he tried to resuscitate Mr McMullan.

However other paramedics have told the inquest they were unaware of anyone in that area in need of urgent assistance.

The inquest continues.