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Trump calls for travel ban following multiple attacks in London

Forensics investigators work on London Bridge, after attackers rammed a hired van into pedestrians on London Bridge and stabbed others nearby killing and injuring people, in London, Britain June 4, 2017. | Reuters/Neil Hall

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his call for a travel ban following reports of multiple attacks in London on Saturday.

Seven people were killed after a rented van veered off the road and barreled into pedestrians on London Bridge on Saturday night. According to witnesses, three men wielding large knives got out of the vehicle and attacked people at bars and restaurants in nearby Borough Market before they were shot dead by the police.

Trump began tweeting about the attacks an hour or so after initial news reports, according to the Associated Press. He retweeted a Drudge Report item about the attack, followed by a message calling for a travel ban.

"We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!" one of the president's tweets read.

After a few minutes, Trump went on to tweet a message of to residents of London. "Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U. K., we will be there - WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!" he wrote.

Earlier this week, the Justice Department had asked the Supreme Court to reinstate Trump's travel ban, which would prohibit immigrants from six predominantly Muslim nations from entering the U.S.

The controversial policy has been blocked by lower courts, citing various reasons, including the statements Trump made during the 2016 campaign.

In May, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled 10–3 against a revised version of the original travel ban. Chief Judge Roger Gregory argued that the revisions did not hide the real motive for issuing the executive order: "President Trump's desire to exclude Muslims from the United States."

"From the highest elected office in the nation has come an executive order steeped in animus and directed at a single religious group," the judge said in the 79-page opinion.

The revised version of the executive order removed Iraq from the original list of affected countries, leaving Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It added an exemption for foreign nationals who hold valid visas and green cards, and it included a waiver process for those claiming undue hardship. The amended policy also did not contain a preference for religious minorities, while the original had favored Christians.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court because it "blocks the president's efforts to strengthen this country's national security."