UK

Body pulled from Thames was missing French victim of London Bridge attack

Police officers arrive to lay flowers on London Bridge near to the scene of Saturday's terror attack at London Bridge <br />PICTURE: Dominic Lipinski/PA
Police officers arrive to lay flowers on London Bridge near to the scene of Saturday's terror attack at London Bridge
PICTURE: Dominic Lipinski/PA
Police officers arrive to lay flowers on London Bridge near to the scene of Saturday's terror attack at London Bridge
PICTURE: Dominic Lipinski/PA

THE death toll from the London Bridge attack has risen to eight.

Police searching for a French man missing since Saturday recovered a body from the River Thames on Tuesday night.

Xavier Thomas (45), is thought to have been struck by the attackers' van on the bridge and witnesses reported him being thrown into the water.

The body was recovered near Limehouse, downstream from London Bridge, at around 7.45pm on Tuesday by specialist officers from the marine police unit.

French President Emmanuel Macron said a third French victim had been identified among those killed in the attack, adding: "We are paying a heavy cost in these attacks."

Other victims believed to be dead are a Briton, a Canadian, a Spaniard and two Australians.

All eight people murdered in the attack have now been identified.

Canadian Christine Archibald (30), was the first victim to be named.

She died in her fiance's arms after being struck by the speeding van on London Bridge.

Her family said she would have had "no understanding of the callous cruelty that caused her death".

James McMullan (32), from Hackney, was last seen outside the Barrowboy And Banker pub and his sister said police have told her his bank card was found on a body at the scene of the attack.

Melissa McMullan described her brother as "an inspiration" adding that police told her they were unable to formally identify him until the coroner's report is released.

Alexandre Pigeard (27), was among those killed, the French embassy confirmed.

Brittany news outlet Le Telegramme reported an account from Boro Bistro manager Vincent Le Berre, who told how his colleague, Mr Pigeard, was attacked by a terrorist in the bar near Borough Market on Saturday night.

"I managed to escape him, but my friend Alexandre did not have that chance. He was hit in the neck with a knife," he said.

French chef Sebastien Belanger (36), was identified by family members as a victim of the attack after several days of frantic searches, according to reports.

He was drinking at the Boro Bistro near Borough Market when the area came under attack.

Originally from Angers, western France, Mr Belanger had lived in London for several years and reportedly worked at the Coq d'Argent restaurant in the City.

Australian nurse Kirsty Boden was killed after she ran towards danger to help people, her family said.

Relatives said the 28-year-old was "loved and adored by her family, friends and boyfriend", while colleagues at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in central London described her as "one in a million".

Australian Sara Zelenak died after becoming separated from her friend.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the au pair, who lived and worked in London, was among the dead.

Spanish banker Ignacio Echeverria (39), was killed after trying to defend a woman with his skateboard in the Borough Market area.

The Spanish foreign ministry confirmed the death yesterday, saying: "The exemplary attitude of Ignacio Echeverria during the attacks is, for everybody, a model of solidarity."

His father, Joaquin Echeverria, said British authorities had previously not shared any information with them, but his son's employer, HSBC, had provided the services of a private detective to help with their search.

Yesterday, journalist and relative Isabel Duran wrote on Twitter: "Ignacio Echeverria attacked the terrorists to try to save a woman. He is in heaven with his inseparable skateboard."

Xavier Thomas who had been missing since he was caught up in the attack with his girlfriend, Christine Delcros as confirmed as one of the dead after his body was recovered from the River Thames on Tuesday evening.