THE 2017 London terror attacks could have resulted from a failure of the intelligence community, according to a counter-terrorism expert.

Eight people were killed and 48 more injured on June 3 2017, when terrorists in a hired van ploughed into pedestrians then ran amok with 12-inch knives through London Bridge and Borough Market.

Today, London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: “London remembers those whose lives were taken during the 2017 London Bridge terror attack.

“We also pay tribute to the bravery of our emergency services, who ran towards danger whilst helping others to safety.”

But Sir Ivor Roberts, from the Counter Extremism Project and former head of counter-terrorism in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said the attack could be attributed “in significant part to the failure of the intelligence community to monitor appropriately subjects of interest.”

He said: “The primary perpetrator of the attack, Khuram Shazad Butt, was known to both the police and MI5 from as early as 2015.

“At that time he was investigated, but the investigation was quickly ‘moved into the lower echelons’ and his file was classed as ‘low priority.’

“The government’s subsequent official enquiry into the numerous terrorist attacks which occurred in the UK in 2017 specifically identified this as an area of counter terror policy in need of significant reform.”

Christine Archibald, 30, and Xavier Thomas, 45, died after being struck by the van on the bridge.

Alexandre Pigeard, 26, Sara Zelenak, 21, Kirsty Boden, 28, Sebastien Belanger, 36, and James McMullan, 32, were stabbed near the Boro Bistro on the South Bank.

Ignacio Echeverria, 39, died as he tried to protect others from being attacked on nearby Borough High Street.

Ringleader Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, were confronted in Stoney Street and shot dead by police marksmen.