London terror attack: Witness who hid in toilet thought it was ‘game over’

Editor’s Note: The man interviewed by CNN for this story is a friend of Isa Soares, a CNN anchor. His name has been changed to “Gareth” to protect his identity.

A man who hid inside a toilet cubicle as terror struck London’s Borough Market said he thought it was “game over” for him and his friends.

“Gareth”, not his real name, was enjoying an evening out at the Black & Blue Restaurant with his fiancee and another couple when the attack occurred, and told CNN how he spent the night inside the restaurant’s bathroom as the horror unfolded amidst the sounds of screaming and crashing glass.

Gareth and his friends ran up the stairs and into a bathroom as a man, wearing a brown coat, entered the restaurant armed with what Gareth described as a “machete”.

His friends, one of whom is heavily pregnant and had been due to give birth last week, followed him into the cubicle. The four of them shared the small space while trying to keep quiet, fearing they could be found by the attacker and shot through the door.

Read: London attack: Live updates

It was there that he began to message the husband of CNN’s Isa Soares, a close friend, to tell him that he was trapped and to ask him to call the police.

On Sunday, Gareth spoke to Soares about his ordeal, live on air.

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“It’s the first time in my life that I felt it was game over,” he said.

“It was looking into the fear of my friend’s eyes in that one cubicle and looking at a woman who is about to give birth, seeing the fear in her eyes and trying to calm her down and not being able to make a sound because we could hear voices outside the door.

“People were walking up and down so we had to keep deathly silent. We thought we were going to get gunned down through the door. We could hear the shots outside. The fear was immense.”

Read: Londoners offer cups of tea to those affected by terror attack

‘Chaos’

At least seven people died and 48 people were injured in a two-pronged attack on London Bridge and Borough Market, with police shooting the three suspected assailants dead.

The attack started when a van rammed into pedestrians on London Bridge and ended with multiple stabbings at restaurants nearby.

Police say the suspects were shot dead within eight minutes of the first call.

Gareth, who had only booked the Black & Blue Restaurant by chance, had already experienced terror in London after being close to the Westminster attack in March.

Gareth, who lives in Chester, about 200 miles northwest of London, was in the area for one night and had chosen to dine in one of the city’s most vibrant districts.

But as he was looking outside at the high street, the terror began to unfold after a what he described as a “loud bang.”

Read: What we know and what we don’t

“There was a bit of chaos, panic and fear in the restaurant as well because we didn’t really know what was going on,” he said.

“Then glass started smashing and we ran upstairs to the toilet.

“Just as I looked down the stairs, a guy had come in to the restaurant and uncovered a big knife. It looked like a machete.

“I just grabbed my friends and dashed into one cubicle with the four of us.”

Forensic officers work at the scene of a terror attack at London Bridge in London on Sunday, June 4. At least seven people were killed in attacks late Saturday as a van mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge before attackers then stabbed victims at nearby Borough Market.

Counterterrorism officers patrol near the scene of the attack on London Bridge. When speaking to the media on Sunday, British Prime Minister Theresa May did not announce any increase in the UK terror threat level.

A woman reacts after asking a Police officer to lay flowers near London Bridge as a tribute to the victims of the attack.

UK police officers on Sunday continue their investigation into the terror attacks on London Bridge and in a nearby restaurant district. The attacks on June 3 came days before a general election and two weeks after 22 people were killed when a suicide bomber targeted an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.

Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement at 10 Downing Street, following a Cobra security meeting in response to Saturday night's terror attack. Violence must "never be allowed to disrupt the democratic process," May said, adding that Thursday's general election will go ahead.

Abandoned buses line London Bridge as the scene remains under investigation following the attack. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said in a statement Sunday that a white van struck pedestrians on London Bridge. Attackers then left the vehicle and "a number of people were stabbed, including an on-duty British Transport Police officer who was responding to the incident at London Bridge," said Rowley. The officer received serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Counter terrorism officers move up an escalator under The Shard, an iconic highrise near the scene of last night's London Bridge attack.

A group of police forensic officers walks in the street outside Borough Market.

People lie on the ground after being detained by police at Elizabeth Fry apartments in Barking, east London, which officers raided Sunday, June 4, following Saturday's terror attack at London Bridge and Borough Market.

A bouquet of flowers left near the police cordon at London Bridge on June 4.

A view from above shows where a van struck pedestrians on London Bridge -- and then crashed into a barrier.

This image, from London's Borough Market, shows two of the attackers after they were shot by London police. The attackers drove a white van into pedestrians on London Bridge, leaving bodies lying in the roadway, a witness to the incident told CNN.

Armed police patrol near London Bridge on Saturday, June 3. Mayor Sadiq Khan said it was a "deliberate and cowardly attack" on Londoners enjoying Saturday night out.

The white van used in the attack is seen near London Bridge.

Police carry out a search near empty buses on London Bridge, Saturday, June 3.

A person is treated for injuries near London Bridge.

Members of the public flee after reports of the incident involving a vehicle and pedestrians.

Police and emergency responders attend to an injured person.

An armed Police officer gestures after the attack in central London.

Guests from the Premier Inn Bankside Hotel are evacuated following the attacks.

A woman wearing an emergency blanket talks on her phone at London Bridge train station. London Bridge Tube station was closed and London Bridge was closed in both directions.

Armed police raid The Blue Eyed Maid on Borough High Street.

Debris and abandoned cars remain at the scene of one of the incidents.

Police sniffer dogs are seen at London Bridge.

A helicopter flies near London Bridge.

People are led to safety on Southwark Bridge, away from London Bridge.

London Bridge terror attack

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‘Blood in the restaurant’

Scared to make a sound, the four friends remained inside the cubicle for an hour.

Unable to make a call for fear of being discovered, he sent text messages to close friends, and posted to Facebook to urge people to call the police and alert them to the attack.

It was only when they heard that the police Armed Response Team was in the building that the end appeared in sight.

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But even that brought fear with Gareth worried those claiming to be the police could be imposters.

Read: Seven questions about the London terror attack?

“It put the fear of God into me when I had to open the door but luckily I saw it was fine,” he said.

“They took us out. There was blood in the restaurant, blood in the street. A number of people were clutching themselves.

“We then had to run 100 or 150 meters down the road. it was extremely scary.”

Gareth went to hospital with his fiancee and friends. His friend, who is pregnant, is fine and the baby has not been harmed.