A man shot and killed by armed police officers after attacking people in the south London suburb of Streatham had only just been released early from prison for extremism-related offences, police and the government said on Sunday night. 

The latest incident in the capital, so soon after the November attack on London Bridge, looks set to trigger an attempt by the government to tighten sentencing and conditions for release for terror offences.

The Metropolitan Police said three people had been injured in the attack at about 2pm. One woman in her 50s was treated in hospital and released; a man in his 40s was initially feared to have life-threatening injuries but is now recovering; and a third, a woman in her 20s was hurt by flying glass.