Frenchman Sebastien Belanger (pictured), 36, who worked at Coq d'Argent in central London, had been out with waiter Alexandre Pigeard, 26, to watch the Champions League when the pair were set upon and stabbed on June 3, 2017
A trio of 'well-drilled' terrorists cornered a chef before stabbing him to death in a terror attack near London Bridge, an inquest has heard.
Frenchman Sebastien Belanger, 36, had been out with waiter Alexandre Pigeard, 26, to watch the Champions League when the pair were set upon and stabbed.
Both died in the attack alongside six others, during a van and knife rampage by Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22 on June 3, 2017.
Mr Belanger had frantically tried to fight off the attackers before stumbling over a flowerpot as each of them stabbed his stomach and slashed at his hands.
Jack Baxter, who was watching the Champions League Final at the Barrowboy and Banker near London Bridge that night, saw Mr Pigeard running and clutching a gash in his neck.
The eyewitness told the Old Bailey at an inquest today: 'He had a large cut in his neck area. He was running holding that. He had somebody else running to his right.
'They were both running looking at each other almost in shock at what happened and screaming to each other like 'what's going on'.'
His attention was then drawn to Mr Belanger - who worked at Coq d'Argent in central London - as he was cornered by three knifeman in an archway.
He said: 'They had corralled him into somewhat of a corner and then one of them stepped forward and struck the man with the knife to the midriff, chest.
'I remember him falling. I cannot remember if they struck him again.'
Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22 killed eight in a knife rampage near London Bridge on June 3, 2017 (pictured is the aftermath of the attack)
Richard Livett (left), 53, had been out with his brother-in-law on the South Bank when they saw an out-of-control vehicle veering down London Bridge on June 3, 2017. He claims he was stabbed by Khuram Butt (right), 27, the leader of the gang after checking on those in the van
Gareth Patterson QC, representing six of the victims' families, asked about how the attackers were behaving.
He said: 'You described the movements of the attackers as being quick, short and sharp and you spoke of fluid movements of their knives. Did it look to you as if they were working as a team throughout?' Mr Baxter replied: 'Definitely.'
Mr Patterson asked if it looked as if they were trained. The witness said: 'Yes. I do not particularly remember either of them shouting to each other about holding that formation. It just seemed that was something they were conscious of.'
The lawyer went on: 'From what you described they were a rather well-drilled team.' The witness said: 'Yes, in the sense it could have been pre-discussed.'
Rasak Kalenikanse a doorman at the Barrowboy and Banker pub also saw the attack and broke-down as he relived the ordeal.
Attackers Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, were shot dead by police alongside Khuram Butt
The battered Renault van used by terrorists during the attack on London Bridge in 2017. After crashing, the vehicle was left with its bumper hanging off
He told how the three fanatics held formation and were led by a man in an Arsenal t-shirt who appeared to be wearing an explosive belt.
Mr Kalenikanse said: 'I think maybe he is the ring-leader. He charged towards me. I ran down to my bar and I locked the door.
'Once I got in, I locked the door because the music was on, so I had to tell my manager to stop the music and call the police.'
The inquest also today heard from Richard Livett, the first person to be stabbed by the London Bridge attackers.
Mr Livett, 53, had been out with his brother-in-law on the South Bank when they saw an out-of-control vehicle veering down London Bridge.
Concerned about those inside, he went to check on the occupants only for one of the attackers, Khuram Butt, to emerge and thrust a knife into his flesh.
Both Mr Livett (left) and his brother-in-law had stopped at London Bridge for
