London: 7 arrests made after Westminster attack

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Four people, including police officer and man believed to be an attacker, killed near UK Parliament, police confirm

A police officer has died after being stabbed outside the Houses of Parliament
At least one other woman has died and several others are critically injured after a car hit people on Westminster Bridge in central London
The alleged assailant was shot by armed police
Footage on social media shows people lying injured in the road
Metropolitan Police say they are treating it as a terrorist incident and buildings are in lockdown

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Hundreds of people were evacuated from Parliament to Westminster Abbey, the Press Association reports.

Addressing the crowd, which included ministers, MPs, peers and tourists, from the pulpit a Met Police superintendent said it would take around 90 minutes to process everyone.

Police said people would be assessed to see if they have any information. A prayer was then said for the victims of the attack.

A police officer and a woman have been killed near Parliament in central London in what Scotland Yard are treating as a terrorist incident.

The woman was among several pedestrians struck by a car on Westminster bridge, before it crashed into railings.

An officer was stabbed in the Houses of Parliament by an attacker, who was shot by police.

Police said there were "a number of casualties" and a "full counter-terrorism inquiry" was under way.

Writing on Twitter, BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani said it is understood from multiple sources that two people were in the vehicle on the bridge.

Prime Minister Theresa May is to chair a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee later.

Met Police Commander BJ Harrington said he was unable to confirm details of casualties.

Speaking outside Scotland Yard, he urged the public to stay away from the area around Westminster to allow emergency services access.

London Ambulance said it had treated at least 10 people on Westminster Bridge.

The Port of London Authority said a woman has been pulled alive from the River Thames near the bridge and was being treated for serious injuries.

The French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said three French school pupils were among the injured and offered "solidarity with our British friends, and full support" for the wounded students and their families.

Junior doctor Colleen Anderson from St Thomas' Hospital confirmed the death of the woman and said a number of other people were hurt - some with "catastrophic" injuries.

She said she also treated a police officer in his 30s with a head injury, who had been taken to King's College Hospital.

She said the woman had died at the scene.

"Some had injuries they could walk away from or who have life-changing injuries."

The incident outside Westminster is exactly the kind of scenario that security chiefs have been planning for.

It looks like the type of attack that jihadis have wanted to carry out in Britain - mainly attacking people with a vehicle and taking on the security forces with knives.

But the fact that the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism armed response swung into action so quickly indicates how much work has been done since the killing of Lee Rigby in 2013.

Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command, MI5 and, where relevant, other major agencies, will now throw absolutely everything at trying to establish the background of the suspects - whether they were working alone or whether there could be more of the same on the way.

At the same time, while they are treating this as a terrorist incident, they will know full well that they will have to test the evidence to ensure that this theory is correct.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39355940

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Below is photo of the attacker - note dark skin and beard



The man drove a year-old Hyundai i40 - worth up to £28,000 and registered in the affluent Essex city of Chelmsford - down Westminster Bridge at 'high speed' today.

He is believed to have been the only attacker although police locked down the area on a 'precautionary basis' tonight in case someone else was still at large. Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Mark Rowley told reporters outside New Scotland Yard tonight: 'We're satisfied at this stage that it looks like there was only one attacker, but it would be foolish to be overconfident so early on.

So, for precautionary basis, we're locking down the area and doing all the necessary searches so we can be completely confident that everyone is safe.' At least four people were killed in the Westminster terror attack, including the police officer who was stabbed and his attacker.

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Married police officer who was killed by Islamist terrorist as the death toll rises to 5 with 20 injured including French students and Korean tourists

Four-wheel drive was driven over Westminster Bridge knocking down pedestrians this afternoon
Victims were said to have been left scattered in the road, with one woman knocked into the River Thames
Emergency services treated at least 40 injured people on the bridge, with three people killed
'Asian' knifeman got into the grounds of Parliament where he stabbed and killed a police officer
Met Police named the officer as Keith Palmer, 48, who had served with the force for 15 years
The 'middle-aged' attacker was then shot by armed officers and died after being taken to hospital
Police believe attacker to be a 'lone wolf' as confirmed by Prime Minister Theresa May tonight
Parliament was suspended and the Prime Minister was rushed from the scene in her official car

Police have named the officer who was killed by a knifeman terrorist in London today and revealed the death toll in the attack has risen to five.

Keith Palmer, 48, was stabbed to death outside Parliament by the attacker who brought carnage to London, mowing down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing three and injuring around 40 more.

A 4x4 drove along the pavement on the crowded bridge, knocking down and seriously injuring pedestrians before crashing into a fence below Big Ben.

The killer, described by witnesses as 'middle-aged and Asian', then managed to break into the grounds of Parliament, where he fatally stabbed Mr Palmer - who had 15 years service with the police - with two knives.

The attacker - who was shot at least twice by armed officers guarding the building - died after he was taken to hospital while Mr Palmer - a husband and father - died at the scene.

Speaking after the attack, Prime Minister Theresa May tonight vowed Britain would 'never give in to terror' and 'defeat hate and evil' after she blasted the 'sick and depraved' attack in Westminster.

She added the 'forces of evil would never drive Britain apart' and praised police and security staff who 'ran towards danger even as they encouraged others to move away'.

Three other police officers were injured, two of whom are in 'serious condition'.

Prime Minister Theresa May was bundled into her car by a plain-clothes police officer and driven quickly from the scene as the attack unfolded. She chaired a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra Committee tonight.

Scotland Yard said the attack, which comes a year to the day after the atrocities in Brussels, is being treated 'as a terrorist incident'.



PC Palmer was a member of the Parliamentary Diplomatic Protection Command and had served on the force for 15 years.

Paying tribute to the officer tonight, Scotland Yard's top anti-terror officer Mark Rowley said: 'He [PC Palmer] was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift, and he had every right to expect that would happen.'

Acting Deputy Commissioner Rowley confirmed three members of the public had been killed in the incident, with liaison officers contacting their families.

He added: 'We think we know who the attacker is, we believe they were inspired by international terrorism. Islamist related terrorism.

'We have hundreds of officers working on this investigation, and they are focusing on the suspect's motivation, preparation and his associates.

'We are forensically examining a complicated crime scene that covers a wide area and as with all investigations of this nature, it will take us some time to work through the painstaking work necessary to gather all the relevant evidence. Only then will the full picture be known.'

He added statements were being taken from hundreds of witnesses while officers were also examining CCTV.

Deputy Commissioner Rowley also thanked everyone at Parliament for their cooperation with the investigation today as he announced a lockdown had ended.

He added: 'We do want to reassure the public that police and partners will do everything possible to protect them.

'As a precautionary measure over the next few days we have increased the number of officers on duty, armed and unarmed, to provide a highly visible reassuring presence. This will continue for as long as is necessary.

'Terrorists have a clear aim. That is to create distrust, discord and to create fear.'

It is currently known that:

One woman was killed on Westminster Bridge after a number of pedestrians were mowed down by a car.
It is believed a second person was killed in the incident on the bridge.
Another woman ended up in the Thames and was treated for serious injuries after being pulled from the water.
A group of French schoolchildren were among those targeted on the bridge.
The attacker jumped out the car and fatally stabbed police officer Keith Palmer in the grounds of the Palace of Westminster.
The knifeman was shot dead moments later by another officer.
Police are treating the incident as a terrorist attack.
Prime Minister Theresa May will be chairing a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee.

Witness Jayne Wilkinson said: 'We were taking photos of Big Ben and we saw all the people running towards us, and then there was an Asian guy in about his 40s carrying a knife about seven or eight inches long.

'And then there were three shots fired, and then we crossed the road and looked over. The man was on the floor with blood.

'He had a lightweight jacket on, dark trousers and a shirt. He was running through those gates, towards Parliament, and the police were chasing him.'

Her partner David Turner added: 'There was a stampede of people running out. You saw the people and you thought 'what the hell is going on'.'

Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood was among those who rushed to help the policeman who had been stabbed.

Mr Ellwood, who lost his brother in the Bali bombing, could be seen pumping the officer's chest then standing above him, his hands and face smeared with blood.

Frazer Clarke, 25, from Burton-on-Trent, said: 'We heard a loud bang and screaming and then I noticed some smoke. I thought it was a car crash.

'I looked towards the front gate and people were running, a police officer and a fellow coming to the gate with two knives.

'He was stabbing the police officer with the knives. He was wearing black tracksuit bottoms, a black of grey top and what looked like work boots. The police officer was stumbling and fell on the floor'.

Link to Full Article - Photos - Videos:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... mmons.html

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Such a brave man

For some reason I cannot view this picture but link to picture is below:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7jz1IKW4AEkRvJ.jpg

RIP PC Keith Palmer

Seven of the injured are still in hospital in a critical condition.

Seven held after Westminster attack

Seven arrests have been made in raids following the Westminster attack that left four dead, police have said.

Acting Deputy Commissioner and Head of Counter Terrorism Mark Rowley said hundreds of detectives have worked through the night, carrying out searches at six addresses.

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The 'wonderful' dad and husband who was also the 'best thief-taker': 'Supercop' Keith Palmer is pictured on his wedding day as it's revealed he was famous for making 150 arrests in one year



Keith Palmer was killed outside Parliament yesterday by Khalid Masood
His wife Michelle paid tribute calling him a 'wonderful dad and husband'
Now it's emerged that he was famous among colleagues for catching thieves
PC Palmer described as a smiling policeman who would share hugs and cakes

In the words of the Prime Minister, he was every inch a hero.

To the thousands of visitors to the Palace of Westminster, PC Keith Palmer was the friendly bobby who was never too busy to chat or pose for a picture.

And to his family he was simply a 'wonderful dad and husband'.

But yesterday it also emerged that to his colleagues he was a supercop – who was once nominated as 'best thief-taker' for making 150 arrests in a year.

Theresa May yesterday led tributes to the 48-year-old murdered at Parliament by knife-wielding Khalid Masood who had minutes earlier mown down scores of innocent pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.

The unarmed officer was stabbed multiple times as he tried to stop Masood entering Westminster Hall before the terrorist was shot dead by another policeman.

PC Palmer sustained three knife wounds to his head, his arm and one to the side of his ribs.

Weeping officers pleaded, 'Keith, please stay with me', as they and MP Tobias Ellwood battled to resuscitate him, but he died just minutes later.

Last night tearful colleagues, family and friends spoke of both his exceptional courage and the hugs, laughter and sunshine he brought to so many lives.

His heartbroken widow Michelle Palmer, 34, said: 'We love him so much.'

Mrs Palmer, with whom he has a five-year-old daughter Amy, added: 'Keith will be remembered as a wonderful dad and husband. A loving son, brother and uncle. A long-time supporter of Charlton FC.

Dedicated to his job and proud to be a police officer, brave and courageous. 'A friend to everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed. His friends and family are shocked and devastated by his loss.'

Yesterday tourists from as far afield as Australia posted images of themselves alongside a beaming PC Palmer on social media, sharing memories of the officer who always gave them a warm welcome at the Houses of Parliament.

There were mounting calls yesterday for the policeman to receive the George Medal as it emerged that he was an extraordinary policeman.

One former officer said she owed him her life after she was injured in a road accident.

Nina Whitehead was a front passenger in a patrol car when it crashed into a van, but PC Palmer kept her alive until paramedics arrived.

'He was already a hero. In my eyes he always will be,' she said. 'I literally owe him my life. I want to tell people how lovely he was and how brave he was.'

In an interview with LBC radio, she said she was devastated by his death, adding: 'I was in an accident ten years ago and he was one of the first officers to attend.

'I was in a police car on duty and my driver hit a white van and I got it all. Keith kept me alive until the ambulance got there. I spent three months in hospital and had to learn to walk again.

'He would come in and see me in hospital a bit. He'd always give me a big cuddle when he came in. I owe him everything. He was a wonderful dad and wonderful husband to his wife.'

Miss Whitehead, who was medically retired after the crash, went on: 'He was just really friendly, always laughing and bringing cakes into work to cheer us all up.

'He was lovable and funny, but when it came to his work he was professional, hands on, and he always put others before his own safety, like he did yesterday.'

PC Palmer, who was a member of the Metropolitan Police's parliamentary and diplomatic protection command, had served with the force for 15 years.

He was nominated just two years ago for 'best thief taker' in the Commissioner's Excellence Awards, having made more than 150 arrests in 12 months.

PC James Aitkenhead, who worked with him at Westminster, said: 'When I heard what had happened I knew it would be him because that's just the sort of guy he was, to step straight in when others might step back.'

Incoming Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick said: 'We will never forget his courage. My deepest sympathy is with his family and with the loved ones of everyone who lost their lives.'

Before he joined Scotland Yard, PC Palmer served as a reservist in the Royal Artillery from August 1987 to August 2001, leaving as a bombardier.

His friend David Derby, who served with him, said: 'He was an amazing guy. He would always want to help people out and give people encouragement. He wanted to go above and beyond in his job.

'That's why he joined the police force and died in the cause of duty, protecting the people of London, it cost him his life.'

The Prime Minister added: 'PC Palmer had devoted his life to the service of his country. He had been a member of the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command for 15 years, and a soldier in the Royal Artillery before that. He was a husband and a father, killed doing a job he loved.

'He was every inch a hero, and his actions will never be forgotten.'

Her words reduced Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, who was part of the team who tried to save the life of PC Palmer, to tears.

Last night a chorus of MPs called for a lasting memorial to the policeman, who is believed to be the first officer to die in the line of duty within Westminster.

Labour's Chris Bryant suggested PC Palmer should be given a commemorative heraldic shield in the Commons chamber 'because he was our shield and defender' during the attack.

The Speaker's chaplain, Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, led prayers for the officer during a chapel service in the House of Commons at the edge of Westminster Hall, where Margaret Thatcher and Tony Benn both lay in state.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, also joined those sending prayers and thoughts to the family of PC Palmer.

Last night the officer's portrait rested against a wall close to the spot where he was murdered.

Meanwhile, at the ground of his beloved Charlton Athletic Football Club, a single red and white scarf was laid on the seat he had occupied for many years in a moving tribute.

The Metropolitan Police Federation launched an official memorial page for his family which raised £250,000 within six hours.

Scotland Yard said that PC Palmer's shoulder number, 4157U, would be retired and not reissued to any other officer as a mark of respect.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: 'He was courageous, he was brave, and he was doing his duty.

'And he was not alone in doing that. I know that all officers of the Met are like that and in my experience, so are all policemen.

'I want us to say thank you to them all for the great sacrifice and risks they take to keep us safe.'

Link to Article - Photos:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... g-day.html