The man police believe to be responsible for the terrorist attack in Westminster has been formally identified as Khalid Masood (52) Scotland Yard said.
The man police believe to be responsible for the terrorist attack in Westminster has been formally identified as Khalid Masood (52) Scotland Yard said.
Scotland Yard said Masood had previous convictions for assaults, including GBH, possession of offensive weapons and public order offences. He had not been convicted of any terrorism offences.
Earlier the Islamic State terror group claimed through its news agency that the Westminster attacker was a «soldier of the Islamic State».
Arrests
Eight people, three women and five men, have been arrested in London and Birmingham on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts by detectives investigating the Westminster attack, Scotland Yard said.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission has said «no police officers are under investigation» over the Westminster terror attack, but it is «currently investigating the circumstances».
Searches were carried out at three addresses in Birmingham and one each in east London, Brighton, south-east London and Carmarthenshire.
A 39-year-old woman was arrested in east London while a 21-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man were held at one address in Birmingham.
A 26-year-old woman and three men aged 28, 27 and 26 were arrested at another address in Birmingham.
They were all held overnight while a 58-year-old man was arrested on Thursday at a third address in Birmingham.
Investigators are working on the basis that the attacker acted alone.
Car firm Enterprise confirmed the Hyundai used in the attack was one of its vehicles.
Islamic State claimed the killer was one of its «soldiers».
A review of security arrangements at Westminster was launched.
Victims
The victims admitted to hospital included 12 Britons, three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, one German, one Pole, one Irish, one Chinese, one Italian, one American and two Greeks, she said.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May said the government was in close contact with counterparts in all the countries affected. Ms May visited victims in hospital this evening.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny spoke to British Prime Minister Theresa May this evening following the horrific attack in London.
He offered the sympathy of the Irish Government to the British people and offered any assistance that may be required.
The Prime Minister confirmed that the injuries suffers by an Irish person were not life-threatening.
They also spoke about the ongoing negotiations in Stormont towards the reestablishment of power sharing in Northern Ireland.
The call lasted approximately ten minutes.
This afternoon the third victim of the Westminster terror attack was named as US tourist Kurt Cochran from Utah.
Mr Cochran’s wife, Melissa Payne Cochran, was also injured in the attack.
She sustained a broken leg and rib, but it is not believed to be critical.
Shantell Payne wrote on Facebook: «With a heavy heart I must pass the sad news of our beautiful brother, father, husband, son and friend Kurt Cochran. »
She continued: «This pain is so heart wrenching and raw it has rocked our family and all that knew him to its core. We will miss Kurt beyond words. We love you Kurt. RIP. Melissa Payne Cochran is in the hospital with a broken leg, rib and a cut on her head but will recover from her injuries. Sending all the love to her for a quick recovery. »
Earlier it was revealed that Spanish teacher Aysha Frade (43) died of her injuries after a car ploughed into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, has confirmed that one Irish person was amongst those injured in yesterday’s terrorist attack in London.
Minister Flanagan said that his Department has, through the Irish Embassy in London, offered and stands ready to provide consular assistance.
Independent.ie understands that the injuries sustained by the Irish person, believed to be a woman, are not considered to be life-threatening.
Four people were killed in the incident yesterday afternoon and in the region of 40 injured as an assailant drove a car on the footpath on Westminster Bridge, before crashing the car at the British parliament and getting out to stab a policeman to death before the attacker was shot.
The British Prime Minister also told MPs that murdered PC Keith Palmer was «every inch a hero and his actions will never be forgotten».
She added that the British Parliament was sending out the message following Wednesday’s attack: «We will never waver in the face of terrorism. »
Mrs May addressed MPs as they gathered at the usual time inside the Palace of Westminster, which a day before had come under attack from a knife-wielding terrorist.
An hour after MPs had stood for a minute’s silence in honour of the innocent people killed in the attack, Mrs May delivered a statement with details of the atrocity.
Mrs May said the attacker had been identified as someone known by police and MI5, and the working assumption was that he was inspired by Islamist terrorism. The BBC is reporting that he was British-born.
«Yesterday an act of terrorism tried to silence our democracy, but today we meet as normal, as generations have done before us and as future generations will continue to do, to deliver a simple message: ‘We are not afraid and our resolve will never waver in the face of terrorism’,» Mrs May said.
«A terrorist came to the place where people of all nationalities and cultures gather to celebrate what it means to be free.
«And he took out his rage indiscriminately against innocent men, women and children.
«This was an attack on free people everywhere, and on behalf of the British people I would like to thank our friends and allies around the world who have made it clear that they stand with us at this time. »
Westminster Bridge has reopened less than 24 hours after the attack.
Victims of the Westminster terror attack are being treated in hospitals across London.
King’s College Hospital has confirmed its A&E department took in eight patients — six men and two women. Two of these patients are in a critical condition, while six are stable.
At St Thomas’ Hospital, two patients — a man and a woman — remain in a stable condition.
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust declared a major incident at St Mary’s Hospital on Wednesday afternoon at 3.55pm. It has yet to release a statement on whether it is currently treating any victims.
The Royal London Hospital said it admitted one patient but a spokeswoman said no further detail could be given on whether that patient died, is being treated or has been discharged.
Earlier, A Spanish teacher on her way to pick up her children from school was named as the first civilian victim of the Westminster attack.
Aysha Frade (43) died of her injuries after a car ploughed into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.
Spanish media said Mrs Frade had two daughters aged eight and 11 and worked at the nearby DLD College London.
Mrs Frade, a British citizen, had familial links to the Spanish municipality of Betanzos, where relatives were notified of her death on Wednesday afternoon.
Mrs Frade worked in the administration team at DLD College London, just a few hundred metres from Westminster Bridge, principal Rachel Borland confirmed.
Ms Borland said: «We are all deeply shocked and saddened at the news that one of the victims yesterday was a member of our staff, Aysha Frade.
«All our thoughts and our deepest sympathies are with her family.
«We will be offering every support we can to them as they try to come to terms with their devastating loss.
«Aysha worked as a member of our administration team at the college.
«She was highly regarded and loved by our students and by her colleagues.
«She will be deeply missed by all of us. »
Mrs Frade was the second victim named following Wednesday’s attack, where PC Palmer was stabbed to death outside the Houses of Parliament.
She and another member of the public, a man in his 50s, died of injuries sustained on Westminster Bridge as an attacker sped his car along the pavement.
Counter-terror detectives are continuing to search for clues about how the armed attacker brought death and destruction to the streets of London on Wednesday.
The number of people killed was revised down from five to four this morning.
Mark Rowley, Scotland Yard’s top anti-terror officer said 29 people had been treated in hospital with seven people in a critical condition. Most of these were mown down on Westminster Bridge.
Officer Palmer, 48, a husband and father, whose bravery was hailed by colleagues, friends and the many British MPs whom he was charged with protecting.
His family described him as a «wonderful dad and husband, a loving son, brother and uncle», adding that he was «dedicated to his job and proud to be a police officer, brave and courageous».
Paying tribute to Mr Palmer, Mr Rowley said: «He 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.
