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London attack: What we know so far London attack: What we know so far
(about 2 hours later)
Five people have died, with 50 injured, in a terror attack near the Houses of Parliament. Here is what we know.Five people have died, with 50 injured, in a terror attack near the Houses of Parliament. Here is what we know.
What happened?What happened?
At 14:40 GMT on Wednesday, the man police believe carried out the London attack, Khalid Masood, drove a car that he had hired from a depot in Birmingham over Westminster Bridge, near the Houses of Parliament.At 14:40 GMT on Wednesday, the man police believe carried out the London attack, Khalid Masood, drove a car that he had hired from a depot in Birmingham over Westminster Bridge, near the Houses of Parliament.
One witness said he sped up, mounted the pavement, and began hitting pedestrians indiscriminately.One witness said he sped up, mounted the pavement, and began hitting pedestrians indiscriminately.
Two people, Aysha Frade and US tourist Kurt Cochran, were killed and dozens more were injured. A 75-year-old man, Leslie Rhodes from Streatham in south London, died the next day.Two people, Aysha Frade and US tourist Kurt Cochran, were killed and dozens more were injured. A 75-year-old man, Leslie Rhodes from Streatham in south London, died the next day.
Witnesses described seeing figures lying on the pavement. One man said he saw a single trainer on one side of the road, and a body on the other.
The car then crashed into railings outside the Houses of Parliament.The car then crashed into railings outside the Houses of Parliament.
Masood, armed with a knife, left his car and ran towards Parliament, where he was confronted by police.Masood, armed with a knife, left his car and ran towards Parliament, where he was confronted by police.
PC Keith Palmer - who was not armed - was stabbed and killed.PC Keith Palmer - who was not armed - was stabbed and killed.
Masood was then shot dead by armed officers. Masood was then shot dead by armed officers. Reports that he was shot by a member of Defence Secretary Michael Fallon's close protection team - rather than one of Parliament's armed police - have not been confirmed.
What was the scene on Westminster Bridge?
Witnesses have described pandemonium and panic.
One woman was seen falling into the River Thames and was subsequently pulled to safety and given urgent medical attention.
Michael Adamou, 25, was driving the 453 bus when he saw a grey Hyundai heading towards the Houses of Parliament and hitting pedestrians on the bridge.
"Initially I thought he's lost control of the car, but then I saw quite a few people rushing into Parliament and police trying to stop everyone.
"After a few seconds I just heard gunshots. Everybody on my bus was panicking."
Another, Richard Tice, said he was coming out of Westminster Tube station at about 14:45 and was ushered by police onto Westminster Bridge.
He saw people lying on the bridge being tended to. He was told that a car had mounted the pavement and driven the whole way across the bridge, knocking people over.
"I counted eight people the length of the bridge, from south to north - at least eight."
'We saw a policeman down on the floor''We saw a policeman down on the floor'
The heroes who rushed to helpThe heroes who rushed to help
What happened at Parliament? Who was the attacker?
After crashing into railings outside the Houses of Parliament, Khalid Masood abandoned his car and ran through the cobbled entrance - Carriage Gates. Father-of-three Khalid Masood, 52, was born in Kent on Christmas Day 1964 but is believed to have been living in the West Midlands. His birth name was Adrian Russell Ajao, although he used "a number of aliases" according to police.
He attacked PC Keith Palmer with a large knife before being shot dead by armed police. He had a criminal past but his most recent conviction, for possessing a knife, was in December 2003 and he has never been convicted of a terrorism offence.
Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative foreign office minister and former soldier, attempted to revive PC Palmer before medics arrived. Masood gave his occupation as "teacher" when hiring the car with which he carried out the attack, but the Department for Education says it has no record of him ever being a qualified teacher in English state schools.
They struggled for up to half an hour to help the police officer and the attacker, but both men died at the scene. Prime Minister Theresa May told MPs that while he was "once investigated in relation to concerns about violent extremism" he was a "peripheral figure" and "not part of the current intelligence picture".
Parliament was suspended and politicians, journalists and visitors to the buildings were locked inside for about five hours. Profile of Khalid Masood
Hundreds were also evacuated from Parliament to nearby Westminster Abbey for safety.
Who were the victims?Who were the victims?
The police officer who died was PC Keith Palmer, 48, of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command. He had 15 years' service and was a husband and a father. The police officer who died was PC Keith Palmer, 48, of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command. He had 15 years' service, was married and had a five-year-old daughter. He had served in the Royal Artillery before joining the police.
Aysha Frade, who worked at DLD College London, was killed after being hit by the attacker's car before it reached Parliament. She was confirmed dead by a doctor at St Thomas' Hospital. Aysha Frade, who worked at DLD College London, was killed after being hit by the attacker's car before it reached Parliament. She was confirmed dead by a doctor at St Thomas' Hospital. It is thought she was 43 and a married mother of two young daughters.
It is thought she was 43 and a married mother of two. The college's principal, Rachel Borland, said Mrs Frade "was highly regarded and loved by our students and by her colleagues".
A third victim was Kurt Cochran - a US tourist who was in London to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary. His wife Melissa has been seriously injured and is in hospital.A third victim was Kurt Cochran - a US tourist who was in London to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary. His wife Melissa has been seriously injured and is in hospital.
The pair were due to return to the US on Thursday. Leslie Rhodes, 75, a retired window cleaner from Streatham, south London, had been receiving medical treatment in hospital following the attack. His life support was withdrawn on Thursday evening.
Leslie Rhodes, 75, from Streatham, south London, had been receiving medical treatment in hospital following the attack. His life support was withdrawn on Thursday evening.
What we know about the victimsWhat we know about the victims
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Who are the injured?Who are the injured?
Two people remain in a critical condition in hospital and a third person has life-threatening injuries, according to police. At least 50 people were injured in the attack, 31 of whom needed hospital treatment. It has not been confirmed how many people remain in hospital but we know that at least 50 people from at least 12 countries were injured in the attack, 31 of whom needed hospital treatment.
The injured included three police officers who were walking across the bridge on their way back from a commendation ceremony. Two people remain in a critical condition and one of them has life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Two remain in hospital with what are described as "very significant" injuries. Among those injured were three police officers who were walking across the bridge on their way back from a commendation ceremony, two of whom remain in hospital with what are described as "very significant" injuries.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley said the victims represented "a real cross section of ages" from at least 12 nationalities. Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley said the victims represented "a real cross section of ages". Among them, according to the prime minister, were:
Theresa May said those injured in the attack included: The Romanian couple are Andreea Cristea and Andrei Burnaz. The Romanian Embassy in London has confirmed that Ms Cristea was the woman who was seen falling from Westminster Bridge during the attack, suffering multiple injuries.
Four university students from Edge Hill University, in Lancashire, were hurt. Owen Lambert and Travis Frain were struck by the car on Westminster Bridge at the outset of the attack, while two other students needed treatment for lesser injuries. Among others injured were four university students from Edge Hill University, in Ormskirk, Lancashire.
French students hurt in London attack London attack: The victims
Students among injured in London attack
Who was the attacker?
The attacker has been named as Khalid Masood. The 52-year-old was born in Kent but is believed to have been living in the West Midlands.
Police said his birth name was Adrian Russell Ajao although he used "a number of aliases".
The prime minister told the Commons he had acted alone and there was "no reason to believe" further attacks were planned.
She added that he had come to the attention of the security service, MI5, some years ago over concerns about violent extremism.
Mrs May told MPs: "He was a peripheral figure. The case is historic. He was not part of the current intelligence picture.
"There was no prior intelligence of his intent or of the plot."
Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley, the Met's top anti-terror officer, said police were focusing on his "motivation, preparation and associates".
Masood gave his occupation as "teacher" when hiring the car with which he carried out the attack, but the Department for Education says it has no record of him ever being a qualified teacher in English state schools.
It does appear that he styled himself as an English tutor at one point.
What do we know about the police investigation?What do we know about the police investigation?
Ten people have been arrested and several addresses raided in London and Birmingham in connection with the attack. Ten people were arrested and several addresses raided in London and Birmingham in connection with the attack.
Nine people remain in custody as of Friday morning with one woman released on bail. The Met Police said on Friday morning that nine people remained in custody, with one woman having been woman released on bail.
Five properties are still being searched, and 16 searches have already concluded. Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley said 2,700 items were seized overnight, including computer data. Five properties were still being searched and 16 searches had already concluded, Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley said. He said 2,700 items were seized overnight, including "massive amounts" of computer data.
Police have been contacted by about 3,500 witnesses, including 1,000 people who were on Westminster Bridge and 2,500 who were within the Parliamentary estate at the time. The Hyundai driven by Masood was hired in Spring Hill, Birmingham, from a branch of car rental firm Enterprise.
Hundreds of uploads of video and pictures have been made to the police website. Police have been contacted by about 3,500 witnesses - 1,000 who were on Westminster Bridge and 2,500 who were within the Parliamentary estate at the time.
Hundreds of uploads of video and pictures have been uploaded to the NPCC website, Mr Rowley added.
What security has been put in place?What security has been put in place?
In London the number of armed officers remains at "near double strength", Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley said on Friday while across the UK there are "up to a third" more armed officers on duty. In London the number of armed officers remains at "near double strength", Mr Rowley said, while across the UK there are "up to a third" more armed officers on duty.
He added: "Our current arrangements have been developed with Parliament over many years and are designed to provide access to the seat of our government balanced carefully with security that is proportionate but not overly intrusive.He added: "Our current arrangements have been developed with Parliament over many years and are designed to provide access to the seat of our government balanced carefully with security that is proportionate but not overly intrusive.
"Of course after an incident like this as would be expected my team will work with Parliamentary authorities to assess whether a different tone or balance is necessary.""Of course after an incident like this as would be expected my team will work with Parliamentary authorities to assess whether a different tone or balance is necessary."
The UK's threat level has been set at "severe" - meaning an attack is highly likely - for some time and this would not change, the prime minister said.The UK's threat level has been set at "severe" - meaning an attack is highly likely - for some time and this would not change, the prime minister said.
Theresa May says 'we'll never waver' Security of Parliament under microscope
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