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| PC Keith Palmer honoured by friends, colleagues and MPs | |
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| Theresa May has led tributes to Keith Palmer, the “hero” policeman who was stabbed to death as he guarded the Palace of Westminster from a terrorist on Wednesday afternoon. | Theresa May has led tributes to Keith Palmer, the “hero” policeman who was stabbed to death as he guarded the Palace of Westminster from a terrorist on Wednesday afternoon. |
| PC Palmer, 48, was a member of the Met’s parliamentary and diplomatic protection command with 15 years of service as an officer. The married father, believed to have been a member of the Royal Artillery before he joined the police, was unarmed when the lone attacker came charging towards him wielding a large knife. | PC Palmer, 48, was a member of the Met’s parliamentary and diplomatic protection command with 15 years of service as an officer. The married father, believed to have been a member of the Royal Artillery before he joined the police, was unarmed when the lone attacker came charging towards him wielding a large knife. |
| Addressing MPs in the House of Commons on Thursday morning, the prime minister paid tribute to Palmer’s service and said: “He was every inch a hero, and his actions will never be forgotten.” | Addressing MPs in the House of Commons on Thursday morning, the prime minister paid tribute to Palmer’s service and said: “He was every inch a hero, and his actions will never be forgotten.” |
| She praised the police for stopping the attacker. “We should be clear first of all that an attacker attempted to break into Parliament and was shot dead within 20 yards of the gate. If his intention was to gain access to this building, we should be clear that he did not succeed. The police heroically did their job.” | She praised the police for stopping the attacker. “We should be clear first of all that an attacker attempted to break into Parliament and was shot dead within 20 yards of the gate. If his intention was to gain access to this building, we should be clear that he did not succeed. The police heroically did their job.” |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also paid tribute to Keith Palmer and to the police and security services who “keep us safe every day” on the Parliamentary estate. “I express my condolences to the family and friends of police officer Keith Palmer who gave his life yesterday in defence of the public and of our democracy,” Corbyn said. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also paid tribute to Keith Palmer and to the police and security services who “keep us safe every day” on the Parliamentary estate. “I express my condolences to the family and friends of police officer Keith Palmer who gave his life yesterday in defence of the public and of our democracy,” Corbyn said. |
| “We especially pay tribute to the bravery of those who took action to stop the perpetrator of yesterday’s assault. | “We especially pay tribute to the bravery of those who took action to stop the perpetrator of yesterday’s assault. |
| “When dangerous and violent incidents take place, we all instinctively run away from them, for our own safety. The police and emergency services run towards them. We are grateful for the public service yesterday, today and every day that they pull on their uniforms to protect us all.” | “When dangerous and violent incidents take place, we all instinctively run away from them, for our own safety. The police and emergency services run towards them. We are grateful for the public service yesterday, today and every day that they pull on their uniforms to protect us all.” |
| Earlier on Thursday, MPs in Westminster observed a minute’s silence in Palmer’s honour. The tribute occurred at 9.33am in honour of his shoulder number - 933. House speaker John Bercow later confirmed to MPs that books of condolence would be placed in the library of the House and also in Westminster Hall. | Earlier on Thursday, MPs in Westminster observed a minute’s silence in Palmer’s honour. The tribute occurred at 9.33am in honour of his shoulder number - 933. House speaker John Bercow later confirmed to MPs that books of condolence would be placed in the library of the House and also in Westminster Hall. |
| Among the others who paid tribute to Palmer was Conservative MP James Cleverly, who served alongside the PC in the army. Cleverly told the Commons Palmer was a “strong, professional public servant” and said that “it was a delight to meet him here again”. He asked whether the PM would consider recognising his gallantry and sacrifice formally with a posthumous recognition. | Among the others who paid tribute to Palmer was Conservative MP James Cleverly, who served alongside the PC in the army. Cleverly told the Commons Palmer was a “strong, professional public servant” and said that “it was a delight to meet him here again”. He asked whether the PM would consider recognising his gallantry and sacrifice formally with a posthumous recognition. |
| Cleverly also wrote on Twitter: “I’ve known Keith for 25 years. We served together in the Royal Artillery before he became a copper. A lovely man, a friend. I’m heartbroken. My thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of PC Keith Palmer. A brave man.” | Cleverly also wrote on Twitter: “I’ve known Keith for 25 years. We served together in the Royal Artillery before he became a copper. A lovely man, a friend. I’m heartbroken. My thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of PC Keith Palmer. A brave man.” |
| The Met’s head of counter-terrorism, Mark Rowley, said the motivation of the attacker was assumed to be “Islamist-related” and that he had tried to enter parliament but had been stopped. Rowley said Palmer “was someone who left for work expecting to return home at the end of his shift, and he had every right to expect that would happen”. | The Met’s head of counter-terrorism, Mark Rowley, said the motivation of the attacker was assumed to be “Islamist-related” and that he had tried to enter parliament but had been stopped. Rowley said Palmer “was someone who left for work expecting to return home at the end of his shift, and he had every right to expect that would happen”. |
| Explaining why Palmer was unarmed, Rowley said: “Our parliamentary protection team are a combination of armed and unarmed officers doing different roles and sadly the officer who lost his life today was unarmed. He was supported by armed colleagues, who shot and killed the attacker.” | Explaining why Palmer was unarmed, Rowley said: “Our parliamentary protection team are a combination of armed and unarmed officers doing different roles and sadly the officer who lost his life today was unarmed. He was supported by armed colleagues, who shot and killed the attacker.” |
| On Thursday a woman who said she was a former colleague of Palmer’s, who gave her name as Nina, relayed the story of how he had once rescued her in a car accident. “I did know him very well, he saved my life in fact,” she told LBC. “So I just wanted to ring up to let everyone know what a wonderful man he was. | On Thursday a woman who said she was a former colleague of Palmer’s, who gave her name as Nina, relayed the story of how he had once rescued her in a car accident. “I did know him very well, he saved my life in fact,” she told LBC. “So I just wanted to ring up to let everyone know what a wonderful man he was. |
| “He actually did save my life in a car accident on duty when I was a police officer in 2007… I owe him everything. | “He actually did save my life in a car accident on duty when I was a police officer in 2007… I owe him everything. |
| “He was a wonderful dad and a wonderful husband to his wife. He was fun, he was a laugh, he cared. I know everyone, when someone passes, why do they always say he was such a lovely person, but he actually really was. And he cared about what he was doing, he actually cared about his job.” | “He was a wonderful dad and a wonderful husband to his wife. He was fun, he was a laugh, he cared. I know everyone, when someone passes, why do they always say he was such a lovely person, but he actually really was. And he cared about what he was doing, he actually cared about his job.” |
| The two members of the public who died include a man in his mid-50s and a woman in her 40s, who has been named as Spanish teacher and mother of two Aysha Frade. Of the 29 people being treated in hospital, seven are in a critical condition. Many more are believed to be walking wounded. | The two members of the public who died include a man in his mid-50s and a woman in her 40s, who has been named as Spanish teacher and mother of two Aysha Frade. Of the 29 people being treated in hospital, seven are in a critical condition. Many more are believed to be walking wounded. |
| May said those injured in the attack included 12 Britons, three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, two Greeks, and one each from Germany, Poland, Ireland, China, Italy and the United States. | May said those injured in the attack included 12 Britons, three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, two Greeks, and one each from Germany, Poland, Ireland, China, Italy and the United States. |
| Three police officers were also hurt, two of them seriously. The officers were returning from an event to recognise their bravery. | Three police officers were also hurt, two of them seriously. The officers were returning from an event to recognise their bravery. |