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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Westminster attack: parliament resumes with tributes to PC Keith Palmer – live | Westminster attack: parliament resumes with tributes to PC Keith Palmer – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.15am GMT | |
| 07:15 | |
| Frank Gardner, the BBC’s security correspondent, is speaking on the Today programme. He says it appears the raid in Birmingham is linked to the investigation into the Westminster attack: | |
| The indications are that the car began its journey in Birmingham … An address was raided by armed officers. | |
| There are reports that a number of arrests were made at the address. Police have not yet commented. West Midlands police have directed media inquiries to Scotland Yard. | |
| 7.09am GMT | |
| 07:09 | |
| Anushka Asthana | |
| The prime minister will give a statement to parliament later this morning, which will also allow MPs to question her about the event. | |
| The aim is for parliament to return to normal today, in an attempt to prevent this attack from disrupting the work of either the Commons or Lords, although school trips will be cancelled. | |
| The government will first be represented by the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, this morning, followed by May. | |
| 7.05am GMT | |
| 07:05 | |
| Speaking on Wednesday evening, Theresa May said the attack was an assault on democracy: | |
| The location of this attack was no accident. The terrorists chose to strike at the heart of our capital city, where people of all nationalities, religions and cultures come together to celebrate the values of liberty, democracy and freedom of speech. | |
| These streets of Westminster – home to the world’s oldest parliament – are engrained with a spirit of freedom that echoes in some of the furthest corners of the globe. And the values our parliament represents – democracy, freedom, human rights, the rule of law – command the admiration and respect of free people everywhere. | |
| That is why it is a target for those who reject those values. | |
| But let me make it clear today, as I have had cause to do before: any attempt to defeat those values through violence and terror is doomed to failure. | |
| 7.00am GMT | |
| 07:00 | |
| The BBC and Sky News are reporting that a number of arrests have been made in Birmingham, in a police raid believed to be connected to the attack in London. | |
| The arrests – and any potential link – have not been confirmed by the police. | |
| BBC Newsnight reported late on Wednesday evening that the car used in the attack could have been rented in Birmingham. The Guardian has not been able to verify this report. | |
| West Midlands police has said of the raid that saw Hagley Road in south-west Birmingham closed for around two hours overnight: | |
| There is an ongoing police operation, no further details are being given at this stage. | |
| WMP referred media inquiries to the Metropolitan police in London, which said it would not be commenting for “operational reasons”. | |
| An update from the Met is expected within the next two hours. | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.15am GMT | |
| 6.57am GMT | |
| 06:57 | |
| Jason Burke | |
| The attack outside the Houses of Parliament in London is the latest in a series of terrorist atrocities involving a vehicle being driven at speed into pedestrians – a tactic actively promoted by Islamic State. | |
| In December, a refugee in Germany drove a truck into a market in Berlin, killing 12. Last July, a stolen truck driven through a Bastille Day parade in Nice killed 86. The strikes appear inspired, if not actively commissioned, by Isis in Iraq and Syria. | |
| In November, a student used a vehicle and knives to injure 13 on a campus in Ohio, in the US. His motives and allegiance are less clear. | |
| Such attacks are not unprecedented, but have become much more numerous in recent years. | |
| In 2014, the chief spokesman of the group, Mohammed al-Adnani, issued a call for sympathisers in the west to strike “unbelievers”, especially police officers or soldiers, where they were – rather than travel to the middle east to fight there. | |
| “If you are not able to find a bomb or a bullet, then smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him,” he said. | |
| Though al-Adnani, who was killed in 2016, pointed a finger specifically at France, where there were two vehicle attacks in 2014, he also cited the UK among preferred targets. | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.16am GMT | |
| 6.51am GMT | |
| 06:51 | |
| Thursday’s front pages are, of course, dominated by the attack in London. You can see our roundup here. | |
| Many focus on MP Tobias Ellwood’s unsuccessful fight to save the life of PC Keith Palmer; others have chosen to picture the attacker, stretchered away after he was shot by armed officers. | |
| Here is the Guardian front page today: | |
| GUARDIAN: Terror in Westminster #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/LOvojb7vb5 | |
| 6.38am GMT | 6.38am GMT |
| 06:38 | 06:38 |
| Police have said 40 people were injured in the attack, many of them as the assailant drove his car deliberately into pedestrians on Westminster bridge. | Police have said 40 people were injured in the attack, many of them as the assailant drove his car deliberately into pedestrians on Westminster bridge. |
| Some are seriously wounded. | Some are seriously wounded. |
| The death toll rose on Wednesday evening, with four victims – three members of the public, who have not been named, and the police officer PC Keith Palmer – and the attacker confirmed to have died. | The death toll rose on Wednesday evening, with four victims – three members of the public, who have not been named, and the police officer PC Keith Palmer – and the attacker confirmed to have died. |
| Many of those injured remain in hospitals across London, including St Thomas’, King’s College and St Mary’s. | Many of those injured remain in hospitals across London, including St Thomas’, King’s College and St Mary’s. |
| Two teenage French students were in a critical condition in hospital after being struck on the bridge. A third student was also being treated for injuries. One of the three had been thrown on to the bonnet of a car. | Two teenage French students were in a critical condition in hospital after being struck on the bridge. A third student was also being treated for injuries. One of the three had been thrown on to the bonnet of a car. |
| Five South Korean tourists, four students from Ormskirk’s Edge Hill University, and a German woman resident in Australia have been identified as among the wounded. | Five South Korean tourists, four students from Ormskirk’s Edge Hill University, and a German woman resident in Australia have been identified as among the wounded. |
| Three police officers on the way back from a commendation ceremony – one of whom is thought to have suffered head injuries – and a Romanian couple were also among those hurt on the bridge. | Three police officers on the way back from a commendation ceremony – one of whom is thought to have suffered head injuries – and a Romanian couple were also among those hurt on the bridge. |
| 6.24am GMT | 6.24am GMT |
| 06:24 | 06:24 |
| Read more | Read more |
| Here’s a roundup of our latest reporting on the attack: | Here’s a roundup of our latest reporting on the attack: |
| Full report: police officer among five dead in ‘sick and depraved’ incident | Full report: police officer among five dead in ‘sick and depraved’ incident |
| London attack: what we know so far | London attack: what we know so far |
| ‘Solidarity and support’: world leaders send wishes after attack | ‘Solidarity and support’: world leaders send wishes after attack |
| Tobias Ellwood MP hailed for attempting to save officer’s life | Tobias Ellwood MP hailed for attempting to save officer’s life |
| MPs honour the memory of murdered PC Keith Palmer | MPs honour the memory of murdered PC Keith Palmer |
| ‘All hell was let loose’: witnesses on the Westminster attack | ‘All hell was let loose’: witnesses on the Westminster attack |
| #WeAreNotAfraid: Londoners send out message after terror attack | #WeAreNotAfraid: Londoners send out message after terror attack |
| Analysis and commentary is here: | Analysis and commentary is here: |
| Ewen MacAskill: Lone attackers are the biggest challenge for security services | Ewen MacAskill: Lone attackers are the biggest challenge for security services |
| Jason Burke: Crude nature of attack suggests limited Isis network in Britain | Jason Burke: Crude nature of attack suggests limited Isis network in Britain |
| The Guardian view: Solidarity against terror | The Guardian view: Solidarity against terror |
| Jonathan Freedland: Bravery and simple humanity show Westminster at its best | Jonathan Freedland: Bravery and simple humanity show Westminster at its best |
| John Crace: The numbing afternoon when I saw a police officer die outside parliament | John Crace: The numbing afternoon when I saw a police officer die outside parliament |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.40am GMT | at 6.40am GMT |
| 6.17am GMT | 6.17am GMT |
| 06:17 | 06:17 |
| Theresa May spent Wednesday afternoon being briefed on the details of the attack before chairing a meeting of Cobra, the emergency committee. | Theresa May spent Wednesday afternoon being briefed on the details of the attack before chairing a meeting of Cobra, the emergency committee. |
| The committee could meet again on Thursday morning before May addresses MPs in the House of Commons, which will sit as usual. | The committee could meet again on Thursday morning before May addresses MPs in the House of Commons, which will sit as usual. |
| Home secretary Amber Rudd and foreign secretary Boris Johnson were both overseas yesterday – in Pakistan and the US, respectively – but Rudd is returning. | Home secretary Amber Rudd and foreign secretary Boris Johnson were both overseas yesterday – in Pakistan and the US, respectively – but Rudd is returning. |
| London mayor Sadiq Khan attended the Cobra meeting, and is expected to make a fresh statement on Thursday. | London mayor Sadiq Khan attended the Cobra meeting, and is expected to make a fresh statement on Thursday. |
| 6.14am GMT | 6.14am GMT |
| 06:14 | 06:14 |
| Police have not named the attacker, who died after being shot by armed police inside the Westminster security cordon. | Police have not named the attacker, who died after being shot by armed police inside the Westminster security cordon. |
| Speaking late on Wednesday evening, Metropolitan police acting deputy commissioner Mark Rowley said investigators believe they know the man’s identity. | Speaking late on Wednesday evening, Metropolitan police acting deputy commissioner Mark Rowley said investigators believe they know the man’s identity. |
| He said the man was likely to have been acting alone, but confirmed they believed he was “inspired by international terrorism”, later clarifying that this referred to Islamist extremism. | He said the man was likely to have been acting alone, but confirmed they believed he was “inspired by international terrorism”, later clarifying that this referred to Islamist extremism. |
| 6.05am GMT | 6.05am GMT |
| 06:05 | 06:05 |
| MPs have been paying tribute to PC Keith Palmer, who was fatally stabbed within the Westminster security cordon. | MPs have been paying tribute to PC Keith Palmer, who was fatally stabbed within the Westminster security cordon. |
| Conservative MP James Cleverly said he was a former army comrade of Palmer: “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.” | Conservative MP James Cleverly said he was a former army comrade of Palmer: “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.” |
| Home affairs select committee chair and Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who was in parliament when the terrorist attacked, said: “Thank you PC Keith Palmer – to your bravery many others owe their lives and safety.” | Home affairs select committee chair and Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who was in parliament when the terrorist attacked, said: “Thank you PC Keith Palmer – to your bravery many others owe their lives and safety.” |
| Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger said: “May PC Keith Palmer rest in peace. He died protecting our democracy. My sincerest condolences to all of his family and friends.” | Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger said: “May PC Keith Palmer rest in peace. He died protecting our democracy. My sincerest condolences to all of his family and friends.” |
| 5.49am GMT | 5.49am GMT |
| 05:49 | 05:49 |
| Opening summary | Opening summary |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| Parliament will resume today after Wednesday’s terrorist attack in the capital. | Parliament will resume today after Wednesday’s terrorist attack in the capital. |
| Here is what we now know: | Here is what we now know: |
| Five people are now confirmed to have died in the attack on Westminster on Wednesday: one police officer, three members of the public, and the attacker. | Five people are now confirmed to have died in the attack on Westminster on Wednesday: one police officer, three members of the public, and the attacker. |
| The police officer has been named as PC Keith Palmer, 48, a member of the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command, with 15 years’ service in the force. He was unarmed. | The police officer has been named as PC Keith Palmer, 48, a member of the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command, with 15 years’ service in the force. He was unarmed. |
| Metropolitan police acting deputy commissioner Mark Rowley said Palmer was a husband and father: | Metropolitan police acting deputy commissioner Mark Rowley said Palmer was a husband and father: |
| 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. | 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. |
| The other victims of the attack, and the assailant, have not yet been named. | The other victims of the attack, and the assailant, have not yet been named. |
| Police said 40 other people were injured; many remain in hospital, some in a serious condition. | Police said 40 other people were injured; many remain in hospital, some in a serious condition. |
| Five South Korean tourists, four students from Ormskirk’s Edge Hill University, and a German woman resident in Australia have been identified as among the wounded. | Five South Korean tourists, four students from Ormskirk’s Edge Hill University, and a German woman resident in Australia have been identified as among the wounded. |
| Investigators say they believe they know the identity of the attacker, and that he is thought to have acted alone but was “inspired by international terrorism”. | Investigators say they believe they know the identity of the attacker, and that he is thought to have acted alone but was “inspired by international terrorism”. |
| The House of Commons will sit this morning, with prime minister Theresa May saying the country would not be cowed: | The House of Commons will sit this morning, with prime minister Theresa May saying the country would not be cowed: |
| Parliament will meet as normal. We will come together as normal. | Parliament will meet as normal. We will come together as normal. |
| And Londoners – and others from around the world who have come here to visit this great city – will get up and go about their day as normal. | And Londoners – and others from around the world who have come here to visit this great city – will get up and go about their day as normal. |
| They will board their trains, they will leave their hotels, they will walk these streets, they will live their lives. And we will all move forward together. Never giving in to terror. And never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart. | They will board their trains, they will leave their hotels, they will walk these streets, they will live their lives. And we will all move forward together. Never giving in to terror. And never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart. |
| The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, echoed her comments, saying: | The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, echoed her comments, saying: |
| London is the greatest city in the world and we stand together in the face of those who seek to harm us and destroy our way of life. | London is the greatest city in the world and we stand together in the face of those who seek to harm us and destroy our way of life. |
| UK foreign minister Boris Johnson, who is in the US for an international meeting discussing the Isis threat, said: | UK foreign minister Boris Johnson, who is in the US for an international meeting discussing the Isis threat, said: |
| Heartbreaking. This is not the first attack on London or our Parliament - and won’t be the last - but our values will prevail. | Heartbreaking. This is not the first attack on London or our Parliament - and won’t be the last - but our values will prevail. |
| The terror threat level for the UK remains unchanged, at “severe”. The Metropolitan police said extra patrols, armed and unarmed, would be in place, “particularly in crowded places and iconic locations”. | The terror threat level for the UK remains unchanged, at “severe”. The Metropolitan police said extra patrols, armed and unarmed, would be in place, “particularly in crowded places and iconic locations”. |
| The Queen has postponed a planned visit to Scotland Yard that was due to take place today. | The Queen has postponed a planned visit to Scotland Yard that was due to take place today. |
| Roads around Parliament Square remain closed, as does Westminster Bridge, as police investigations continue. | Roads around Parliament Square remain closed, as does Westminster Bridge, as police investigations continue. |
| Overnight, a police raid took place in the southwest of Birmingham. It is not clear if it is connected to the attack in London. | Overnight, a police raid took place in the southwest of Birmingham. It is not clear if it is connected to the attack in London. |