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London attack: police confirm seven people arrested – live London attack: police confirm seven people arrested – live
(35 minutes later)
8.29am GMT
08:29
Sir Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, told the Today programme:
The police are investigating this man, his associates where he came from, checking urgently whether other people were involved in this, their working assumption is it’s linked to Islamic terrorism.
But they don’t yet know, the investigation - and it is a very large investigation - has been underway ever since the incident started.
8.26am GMT
08:26
Fallon: 'London is taking this on the chin'
Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, has been speaking to Radio 4 Today. He said police were “working assumption is that this is linked to islamic terrorism.” Police had been working through the night, he said.
Fallon says he will not rule out that the attack was directed from overseas, but says all options are being looked up.
They [police] don’t yet have a full enough picture of the man and his known associates who may or may not have helped him prepare the attack.
Fallon says he has pased many people going to work as normal in London this morning, including pupils on school trips, and says parliament will sit as normal at 9.30.
London has seen this before and is taking it on the chin.
8.17am GMT
08:17
Hoyle says he does not want to get into any changes in security, but says he will be chairing the review when it happens.
“We have a duty of care to everyone, including to staff and to you [journalists],” he said.
8.15am GMT
08:15
Deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle, who announced the attack to MPs in the chamber yesterday afternoon, has been speaking to Sky News this morning.
We had the information an attack was taking place outside, so we asked ‘how serious?’ ‘Really serious.’ So we suspended the sitting immediately, and we were partway through a division [a vote] so there were a lot of MPs in the chamber, which was good news.
Of course, then we went into complete lockdown and no one can go in or out, which is the best thing to happen.
Hoyle said he was devastated by the death of PC Keith Palmer.
We lost one of our own, one of the village policemen. This is our village, to lose a person we all know, is not acceptable. Our thoughts are with his family and the other victims of this hideous crime.
People are doing their duty, he has lost his life serving us and it’s a tragedy that should never have happened. We have got to not give into terrorism. We will pay tribute to what has gone and that tragedy that took place yesterday, but we will not give in to terrorism, and it will never, ever win.
Hoyle said MPs greet the police officers everyday and get to know them well.
They look after us, they put the safety of the house first, they gave their lives to defend democracy.
It will be business as usual, but not quite as usual. Innocent victims, tourists, people going about their business, mown down by a car. These despots will never win. We will stand together and stand firm.
Hoyle says he feels safe every day in parliament. “We have the best police force in the world ... we have great people who look after us and our head of security is second to none and proved it yesterday,” he said. “We lost someone but no one got into parliament.”
Updated
at 8.24am GMT
8.00am GMT
08:00
Anushka Asthana
MPs are returning to work now in parliament.
Jess Phillips, chair of the women’s PLP, said that the group of Labour’s female politicians had met a day before with the deputy speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, and the head of security in parliament to talk about safety.
“The feeling in the room was very much that we felt safe on the estate. We had more concerns about random attacks in our constituency. During the attack the very next day the security was tested and the feeling of all the MPs inside and outside the building was that still we felt safe,” she said.
Phillips described the “calm, professional but forceful way the doorkeepers security staff and police handled the situation” to keep staff, MPs and visiting schools and guests safe.
“Today we will attend statement to honour Keith Palmer, but to honour him and the sacrifice he made for us we will keep going to our constituency meetings and parliament debates.”
Updated
at 8.24am GMT
7.59am GMT
07:59
Jessica Elgot
Good morning from London. Here’s what we know from the most recent statement from Scotland Yard’s acting deputy commissioner Mark Rowley.
Rowley revised down the death toll – four people killed in the attack in Westminster yesterday, including the killer and parliament police officer Keith Palmer.
Two other victims, who Rowley said were a mix of nationalities, were killed on Westminster bridge, a man and a woman.
This morning, there are 29 people being treated in hospital, seven in a critical condition, which is also revised down from yesterday, when police said 40 were injured.
Police have searched six addresses in Birmingham, London and other parts of the country, and made seven arrests.
They believe this attacker “acted alone and inspired by international terrorism”.
Rowley said he had no specific information about any further risk to the public, but repeated that more officers were on the streets - armed and unarmed - and that many had leave cancelled or were working extended hours.
The area is a “large and complex crime scene” that officers are still working on.
Rowley said he would not identify the attacker or other victims at this stage - because the victims were a mix of nationalities.
He said he realised journalists would be investigating too, but asked them not to name the attacker.
Updated
at 8.26am GMT
7.56am GMT
07:56
Claire Phipps
I’m handing over the blog now to my colleague Jessica Elgot, who’ll continue to bring you latest news on the attack, as MPs return to Westminster.
7.54am GMT7.54am GMT
07:5407:54
Rowley reiterates that police believe the attacker acted alone. He asks the media not to name him while investigations are ongoing.Rowley reiterates that police believe the attacker acted alone. He asks the media not to name him while investigations are ongoing.
7.49am GMT7.49am GMT
07:4907:49
Rowley says he will not confirm whether the attacker was a British national.Rowley says he will not confirm whether the attacker was a British national.
He declines to give any further detail on others killed and injured.He declines to give any further detail on others killed and injured.
7.46am GMT7.46am GMT
07:4607:46
Police: 7 arrests at six addressesPolice: 7 arrests at six addresses
Rowley says investigations are continuing and says he will not be identifying the attacker yet.Rowley says investigations are continuing and says he will not be identifying the attacker yet.
He confirms that related arrests have been made in Birmingham, London and elsewhere.He confirms that related arrests have been made in Birmingham, London and elsewhere.
Seven arrests were made at six addresses, he says.Seven arrests were made at six addresses, he says.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.54am GMTat 7.54am GMT
7.46am GMT7.46am GMT
07:4607:46
Death toll is four, including attackerDeath toll is four, including attacker
Mark Rowley, acting deputy commissioner at the Met, is speaking now outside Scotland Yard.Mark Rowley, acting deputy commissioner at the Met, is speaking now outside Scotland Yard.
Four people are dead and 29 treated in five hospitals across London. Seven are in a critical condition.Four people are dead and 29 treated in five hospitals across London. Seven are in a critical condition.
This is a revised death toll – last night police said five had died.This is a revised death toll – last night police said five had died.
The four are PC Keith Palmer, two members of the public – a woman in her mid-40s, and a man in his mid-50s – and the attacker.The four are PC Keith Palmer, two members of the public – a woman in her mid-40s, and a man in his mid-50s – and the attacker.
7.36am GMT7.36am GMT
07:3607:36
We are expecting an update imminently from the Metropolitan police; we’ll have coverage live here when it begins.We are expecting an update imminently from the Metropolitan police; we’ll have coverage live here when it begins.
7.34am GMT7.34am GMT
07:3407:34
MPs are heading in to work today in understandably sombre mood:MPs are heading in to work today in understandably sombre mood:
Like thousands of others who work there, I am heading into #Parliament as normal, but flags at half mast show it is a far from normal day pic.twitter.com/lXPiVwdSMjLike thousands of others who work there, I am heading into #Parliament as normal, but flags at half mast show it is a far from normal day pic.twitter.com/lXPiVwdSMj
Back to work after yesterday's tragic events. Area around Houses of Parliament eerily quiet, police cordon still at Lambeth BridgeBack to work after yesterday's tragic events. Area around Houses of Parliament eerily quiet, police cordon still at Lambeth Bridge
7.28am GMT7.28am GMT
07:2807:28
Cressida Dick, the incoming Metropolitan police commissioner, has praised the bravery of officers involved in the Westminster attack, Press Association reports:Cressida Dick, the incoming Metropolitan police commissioner, has praised the bravery of officers involved in the Westminster attack, Press Association reports:
In a message to staff Dick, who takes up the job next month, described Wednesday as a “tragic day for London and the Met”. In a message to staff, Dick, who takes up the job next month, described Wednesday as a “tragic day for London and the Met”.
Dick, who visited New Scotland Yard last night, said:Dick, who visited New Scotland Yard last night, said:
One of our officers died protecting the public and Parliament. We will never forget his courage. One of our officers died protecting the public and parliament. We will never forget his courage.
My deepest sympathy is with his family and with the loved ones of everyone who lost their lives. My deepest sympathy is with his family and with the loved ones of everyone who lost their lives. My thoughts too are with the members of the public and our officers who were injured as well as those people affected by these appalling events.
My thoughts too are with the members of the public and our officers who were injured as well as those people affected by these appalling events. As many parliamentarians have noted, our officers ran towards danger to do their jobs. We are indebted to their bravery. Officers and staff from the Metropolitan police are working as hard as we can to protect the public and our capital city.
As many parliamentarians have noted, our officers ran towards danger to do their jobs. We are indebted to their bravery.
Officers and staff from the Metropolitan Police are working as hard as we can to protect the public and our capital city.
I am grateful for all their efforts.I am grateful for all their efforts.
Updated
at 8.27am GMT
7.23am GMT7.23am GMT
07:2307:23
Brendan Cox – whose wife, Labour MP Jo Cox, was the last person to be killed by terrorism in the UK before yesterday’s attack – is speaking now to the BBC Today programme.Brendan Cox – whose wife, Labour MP Jo Cox, was the last person to be killed by terrorism in the UK before yesterday’s attack – is speaking now to the BBC Today programme.
He says he would like to caution against “giving notoriety to the person who did it … I would much rather remember the heroes … talking about them is how we do justice”.He says he would like to caution against “giving notoriety to the person who did it … I would much rather remember the heroes … talking about them is how we do justice”.
This is a story about people who didn’t come home yesteday and the impact this will have on their familes … the individual tragedies.This is a story about people who didn’t come home yesteday and the impact this will have on their familes … the individual tragedies.
He says he “hated” seeing pictures of the man who killed his wife in the days and weeks after her murder:He says he “hated” seeing pictures of the man who killed his wife in the days and weeks after her murder:
Of course there’s going to be reporting on who did it, why he did it, his twisted ideology, but I’m going to remember PC Palmer. Of course, there’s going to be reporting on who did it, why he did it, his twisted ideology, but I’m going to remember PC Palmer.
I don't care about the name of the attacker. This is the name I will remember. https://t.co/2azZHWkJAkI don't care about the name of the attacker. This is the name I will remember. https://t.co/2azZHWkJAk
Reactions to the attack should be directed at extremism, he added:Reactions to the attack should be directed at extremism, he added:
The person who did this is no more representative of Muslims than the person who killed Jo is representative of people in Yorkshire.The person who did this is no more representative of Muslims than the person who killed Jo is representative of people in Yorkshire.
Updated
at 8.28am GMT
7.15am GMT7.15am GMT
07:1507:15
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: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.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.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 GMT7.09am GMT
07:0907:09
Anushka AsthanaAnushka 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 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 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.The government will first be represented by the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, this morning, followed by May.