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| Westminster attacker was UK-born and known to MI5, Theresa May tells MPs | Westminster attacker was UK-born and known to MI5, Theresa May tells MPs |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The attacker behind the terrorist rampage at the gates of the Houses of Parliament was a British-born man previously known to MI5 due to concerns over violent extremism, the prime minister has said. | The attacker behind the terrorist rampage at the gates of the Houses of Parliament was a British-born man previously known to MI5 due to concerns over violent extremism, the prime minister has said. |
| The assailant, who was shot dead on Wednesday as he attacked police officers in the shadow of Big Ben, was considered to be a peripheral figure and had fallen from the intelligence picture, Theresa May told a packed House of Commons. | The assailant, who was shot dead on Wednesday as he attacked police officers in the shadow of Big Ben, was considered to be a peripheral figure and had fallen from the intelligence picture, Theresa May told a packed House of Commons. |
| The Met’s head of counter-terrorism, Mark Rowley, said a woman in her mid-40s and a man in his mid-50s were among the dead as well as PC Keith Palmer, a 48-year-old husband and father. | The Met’s head of counter-terrorism, Mark Rowley, said a woman in her mid-40s and a man in his mid-50s were among the dead as well as PC Keith Palmer, a 48-year-old husband and father. |
| Among the 29 treated for injuries at hospital were 12 Britons, three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, one German, one Pole, one Chinese national, one Irish national, one Italian, one American and two Greeks. | Among the 29 treated for injuries at hospital were 12 Britons, three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, one German, one Pole, one Chinese national, one Irish national, one Italian, one American and two Greeks. |
| May said: “The man was British-born and some years ago was once investigated by MI5 in relation to concerns of violent extremism. He was a peripheral figure. His case was historic. He was not part of the current intelligence picture.” | May said: “The man was British-born and some years ago was once investigated by MI5 in relation to concerns of violent extremism. He was a peripheral figure. His case was historic. He was not part of the current intelligence picture.” |
| Armed police arrested eight people during late-night raids at six addresses across the country, including in Birmingham and London. | Armed police arrested eight people during late-night raids at six addresses across the country, including in Birmingham and London. |
| The woman who died was Aysha Frade, 43, a teacher and mother of two, who worked as a teacher in London, and had family in the north-western Spanish town of Betanzos in Galicia. | The woman who died was Aysha Frade, 43, a teacher and mother of two, who worked as a teacher in London, and had family in the north-western Spanish town of Betanzos in Galicia. |
| “It is still our belief, which continues to be borne out by our investigation, that this attacker acted alone and was inspired by international terrorism,” Rowley said. | “It is still our belief, which continues to be borne out by our investigation, that this attacker acted alone and was inspired by international terrorism,” Rowley said. |
| As officers attempt to piece together details of the attacker’s background and motives, armed police raided six addresses across the country, including a second-floor flat above a row of shops on Hagley Road in Birmingham. | As officers attempt to piece together details of the attacker’s background and motives, armed police raided six addresses across the country, including a second-floor flat above a row of shops on Hagley Road in Birmingham. |
| Witnesses to the search said they believed three men were arrested and one of the flat’s windows was covered in cardboard, with non-uniformed officers spotted taking pieces of equipment into the property. | Witnesses to the search said they believed three men were arrested and one of the flat’s windows was covered in cardboard, with non-uniformed officers spotted taking pieces of equipment into the property. |
| The Hyundai Tucson used in the attack was rented from an Enterprise branch on Spring Hill passage in Birmingham, one mile from the property raided in Hagley Road. | The Hyundai Tucson used in the attack was rented from an Enterprise branch on Spring Hill passage in Birmingham, one mile from the property raided in Hagley Road. |
| A spokesperson for Enterprise Holdings said: “We can confirm that the car used in the tragic attack in London yesterday afternoon was one of ours. An employee identified the vehicle after seeing the licence plate in an image online. We ran another check to verify, and immediately contacted the authorities. | A spokesperson for Enterprise Holdings said: “We can confirm that the car used in the tragic attack in London yesterday afternoon was one of ours. An employee identified the vehicle after seeing the licence plate in an image online. We ran another check to verify, and immediately contacted the authorities. |
| “We are cooperating fully with the authorities and will provide any assistance that we can to the investigation. Our thoughts are very much with the victims of this terrible tragedy.” | |
| West Midlands police confirmed arrests were made at the addresses raided in Birmingham. A statement from the force said the arrests and searches were intelligence-led and there was no immediate risk to public safety. Extra officers would be out on patrol throughout the next few days in the city, the force said. | West Midlands police confirmed arrests were made at the addresses raided in Birmingham. A statement from the force said the arrests and searches were intelligence-led and there was no immediate risk to public safety. Extra officers would be out on patrol throughout the next few days in the city, the force said. |
| Rowley said addresses were also searched in London and other parts of the country. | Rowley said addresses were also searched in London and other parts of the country. |
| Theresa May was rushed out of parliament as the attack unfolded and later chaired an emergency meeting of the government’s crisis committee, Cobra. The committee will meet again on Thursday morning. | Theresa May was rushed out of parliament as the attack unfolded and later chaired an emergency meeting of the government’s crisis committee, Cobra. The committee will meet again on Thursday morning. |
| Shortly before 9pm, her voice cracking with emotion, the prime minister confirmed that what she called a “sick and depraved” attack had been carried out by a single assailant. | Shortly before 9pm, her voice cracking with emotion, the prime minister confirmed that what she called a “sick and depraved” attack had been carried out by a single assailant. |
| She also praised the bravery of the police and other emergency services, who “ran towards the danger, even as they encouraged others to move the other way”. | She also praised the bravery of the police and other emergency services, who “ran towards the danger, even as they encouraged others to move the other way”. |
| The prime minister added that Britain’s threat level would remain at severe, where it has been for some time; but she struck a defiant tone, insisting it would be business as usual for MPs and Londoners on Thursday. | The prime minister added that Britain’s threat level would remain at severe, where it has been for some time; but she struck a defiant tone, insisting it would be business as usual for MPs and Londoners on Thursday. |
| Cressida Dick, the incoming Met commissioner, Craig Mackey, the acting commissioner, and other officers held a minute’s silence in front of the “eternal flame” alight outside New Scotland Yard on Victoria Embankment, within sight of Westminster Bridge. | Cressida Dick, the incoming Met commissioner, Craig Mackey, the acting commissioner, and other officers held a minute’s silence in front of the “eternal flame” alight outside New Scotland Yard on Victoria Embankment, within sight of Westminster Bridge. |
| The new headquarters was set to be formally opened by the Queen on Thursday but the ceremony was cancelled. In a message to Mackey, the Queen said that she and Prince Philip had not been able to open the building for “very understandable reasons”. | The new headquarters was set to be formally opened by the Queen on Thursday but the ceremony was cancelled. In a message to Mackey, the Queen said that she and Prince Philip had not been able to open the building for “very understandable reasons”. |
| The message continued: “My thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathy are with all those who have been affected by yesterday’s awful violence. I know I speak for everyone in expressing my enduring thanks and admiration for the members of the Metropolitan police service and all who work so selflessly to help and protect others.” | The message continued: “My thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathy are with all those who have been affected by yesterday’s awful violence. I know I speak for everyone in expressing my enduring thanks and admiration for the members of the Metropolitan police service and all who work so selflessly to help and protect others.” |