This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/24/world/europe/uk-khalid-masood-london-attack.html

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
London Police Make ‘Significant’ Arrests in Attack Inquiry London Police Make ‘Significant’ Arrests in Attack Inquiry
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — The British police on Friday said they had made two “significant” arrests overnight in connection with the attack outside Parliament this week and said the birth name of the 52-year-old assailant was Adrian Russell Ajao. LONDON — The police on Friday announced two “significant” arrests in connection with the attack outside the British Parliament this week, as they sought to unravel the murky past of the 52-year-old assailant, who they said was born Adrian Russell Ajao.
Mark Rowley, assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said that a total of nine people were in custody and being questioned, as investigators tried to uncover the motives behind the attack by Mr. Ajao, who was identified on Thursday by another name he used, Khalid Masood. Mark Rowley, assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said that nine people were in custody and being questioned as part of hte investigation into the assailant, identified on Thursday by another name he used, Khalid Masood.
The assistant commissioner said the toll from the attack had risen to four with the death overnight of a 75-year-old man, Leslie Rhodes from Streatham, in South London. Mr. Rowley added that the victims, including at least 50 wounded, of whom 31 were hospitalized, had come from countries across the world. The assistant commissioner said the toll from the attack had risen to four with the death overnight of a 75-year-old man, Leslie Rhodes from Streatham, in South London. Mr. Rowley added that the victims, including at least 50 wounded, of whom 31 were hospitalized, had come from countries across the world, calling it a “pointed reminder” of the global reach of the attack.
Mr. Rowley said the police were focused on several questions regarding Mr. Masood, who had a criminal record but had never been convicted of terrorism: What led him to be radicalized? Had he acted alone, or had he received direction from an outside source? Mr. Rowley described the investigation as large and fast-paced, and said the police were focusing on several questions regarding Mr. Masood, who had a criminal record but had never been convicted of terrorism: What led him to be radicalized? Had he acted alone? Did he received direction from a source at home or overseas?
The assistant commissioner stressed that there was no evidence of further threats, adding that the counterterrorism operation was large and moving quickly, with hundreds of officers mobilized. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday, but the extent of the militant group’s connections to the attacker were unclear. Mr. Massood, who was widely identified in British news reports overnight by another name, Adrian Elms, threw the heart of the capital into chaos on Wednesday when he drove a sport utility vehicle into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before killing a police officer with a knife outside the Parliament complex.
The assistant commissioner emphasized that there was no evidence of further threats, adding that the counterterrorism operation was large and moving quickly, with hundreds of officers mobilized.
The police were searching five addresses, had concluded 16 searches and were sifting through 2,700 seized items, including huge amounts of computer data, as well as video footage taken by civilians who had been on Westminster Bridge at the time of the attack, Mr. Rowley said.The police were searching five addresses, had concluded 16 searches and were sifting through 2,700 seized items, including huge amounts of computer data, as well as video footage taken by civilians who had been on Westminster Bridge at the time of the attack, Mr. Rowley said.
One person was arrested overnight in the West Midlands, where several people had been detained earlier, and a second was taken into custody in the northwest. Anther individual was released.
The authorities did not immediately reveal information about Mr. Masood, and Mr. Rowley thanked the l news organizations that had delayed publishing details about him in order to give investigators more time to pursue leads.
At first glance, the police said, Mr. Masood, who was born on Dec. 25, 1964, in Kent, in southeastern England, appeared to share several characteristics with recent Islamist radicals who mounted attacks in Berlin and in Nice, France, using vehicles to mow people down.At first glance, the police said, Mr. Masood, who was born on Dec. 25, 1964, in Kent, in southeastern England, appeared to share several characteristics with recent Islamist radicals who mounted attacks in Berlin and in Nice, France, using vehicles to mow people down.
But they also pointed to striking differences, including his age: He was 52 years old, married, and known to his neighbors as a quiet man who was often seen mowing the lawn.But they also pointed to striking differences, including his age: He was 52 years old, married, and known to his neighbors as a quiet man who was often seen mowing the lawn.
Mr. Rowley reiterated the comments from Prime Minister Theresa May that the authorities had viewed Mr. Masood as a “peripheral figure” and that he had not been part of the general intelligence picture.Mr. Rowley reiterated the comments from Prime Minister Theresa May that the authorities had viewed Mr. Masood as a “peripheral figure” and that he had not been part of the general intelligence picture.
In Britain, MI5, the domestic security service, has more than 3,000 subjects of interest and only the most serious cases are closely monitored as potential terror threats. News reports said that Mr. Masood had not been one of those subjects.In Britain, MI5, the domestic security service, has more than 3,000 subjects of interest and only the most serious cases are closely monitored as potential terror threats. News reports said that Mr. Masood had not been one of those subjects.
Mr. Rowley stressed several times that the police were appealing to the public for information about Mr. Masood, saying officers wanted to shed more light on his past and who his associates were.Mr. Rowley stressed several times that the police were appealing to the public for information about Mr. Masood, saying officers wanted to shed more light on his past and who his associates were.
Amid calls by members of Parliament to bolster security outside the houses of Parliament, Mr. Rowley said that the police were reviewing measures to balance safety concerns with the desire to maintain access to the center of Britain’s democracy.Amid calls by members of Parliament to bolster security outside the houses of Parliament, Mr. Rowley said that the police were reviewing measures to balance safety concerns with the desire to maintain access to the center of Britain’s democracy.
Mr. Rowley said that the number of armed officers in London would be nearly doubled, and that they their presence would also be significantly increased elsewhere in the country.
A vigil was held Thursday night in Trafalgar Square, not far from the scene of the attacks, and Mr. Rowley said it had sent a message that Britain would not give in to hate and fear.
“The very fact that London has gone back to work today shows they failed,” he said.