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| In London Attack Inquiry, Police Make ‘Significant’ Arrests | In London Attack Inquiry, Police Make ‘Significant’ Arrests |
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| 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. | 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 nine people were in custody and being questioned as part of the investigation into the assailant, 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 the investigation into the assailant, who was identified on Thursday by another name he used, Khalid Masood. |
| Mr. Rowley said the toll of fatalities from the attack had risen to four with the death overnight of Leslie Rhodes, 75, from the Streatham area of South London. The victims included at least 50 wounded and came from around the world, a “pointed reminder” Mr. Rowley said, of the global reach of the assault. | Mr. Rowley said the toll of fatalities from the attack had risen to four with the death overnight of Leslie Rhodes, 75, from the Streatham area of South London. The victims included at least 50 wounded and came from around the world, a “pointed reminder” Mr. Rowley said, of the global reach of the assault. |
| As a portrait began to emerge of Mr. Masood as a man who fluctuated between violence and a seemingly prosaic family life, Mr. Rowley said the police were focusing on several questions regarding the assailant, who had never been convicted of terrorism: What led him to be radicalized? Had he acted alone? Did he receive direction from a source at home or overseas? | As a portrait began to emerge of Mr. Masood as a man who fluctuated between violence and a seemingly prosaic family life, Mr. Rowley said the police were focusing on several questions regarding the assailant, who had never been convicted of terrorism: What led him to be radicalized? Had he acted alone? Did he receive direction from a source at home or overseas? |
| On Thursday, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, but the extent of the militant group’s connections to the assailant were unclear. Mr. Masood, who was widely identified in British news reports late Thursday 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 and then killed a police officer with a knife outside the Parliament complex. | On Thursday, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, but the extent of the militant group’s connections to the assailant were unclear. Mr. Masood, who was widely identified in British news reports late Thursday 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 and then killed a police officer with a knife outside the Parliament complex. |
| Mr. Rowley emphasized that there was no evidence of further security threats, adding that the counterterrorism operation was large and moving quickly, with hundreds of officers mobilized. | Mr. Rowley emphasized that there was no evidence of further security 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, and video footage taken by passers-by 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, and video footage taken by passers-by on Westminster Bridge at the time of the attack, Mr. Rowley said. |
| One person was arrested overnight in the West Midlands region of England, where several people had been detained earlier, and a second was taken into custody in the northwest of the country, he said. Another individual was released. | One person was arrested overnight in the West Midlands region of England, where several people had been detained earlier, and a second was taken into custody in the northwest of the country, he said. Another individual was released. |
| The authorities had held off releasing information about Mr. Masood, and Mr. Rowley thanked the news organizations that had delayed publishing details about the assailant in order to give investigators more time to pursue leads. | The authorities had held off releasing information about Mr. Masood, and Mr. Rowley thanked the news organizations that had delayed publishing details about the assailant 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 the Kent area of southeastern England, appeared to share several characteristics with recent Islamist radicals who staged 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 the Kent area of southeastern England, appeared to share several characteristics with recent Islamist radicals who staged attacks in Berlin and in Nice, France, using vehicles to mow people down. |
| But they also pointed to striking differences, including his age and profile: He was 52, married, and known to his neighbors as a quiet man who often mowed the lawn. | But they also pointed to striking differences, including his age and profile: He was 52, married, and known to his neighbors as a quiet man who often mowed the lawn. |
| In an interview with Sky News, Sabeur Toumi, who was identified as the owner of the Preston Park Hotel in Brighton, said that Mr. Masood had spent his final night at the establishment, staying in room 228. Mr. Toumi described Mr. Masood as a returning guest who was “very friendly, laughing and joking.” | In an interview with Sky News, Sabeur Toumi, who was identified as the owner of the Preston Park Hotel in Brighton, said that Mr. Masood had spent his final night at the establishment, staying in room 228. Mr. Toumi described Mr. Masood as a returning guest who was “very friendly, laughing and joking.” |
| “My staff is very upset at the moment,” Mr. Toumi said, adding that it was difficult these days to distinguish between “the bad ones and the good ones.” | |
| At different times in his life, Mr. Masood had been both. In 2000, a judge sentenced him, then 35 and known as Adrian Elms, to nearly three years in prison after he slashed a cafe owner in the face. | At different times in his life, Mr. Masood had been both. In 2000, a judge sentenced him, then 35 and known as Adrian Elms, to nearly three years in prison after he slashed a cafe owner in the face. |
| According to local reports at the time, Mr. Masood, who was living in Northiam, a village in southeastern England, left his victim, Piers Mott, with a three-inch gash on his left cheek that required 20 stitches. Mr. Masood was black, and during the trial at Hove Crown Court, the argument was characterized as racially tinged. | According to local reports at the time, Mr. Masood, who was living in Northiam, a village in southeastern England, left his victim, Piers Mott, with a three-inch gash on his left cheek that required 20 stitches. Mr. Masood was black, and during the trial at Hove Crown Court, the argument was characterized as racially tinged. |
| A report in The Argus, a local paper based in the nearby city of Brighton, said that after a fight with Mr. Mott at a bar one Sunday afternoon, Mr. Masood lost his temper and slashed the seats of Mr. Mott’s car. | A report in The Argus, a local paper based in the nearby city of Brighton, said that after a fight with Mr. Mott at a bar one Sunday afternoon, Mr. Masood lost his temper and slashed the seats of Mr. Mott’s car. |
| When Mr. Mott arrived, Mr. Masood cut the cafe owner’s face with a knife that he had been using in the course of decorating his daughter’s bedroom. Blood gushed from Mr. Mott’s face, and he was hospitalized. | |
| Prosecutors told the court that Mr. Masood had four pints of beer before that attack, and had waved his knife and shouted abuse during the assault. | Prosecutors told the court that Mr. Masood had four pints of beer before that attack, and had waved his knife and shouted abuse during the assault. |
| His defense lawyer, Alexander Taylor-Camara, told the court that Mr. Masood had become an outcast in the community in East Sussex after the brawl. | His defense lawyer, Alexander Taylor-Camara, told the court that Mr. Masood had become an outcast in the community in East Sussex after the brawl. |
| “When the defendant moved to the area, it was to try and give his family and himself a better and more tranquil way of life,” Mr. Taylor-Camara was quoted by The Argus as saying. “The majority of people seemed to get on well with them, but there was a problem with this man. Things got out of hand on this particular day.” | “When the defendant moved to the area, it was to try and give his family and himself a better and more tranquil way of life,” Mr. Taylor-Camara was quoted by The Argus as saying. “The majority of people seemed to get on well with them, but there was a problem with this man. Things got out of hand on this particular day.” |
| The lawyer added at the time: “His wife and family have now become ostracized in the village. He will effectively have to move his family from the village and start to live his life all over again.” | The lawyer added at the time: “His wife and family have now become ostracized in the village. He will effectively have to move his family from the village and start to live his life all over again.” |
| The judge sentenced Mr. Masood to two years in prison for wounding Mr. Mott and to nine months for criminal damage. During the sentencing, he acknowledged that Mr. Masood had tried to better himself by obtaining a university degree and creating a successful business, but said he had no option but to impose jail terms. | The judge sentenced Mr. Masood to two years in prison for wounding Mr. Mott and to nine months for criminal damage. During the sentencing, he acknowledged that Mr. Masood had tried to better himself by obtaining a university degree and creating a successful business, but said he had no option but to impose jail terms. |
| “The reality is that you lost your temper and went beyond the bounds of what is reasonable,” the judge said. | “The reality is that you lost your temper and went beyond the bounds of what is reasonable,” the judge said. |
| On Friday, Mr. Rowley, the assistant commissioner, reiterated comments from Prime Minister Theresa May, saying that the authorities had viewed Mr. Masood as a “peripheral figure” and that he had not been part of the general intelligence picture. | On Friday, Mr. Rowley, the assistant commissioner, reiterated comments from Prime Minister Theresa May, saying 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 terrorist 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 terrorist threats. News reports said that Mr. Masood had not been one of those subjects. |
| Mr. Rowley emphasized 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 on his associates. | Mr. Rowley emphasized 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 on his associates. |
| Some lawmakers called for stronger security outside the Houses of Parliament, considering that the lightly armed attacker had managed to penetrate the perimeter of the complex, pass through a main gateway and kill a police officer. 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. | Some lawmakers called for stronger security outside the Houses of Parliament, considering that the lightly armed attacker had managed to penetrate the perimeter of the complex, pass through a main gateway and kill a police officer. 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 the police presence would also be significantly increased elsewhere in the country. | Mr. Rowley said that the number of armed officers in London would be nearly doubled, and that the police presence would also be significantly increased elsewhere in the country. |
| The tabloid The Sun published video footage of the moment Mrs. May was rushed from the building, and said it showed the prime minister briefly losing her bearings and walking the wrong way as her security detail guided her. | The tabloid The Sun published video footage of the moment Mrs. May was rushed from the building, and said it showed the prime minister briefly losing her bearings and walking the wrong way as her security detail guided her. |
| There is a growing debate about the role of social media companies in disseminating material that could be used for radicalization, with the British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, arguing that more could be done by internet service providers and online platforms to prevent the spread of such material. | There is a growing debate about the role of social media companies in disseminating material that could be used for radicalization, with the British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, arguing that more could be done by internet service providers and online platforms to prevent the spread of such material. |
| Thousands attended a vigil Thursday night in Trafalgar Square, not far from the scene of the attack, and Mr. Rowley said it had sent a message that Britain would not give in to hate and fear. | Thousands attended a vigil Thursday night in Trafalgar Square, not far from the scene of the attack, 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, referring to terrorists’ efforts. | “The very fact that London has gone back to work today shows they failed,” he said, referring to terrorists’ efforts. |