Four people were killed and at least 20 injured in London yesterday after a car ploughed into pedestrians and an attacker stabbed a policeman close to the British parliament in what police called a “marauding terrorist attack”.
The dead included the assailant and the policeman he stabbed, while the other two victims were among those hit by the car as it tore along Westminster Bridge before crashing into railings just outside parliament.
“We’ve declared this as a terrorist incident and the counter-terrorism command are carrying out a full-scale investigation into the events today,” Mark Rowley, Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism officer, told reporters.
“The attack started when a car was driven over Westminster Bridge, hitting and injuring a number of members of the public, also including three police officers.
“A car then crashed near to parliament and at least one man, armed with a knife, continued the attack and tried to enter parliament,” Rowley said.
Reuters reporters inside parliament during the attack heard loud bangs and shortly afterwards saw the knifeman and the stabbed policeman lying on the ground in a courtyard within the gates of parliament.
A Reuters photographer saw at least a dozen people injured on the bridge.
His photographs showed people lying on the ground, some of them bleeding heavily and one under a bus.
A woman was pulled alive, but with serious injuries, from the Thames, the Port of London Authority said.
Three French schoolchildren aged 15 or 16 were among those injured in the attack, French officials said.
Several members of parliament (MPs) and senior officials were caught up in the chaos.
Tobias Ellwood, a junior Foreign Office minister, was pictured attempting to resuscitate a man lying unconscious, reported to be the stabbed policeman.
Prime Minister Theresa May chaired a meeting of the government’s crisis response committee.
“The thoughts of the PM and the government are with those killed and injured in this appalling incident, and with their families,” her office said in a statement.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said there would be additional police officers on the city streets to keep Londoners and visitors safe.
“We stand together in the face of those who seek to harm us and destroy our way of life. We always have, and we always will. Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism,” he said.
Parliament’s lower House of Commons, which was in session at the time, was suspended.
In a telephone call with May, President Donald Trump offered Britain the full co-operation and support of the United States, the White House said.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson condemned the attack as “horrific acts of violence”.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg were among foreign leaders who expressed shock and solidarity.
Qatar condemns UK parliament attack
Qatar condemned yesterday the attack which took place near the Houses of Parliament and led to the death of two and a number of others suffering injuries. The Foreign Ministry released a statement yesterday stressing Qatar’s rejection of violence in all its forms regardless of its motives as well as all criminal acts that contradict with humanitarian principles and international law. The statement also stressed Qatar’s support to the UK government in all the measures it takes to maintain the country’s security. It offered condolences to the families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
British police officers stand on duty outside the Carriage Gates entrance of the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday.
