ATTACK SUSPECT WAS BRITISH MAN FROM SUDAN

LONDON A driver arrested on suspicion of using his car to carry out a terrorist attack outside the Houses of Parliament was identified Wednesday as Salih Khater, a British citizen who immigrated to England from Sudan.

Police say the 29-year-old drove a vehicle down from Birmingham, where he lived, to London early Tuesday. Images of his car were captured on surveillance video before it sideswiped victims and rammed into a barrier outside the Palace of Westminster during the morning commute.

Authorities said that Khater was not known to police or counterterrorism units and was not on a watch list.

Police said “the priority of the investigation team continues to be to understand the motivation behind this incident.” Teams have searched addresses in Birmingham and Nottingham, confiscating computer equipment and interviewing residents.

Khater’s social media accounts suggested that he enjoyed soccer and liked Sudanese and Western music, including Celine Dion.

Khater was held on “suspicion of terrorist offences” and also charged with attempted murder.

“Given that this appears to be a deliberate act, the method and this being an iconic site, we are treating it as a terrorist incident, and the investigation is being led by officers from the Counter Terrorism Command,” said Neil Basu, police assistant commissioner.