IS claims UK parliament attack
EIGHT ARRESTS Raids held at addresses in London and Birmingham, from where car used in assault was reportedly hired
The so-called Islamic State on Thursday claimed responsibility for the terror attack in the Westminster village on Wednesday that left four dead, 29 injured, and the heart of Britain’s political establishment shocked but determined to “keep calm and carry on”.
Amaq, the news agency used by IS to broadcast propaganda, said the group was responsible for the attack that included the attacker ploughing a car through people on the Westminster Bridge and later trying to enter the houses of parliament.
It called the as yet unidentified attacker “a soldier of Islamic State”, as Prime Minister Theresa May informed the House of Commons that he was known to intelligence services, was born in Britain, and had been investigated some years ago by MI5 in relation to terrorism.
She called him a “peripheral figure” who was not on the radar in recent times. May also revealed that eight people had been arrested in overnight raids in London and Birmingham. Some reports said the car used by the attacker was hired in Birmingham, where raids were carried out, besides at some addresses in London.
MPs paid moving tributes to police officer Keith Palmer, who died after being stabbed several times by the attacker, as May said the threat level from international terrorism will remain at the second-highest level of ‘severe’.
She confirmed that the attack was related to Islamist terrorism: “Our working assumption is that the attacker was inspired by Islamist ideology. We know the threat from Islamist terrorism is very real. But while the public should remain utterly vigilant they should not and will not be cowed by this threat”.
The large number of tourists who usually throng the picturesque Westminster Bridge was reflected in the nationalities of those injured. May said those injured included 12 Britons, three French, two Romanians, four South Koreans, one German, one Chinese, one Irish, one Italian, one American and two Greeks. May, MPs and others paid tributes to Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood, who was called a “hero” for trying his best to save the life of Palmer.
Striking a defiant note on London and Britain returning to normal, May said: “But the greatest response lies not in the words of politicians, but in the everyday actions of ordinary people .... The streets are as busy as ever.The offices full. The coffee shops and cafes bustling.As I speak millions will be boarding trains and aeroplanes to travel to London, and to see for themselves the greatest city on Earth.It is in these actions – millions of acts of normality – that we find the best response to terrorism”.
The Union Jack flew at half -mast, some roads around the Westminster village remained closed, but the humdrum of everyday life quickly returned in most of London on Thursday as parliament sent out a message of defiance against terrorism.
London mayor Sadiq Khan announced a vigil at Trafalgar Square on Thursday. Just before 8.10 pm (IST), reports said a car on the bridge had knocked several people down
The car crashed into the fencing surrounding the Parliament
A policeman was stabbed and the attacker was shot Parliament was put in lockdown, lawmakers were told to remain indoors