London attacker ‘acted alone’
Known to intelligence agencies, but a peripheral figure
THE LONE attacker who carried out a deadly rampage in central London was a British-born man once investigated for possible extremist links, but was “not part of the current intelligence picture”, British Prime Minister Theresa May said yesterday.
May didn’t name the suspect, who left three people dead – two mowed down by his SUV on the Westminster Bridge and a police officer stabbed outside Parliament – before he was fatally shot.
But May offered new details about his past scrutiny by authorities, who described Wednesday’s attacks as “inspired by international terrorism” but probably waged by the suspect alone.
In a statement to the House of Commons, May said that the assailant had been born in Britain and was once investigated by security services “in relation to concerns about violent extremism”.
“He was a peripheral figure,” she added. “The case was historic. He was not part of the current intelligence picture. There was no prior intelligence of his intent, or of the plot. Intensive investigations continue.”
Meanwhile, police held at least eight people in sweeps in London and Birmingham linked to the investigation. Mark Rowley, the acting deputy police commissioner, said: “It is still our belief, which continues to be borne out by our investigation, that this attacker acted alone and was inspired by international terrorism.”
Speaking outside the Scotland Yard headquarters, Rowley said that four people had died, including two members of the public, a police officer, and the attacker.
Yesterday, the police said that five people had died, but have since revised that figure down.
He also said that 29 people were being treated in hospital, with seven in critical condition.
“At this stage, we have no specific information about further threats to the public,” he said.
A minute’s silence was observed in Parliament, Scotland Yard and London’s City Hall to remember the lives lost in the attack at 9.33am, in honour of slain police officer Keith Palmer’s shoulder number, 933, on his uniform.
Queen Elizabeth, who was due to open the new Scotland Yard building today but postponed it in light of the events, said that her “thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathy are with all those who have been affected by yesterday’s awful violence”.