SPAIN STANDS WITH LONDON
Spanish government and town halls’ solidarity with UK following the London jihadist attack
PRIME Minister Mariano Rajoy has sent a telegram to his British counterpart Theresa May expressing his support for the UK in the wake of the attack outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday.
At the same time Sr Rajoy highlighted the need for a united front against terrorism in Europe as it ‘affects all of us and knows no borders’.
He condemned the actions of the lone attacker as an ‘abominable act of terrorism’.
“It reminds us that we have to face up to complex challenges for the security of our peoples,” he told Mrs May.
“We have to remain united against these threats.”
He said the UK could count on the full support of Spain in these difficult moments.
Minute’s silences were held around the country for the victims. Benidorm town hall was one of the first to do so at midday yesterday (Thursday).
As Costa Blanca News went to press, eight arrests had been made during raids in London, Birmingham and elsewhere following the Westminster attack that left four dead.
Hundreds of detectives had worked through the night, carrying out searches at six addresses, Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley said.
Seven of the injured are still in hospital in a critical condition.
In the attack on Wednesday afternoon, a man drove a car along a pavement on Westminster Bridge knocking down pedestrians and leaving dozens injured.
He then ran towards Parliament where he stabbed a police officer who was unarmed.
Armed police then shot dead the attacker in the grounds.
Mr Rowley 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.
"To be explicit, at this stage we have no specific information about further threats to the public."
He said Londoners should expect to see more police officers on the streets, after officers' leave had been cancelled and duty hours extended.
PM Theresa May told Parliament yesterday the attacker was British born and was investigated by MI5 ‘some years ago’.
Mrs May said he was not part of the current intelligence picture.
The prime minister said the UK’s threat level is set at severe and will not change following Wednesday’s attacks.