Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
More arrests after attack in London
TWO more “significant arrests” have been made in connection with the Westminster attack, police have said.
Scotland Yard’s top anti-terror officer Mark Rowley said the suspects were held overnight in the West Midlands and north west as he revealed that the killer’s birth name was Adrian Russell Ajao.
Mr Rowley said nine people now remained in custody.
He appealed to the public for information about the killer, who was also known as Adrian Elms but was using the name Khalid Masood at the time of the attack.
The officer also revealed that the fourth member of the public injured in the attack, who died in hospital last night, was 75-year-old Leslie Rhodes from Streatham, south London.
Mr Rowley said two people remain in hospital in a critical condition, one with a life-threatening injuries.Two police officers injured in the attack are also in hospital with “significant injuries”.
Mr Rowley said: “We remain keen to hear from anyone who knew Khalid Masood well, understands who his associates were and can provide us with information about places he has recently visited.”
Asked about where Muslim convert Masood, 52, had been radicalised, Mr Rowley said: “As I have said our i nvestigation focuses on understanding his motivation, preparation and associates.
“Whilst there is no evidence of further threats you will understand our determination to find out if he either; acted totally alone, inspired by terrorist propaganda; or, if others have encouraged, supported or directed him.
“To that end in our continuing investigation and ongoing covert activity we have made further significant arrests overnight — in the West Midlands and north west.”
Detectives have seized 2,700 items from the searches, including “massive amounts of computer data”.
He said officers had spoken to around 3,500 witnesses — including 1,000 who were on Westminster Bridge and around 2,500 who were in Parliament.
Asked whether Masood had travelled overseas, Mr Rowley said: “We are looking at his history”.
But he reiterated Prime Minister Theresa May’s comments in Parliament that while he had been investigated previously he had been a “peripheral figure” not implicated in any current probe.