Acts of terrorism will be defeated, crowd told

Defiance and quiet dignity were shown at a vigil to the victims of the Westminster attack at which the crowd was told the “evil and twisted acts of terrorism will be defeated”.

Faith leaders, residents, tourists, police and politicians gathered at the candlelit vigil in Trafalgar Square, which was led by Mayor Sadiq Khan.

He told the packed venue: “Those evil and twisted individuals who tried to destroy our shared way of life will never succeed and we condemn them.”

Home Secretary Amber Rudd paid tribute to Constable Keith Palmer, stabbed to death by the Westminster attacker, saying: “He was courageous, he was brave and he was doing his duty.”

Drawing applause from the crowd, she said of the attack: “They will not win, we are all connected and we showed that today by coming together, by going to work, by getting about our normal business, because the terrorists will not defeat us, we will defeat them.”

Candles were lit and a minute’s silence was observed for the victims who died in the attack.

Crowds had gathered after Mr Khan had called them to “come together in solidarity to remember those who have lost their lives, to express sympathy with their families and loved ones and to show the world that we are more committed than ever to the values that we hold dear”.

Another 40 people were injured in the attack, with 29 treated in hospital, where four remained in a critical condition last night.

The casualties included 12 Britons, three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, two Greeks and one each from Germany, Poland, Ireland, China, Italy and the United States.

Three police officers were also hurt, two of them seriously.