Defiant PM: ‘Terror doomed to fail’ as Parliament death toll rises to five
THE PRIME Minister has vowed to defeat what she called “the forces of evil” after five people, including a police officer, were killed when a knifeman brought terror to the heart of Westminster.
The attacker, armed with two large knives, mowed down pedestrians with his car on Westminster Bridge, including schoolchildren, then rushed at the gates in front of the Houses of Parliament, stabbing the policeman before being shot dead by other officers.
Mrs May, who was in Parliament at the time of the attack, praised the bravery of police officers who killed the attacker as he sought another victim.
And she said that any attempt to defeat the values that Parliament stands for was “doomed to failure”.
The five dead included the police officer, the knifeman and two people who were killed on the bridge as the terrorist sped toward Parliament.
At least 20 other people were hurt, with some said to have suffered “catastrophic” injuries.
But last night Mrs May insisted both the House of Commons and the House of Lords would sit today as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan said extra armed police will be on the streets of the capital today as he vowed that “Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism”.
The London Mayor said his thoughts were with the family of the Metropolitan Police officer who died “doing his duty protecting our city”. The mayor stressed that London remained one of the safest cities in the world and praised citizens and emergen- cy services for the “tremendous bravery” they had shown.
Earlier eyewitnesses described scenes of terror when gunfire rang out as the knifeman attacked.
Scotland Yard’s top anti-terror officer Mark Rowley told reporters outside New Scotland Yard, close to the scene of the attack: “This was a day we’ve planned for but hoped would never happen. Sadly it is now a reality.”
Paramedics fought to save the officer’s life and that of his attacker on the floor of the cobbled courtyard in front of Parliament, with Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood among those who rushed to help.
Mr Ellwood, who lost his brother in the Bali bombing, could be seen pumping the officer’s chest then standing above him, his hands and face smeared with blood.
One woman hit by the attacker’s car before he reached Parliament was confirmed dead by a doctor at St Thomas’ Hospital. She said others on the bridge suffered “catastrophic injuries”. Another woman who fell into the Thames was rescued.
More than 50 children from Luddendenfoot Academy, Siddal Primary School, Field Lane Junior and Infant School, and Cliffe Hill Community Primary School were on a trip to the capital. The Luddendenfoot pupils were in the Houses of Parliament at the time of the attack but all are safe.
“We will all move forward together, never giving in to terror and never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart.” – PRIME MINISTER, THERESA MAY