ISIL claims responsibility for attack by its ‘ soldier’

British man had lengthy record but not for terrorism

A British man described by the Islamic State as one of its soldiers was named by police Thursday as the terrorist who unleashed a one- man wave of murder and mayhem on the city’s famous Westminster Bridge and Parliament square, killing four and injuring dozens.

Khalid Masood, 52, has a lengthy rap sheet but no known terror convictions, police announced. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS, claimed responsibility for the attack, calling Masood its “soldier.”

An American tourist was among the fatalities in Wednesday’s carnage, his family said Thursday.

Eight people were arrested on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts, and police said the investigation was continuing. Masood, shot to death by officers at the scene, had a “range” of previous convictions for assault, possession of offensive weapons and other offenses, London Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

“Masood was not the subject of any current investigations and there was no prior intelligence about his intent to mount a terrorist attack.”

Masood plowed his car into a crowd on the iconic Westminster Bridge before ramming his vehicle into a gate outside Parliament and fatally stabbing a police officer, authorities said.

Before Masood was publicly identified, Prime Minister Theresa May said the attacker was British- born and known to security officers. She said the man had been investigated by MI5, the domestic security agency, “some years ago” regarding concerns about violent extremism.

“He was a peripheral figure. The case is historic — he was not part of the current intelligence picture,” she said, adding there was “no prior intelligence of his intent or of the plot.”

The prime minister said the best response to the attack was “millions of acts of normality. This country will not be cowed by these terrorists.”

May’s call was heeded. Tourists streamed across Westminster Bridge on Thursday, hours after it was reopened to pedestrians and traffic. Stuart Elliott, 62, and his wife, Vilma Elliott, 59, from Newcastle in northern England, were in London celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. They traveled to the British capital Thursday morning.

“We were shocked, definitely,” said Stuart Elliott, a gas technician. “But life just carries on.”

Hundreds of people gathered Thursday as dusk fell in Trafalgar Square in central London for a vigil to remember the victims.

Speakers included Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London. Many people lit candles.

Ken Hooper, 62, a retired police officer with Surrey Police, a county just south of London, wiped away tears following the ceremony.

“The whole thing is absolutely despicable,” he said. “I came here to pay my respects. We’ll go on for their sakes. ... We’ll all pull together and they won’t win.”

Chris Kay, 31, a seminars manager in the legal industry who works nearby, said when the attack happened, “the first thing that went through my mind is how is this city going to react. Hopefully it will bring everyone together and make us stronger.”

Mike Kelly, 63, a retired teacher, traveled from Kent for the vigil. “I came because when I heard the prime minister this morning say ‘ we are not afraid,’ I thought ‘ she’s quite right.’ ”

He said his son is a detective in the Metropolitan Police and is working on the investigation.

He applauded the emergency services for their response and said he would continue as normal.

“These people won’t prevail,” he said.