TERROR IN LONDON
Maniac kills four in car & knife rampage at Houses of Parliament
A CRAZED maniac brought terror to the streets of London yesterday, killing four people, including a police officer, and leaving 20 seriously injured. The bearded attacker, suspected of being inspired by Islamic State, mowed down pedestrians in a Hyundai 4x4 on Westminster Bridge before crashing into railings outside the Houses of Parliament. Armed with two knives, he ran through the gates and stabbed a policeman to death before being shot dead by another officer – on the first anniversary of the Brussells massacre. The man, described as middle-aged and of North African appearance, died in hospital after receiving CPR at the scene. The injured included schoolchildren, three police officers and a woman rescued from the Thames. UK Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood battled in vain to save the fallen policeman, who was not armed. Witness Rick Longley told how he was walking past the Parliament buildings when he heard a “loud bang”. He said: “A guy, someone, crashed a car and took some pedestrians out. “They were just lying there and then the whole crowd just surged around the corner by the gates opposite Big Ben. A guy came past my right shoulder with a big knife and just started plunging it into the policeman. I just can’t believe what I just saw.” The Palace of Westminster was put in lockdown after the attack at around 2.40pm. Hundreds of MPS applauded staff and police as they were evacuated just before 8pm. Last night 10 of the injured were being treated at King’s College Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital. One was in a “critical” condition while the others were stable. A doctor at St Thomas’ said one of the dead was a woman while some victims had “catastrophic” injuries. Three French students from St Joseph high school in Corcarneau, Brittany, were among those injured. Police and MI5 were last night investigating the attacker’s background. Mark Rowley, the Met’s top anti-terror officer, said the probe had the “full weight and expertise of the Counter Terrorism Command” behind it. British Prime Minister Theresa May vowed “violence and terror” would never be allowed to divide the nation, describing the attack as “sick and depraved”. She added: “Tomorrow morning, Parliament will meet as normal. “And we will all move forward together, never giving in to terror and never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart.” In Ireland Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said: “I unreservedly condemn the attack outside the Houses of Parliament at Westminster. I deplore the loss of life, and note that the casualties include a police officer killed in the line of duty. “I wish to extend my condolences and on behalf of my Government, my support to the people of London and the UK. Terror and violence will never triumph over democracy.” Fianna Fail’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson Darragh O’brien added: “These acts of violence are intended as an attack on democratic values. “Exactly 12 months to the day since 35 people were killed in the Brussels airport attacks, today’s events are an terrible reminder of how very real the challenge is to protect citizens while respecting human rights and protecting basic freedoms.”
Tomorrow morning Parliament will meet as normal. We will all move forward together, never giving in to terror and never allowing voices of hate and evil to drive us apart – THERESA MAY LAST NIGHT