24 Mar 2017

London attacks: 'We are not afraid', PM says

12:26 am on 24 March 2017

British Prime Minister Theresa May has told MPs at their first meeting since the London terror attacks that democracy "will always prevail".

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Photo: AFP

"We are not afraid and our resolve will never waiver in the face of terrorism," she said.

In the attack on Wednesday UK time, a man drove a car into people on Westminster Bridge, injuring dozens of pedestrians, before reaching the Houses of Parliament.

There, the man got out and stabbed police officer Keith Palmer and was shot. Both Mr Palmer and the attacker died at the scene.

At least 40 others were injured - seven of whom were in a critical condition.

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

Aysha Frade, a college worker, died after being struck on Westminster Bridge.

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

After the attacks, Mrs May said Parliament would meet as normal the next day to show it would not disrupt British democracy or normal life in the capital.

Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood, who gave first aid to killed policeman Keith Palmer, was in the House of Commons to hear Mrs May.

"We meet here ... because we know that democracy, and the values it entails, will always prevail," Mrs May said.

"A terrorist came ... and he took out his rage indiscriminately against innocent men, women and children.

"This was an attack on free people everywhere."

Mrs May thanked allies around the world who stood with Britain.

The Pope has also offered his sympathy.

Attacker known to MI5

Earlier, Ms May said the attacker was previously known to MI5.

Mrs May said the man "acted alone" and there was no reason to believe there would be imminent further attacks.

The attacker was British born and was investigated by MI5 "some years ago", she said.

Mrs May said he was not part of the current intelligence picture.

The prime minister said the UK's threat level was set at severe and would not change after the attacks.

She paid tribute to Mr Palmer, who was stabbed to death in the attack, saying he "was every inch a hero".

Eight arrested in raids

British police earlier made eight arrests after six searches, in Birmingham and other parts of the country.

Acting Deputy Commissioner and Head of Counter Terrorism Mark Rowley speaks to media after arrests relating to the Westminster terror attack were made.

Acting Deputy Commissioner and Head of Counter Terrorism Mark Rowley speaks to media after arrests relating to the attack were made. Photo: AFP

Acting Deputy Commissioner and Head of Counter Terrorism Mark Rowley told media hundreds of detectives had worked through the night, carrying out searches at six addresses.

"It is still our belief ... that this attacker acted alone and was inspired by international terrorism. At this stage we have no specific information about further threats to the public," he said.

Mr Rowley corrected earlier statements that three civilians had died, saying the two killed, other than the assailant and the officer, were of mixed nationalities and were a woman in her 40s and a man in his 50s.

He said 29 people were still being treated in hospital, seven of whom were in a critical condition.

Police believe they know the identity of the attacker, but have not yet named him.

The car used in the attacks was from Enterprise car hire.

- BBC / Reuters

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