British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday condemned the attack in central London that left five people dead and more than 40 others injured. The attacker, who tried to enter the Parliament building was eventually shot dead by security forces, though he managed to kill and injure several people when he drove a car along a pavement over Westminster Bridge.
He also stabbed and killed an unarmed police officer who tried to confront him near Parliament, reported BBC. The injured include several French schoolchildren and students.
Investigators said they have identified the attacker, though they have yet to reveal details about him. The attacker was inspired by “international and Islamist-related terrorism”, said Metropolitan Police chief, counter-terrorism, Mark Rowley, reported The Guardian.
May condemned the incident and called it “sick and depraved”. She said the attack struck at values of liberty, democracy and freedom of speech. “The location of this attack was no accident,” she said. “The terrorist chose to strike at the heart of our capital city where people of all nationalities, religions and cultures come together to celebrate the values of liberty, democracy and freedom of speech.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: ”My message to those that want to harm us and destroy our way of life is: You won’t succeed; you won’t divide us; we won’t be cowed by terrorists.”
The British government has decided to heighten security in the country by deploying more armed and unarmed officers, especially in London, as a “precautionary measure”. The Westminster underground station was shut after the incident. It opened later, though for interchange purposes only.
The police said the attack started around 14.40 GMT. The man first killed at least two people on the bridge when he ran them over with his Hyundai 4x4 car before crashing it against the railing. He then headed towards the Houses of Parliament, where he killed a policeman.
Wednesday’s attack in London is similar to several others carried out in other European cities by the Islamic State group. On December 20, at least 12 people had been killed and several others injured after a man drove a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin. In July 2016, a truck driver had driven into a crowded street in France’s Nice, killing 84 people on Bastille Day. Both attacks were claimed by the West Asian militant group.
Important numbers:
Police casualty bureau: 0800 056 0944 or 0207 158 0010.
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