London: ISIS Claims Attack, Number Injured Rises, Suspect Identified
[UPDATE: March 23, 2017 8:30 a.m. CT]
Police are still investigating the deadliest terrorist attack on London in 12 years that claimed the lives of four people (including the suspect) and injured more than 40. They've arrested eight people in raids around Britain, as an ISIS-affiliated news agency claimed that the extremist group was behind the outrage.
Prime Minister Theresa May revealed that the suspect, who died from police gunfire, was British born and once linked to violent extremism. May said the suspect had been investigated by security services but was regarded as a "peripheral figure." Authorities did not know he was planning to attack Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament.
A tweet from an ISIS-affiliated news agency said the attacker was a "soldier" of ISIS inspired by its message. However, there is no evidence to show the suspect had communication directly to ISIS.
Latest developments:
- Injured include 10 nationalities beside the British, among them French, South Korean and American.
- Seven people being treated are in critical condition.
- The House of Commons reopened after lawmakers remembered in silence the victims of the attack.
- Police are more than certain that the attacker carried out the attack on his own.
[UPDATE: March 22, 2017 1:15 p.m. CT]
London police have confirmed 20 people were injured and 4 people were killed in the attack on London.
The police officer who was stabbed and the suspected attackers were among those dead.
[UPDATE: March 22, 2017 12:45 p.m. CT]
Reports confirm that at least two people have been killed in the attack on Westminster Bridge that ended in Parliament Square while Parliament was in session following Prime Minister Theresa May's weekly questioning.
London police say they arrived on the scene within six minutes after they received reports of a woman in the water, a car crash into pedestrians and a knife attack in Parliament Square.
The London Ambulance twitter account confirmed they had treated at least 10 people who had been injured on or near the bridge in what police are calling a terrorist attack until they learn otherwise.
Reports also confirm that one woman and a the police officer that had been stabbed in Parliament Square had died as a result of their injuries.
Original story below.
A police officer has been stabbed and a suspected assailant shot outside the Houses of Parliament, shortly after a car reportedly rammed into pedestrians on the Westminster Bridge.
At least two gun shots were heard by those inside the Westminster, and proceedings in the House of Commons were suspended as police deal with the "serious" security incident.
The deputy speaker of the Commons, David Lidington, announced the suspension of the House, saying a police officer had been stabbed and the "alleged assailant shot by armed police."
Police were called at approximately 2:40 local time to reports of an incident on the bridge, according to London police. Many witnesses at the scene say they saw a car drive down the bridge hitting at least five people.
Police have not confirmed the amount of people injured, but many were carried to hospitals by emergency vehicles and a emergency helicopter could be seen.
The Houses of Parliament have been placed on lockdown and the Prime Minister Theresa May has been evacuated from the area. Parliament was in session at the time.
This is a developing story. Follow @1105Sydny for more updates.