2017 Westminster attack | |
---|---|
Location | Westminster, London, United Kingdom |
Coordinates | 51°30′03″N 0°07′19″W / 51.50083°N 0.12194°W |
Date | 22 March 2017 c. 14:40 (GMT) |
Attack type | |
Weapons |
|
Deaths | 4 (2 civilians, 1 police officer and the perpetrator)[1] |
Injured | ~40 |
Perpetrator | 1 (deceased) |
On 22 March 2017 a terrorist attack occurred in England, on Westminster Bridge, in Parliament Square and within the grounds of the Palace of Westminster, in central London.[2] The attacker drove a vehicle into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and a crowd of people near the palace gates, then fatally stabbed a police officer. The attacker was then shot by other officers. Four people—including two pedestrians on the bridge, the stabbed police officer and the assailant—were confirmed dead.[3][4][5]
In response to the attacks, the UK Parliament and the devolved National Assemblies in Scotland and Wales suspended proceedings. International reactions were swift in condemning the attacks and expressing sympathy and support for the victims.
Attack
At around 14:40 GMT on 22 March 2017, a grey Hyundai vehicle on Westminster Bridge was driven into pedestrians (including three police officers), causing multiple casualties.[6] One of the casualties, a woman, either jumped or fell over the railings on the side of the bridge into the River Thames below, sustaining severe injuries from the fall. The vehicle continued and crashed into railings outside the Houses of Parliament. The driver, a man wearing black clothes, exited the vehicle and entered the grounds of the nearby New Palace Yard, where he stabbed Keith Palmer, an unarmed police officer, with a knife. Two plainclothes officers shot the man several times;[7][8] despite attempts to resuscitate him, he died of his injuries at the scene.[9][10]
It was the first major attack to occur in London since the 7 July 2005 London bombings.[11]
Aftermath
The threat level for terrorism in the UK was already listed at "severe", meaning an attack was "highly likely".[12] Shortly after the incident, additional armed police arrived. An air ambulance from London HEMS attended the scene, and emergency services attempted to resuscitate the assailant who had been shot at least once on the left side of his chest.
After the incident, Parliament was suspended and MPs were locked into the Commons debating chamber as a precaution, and other Parliamentary staff were told to remain in their offices. In addition, all visitors to Parliament, including journalists and several school trips, were ordered to remain in the building as well. All were later evacuated to Westminster Abbey.[3] The Prime Minister, Theresa May, was quickly evacuated to 10 Downing Street.[3] The UK government's emergency Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBRA) committee met in response to the attack.[3][4][13][14][6]
At 23:00 on 22 March, West Midlands Police raided a flat in Birmingham. A witness claimed that it was the home of the perpetrator of the attack.[15] By the morning of 23 March, six addresses had been raided and seven people arrested.[1]
Victims
Nationality | Dead | Injured |
---|---|---|
British | 2 | unknown |
British/Spanish[16] | 1 | 0 |
South Korean | 0 | 5[17] |
French | 0 | 3[18] |
Italian | 0 | 2[19][20] |
Romanian | 0 | 2[17] |
Australian | 0 | 1[21] |
Chinese | 0 | 1[22] |
Portuguese | 0 | 1[23] |
Unknown | 1 | 26 |
Four people were killed as a result of the incident, as well as the perpetrator, and at least 40 people were injured.[6] Keith Palmer, 48, an on-duty police officer assigned to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection command, was stabbed and subsequently succumbed to his injuries.[3][24][25] Additionally, 12 people received serious injuries, some described as "catastrophic",[4] and eight others were treated for less serious injuries at the scene.[10] Injured members of the public were taken to St Thomas' Hospital, which is located immediately across Westminster Bridge in Lambeth, and to King's College Hospital, which declared a 'major incident' in its designated trauma centre, St Mary's Hospital, the Royal London Hospital and the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.[3][10] A woman with serious injuries, who was rescued from the River Thames,[3] is believed to have either fallen from the bridge or jumped off to evade the attacker.[3] A group of French students aged 15–16, from Concarneau in Brittany, were among those injured.[3][26] Others included three police officers who were returning from a commendation ceremony, two Romanian citizens, and four students from Edge Hill University in northern England.[3][10]
Attacker
Although some reports gave descriptions of two supposed attackers, the police confirmed that they believed that there was only one person involved.[3] A picture of the suspected attacker being treated by medics was shown in some news outlets.[27]
On 23 March, several people were arrested in connection with the attack.[16]
Reactions
The various reactions to the terrorist attack in London, both domestic and international, expressed shock and outrage, and it has been counted as an attack against liberty, freedom of speech, and democracy.[28][29]
Domestic
Downing Street issued a statement saying "The thoughts of the PM and the Government are with those killed in this appalling incident, and with their families". The PM was kept updated and chaired a meeting of the COBRA committee, later commenting in a statement at Downing Street "we will all move forward together. Never giving in to terror. And never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart." It was also confirmed that both the House of Commons and the House of Lords would resume their normal functions on 23 March.[30][9] The speakers of both Houses of Parliament issued a joint statement:[3]
An extremely serious incident has occurred in the Westminster area this afternoon. The Metropolitan Police is dealing with this and an investigation is underway. On behalf of Members of both Houses of Parliament, we wish to offer our thoughts to all those affected and their families. We would also like to express our gratitude to the police and all emergency services.
The Scottish Parliament suspended the day's proceedings, including a debate on a second independence referendum, because the incident was affecting the contributions of MSPs.[31]
Mark Rowley, the acting deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, stated, "Terrorists have a clear aim and that is to create discord, distrust and to create fear. The police stand with all communities in the UK and will take action against anyone who seeks to undermine society, especially where their crimes are motivated by hate. We must recognise now that our Muslim communities will feel anxious at this time given the past behaviour of the extreme right wing."[32]
International
Expressions of shock, support, solidarity and sympathy were offered by the governments of Argentina,[33] Australia,[34] Canada,[35] France,[9] India,[36] Israel,[37] the Netherlands[38] and the United States.[39] Though Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant made no claim of responsibility, its supporters celebrated the attack as "revenge" for British airstrikes against the group in Syria and Iraq.[40]
See also
- List of terrorist incidents in London
- List of terrorist incidents in March 2017
- List of British police officers killed in the line of duty
- 2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa - A similar attack on the Canadian parliament in 2014.
References
- ^ a b "London Attack: Latest Updates". BBC. No. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ "Westminster attack: four confirmed dead including police officer and attacker - live". The Guardian. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "London attack - latest updates". BBC News. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ a b c Boyle, Danny; Evans, Martin. "Parliament shooting: Knifeman shot by police after charging through Westminster gates and stabbing officer". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "BBC Breaking News on Twitter".
- ^ a b c "London attack: Five dead in Westminster terror attack". BBC News. 22 March 2017.
- ^ Addley, Esther; Harding; Booth (23 March 2017). "'All hell was let loose': Witnesses describe London attacker, incident at Westminster". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ FE_Online (23 March 2017). "London terror attack Live: 5 dead, 40 injured in Westminster Bridge shootout; President Pranab Mukherjee, PM Narendra Modi condemn UK Parliament attack". The Financial Express. New Delhi: The Indian Express. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ a b c Allen, Emily (22 March 2017). "Westminster attack: Everything we know so far". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d Sparrow, Andrew. "Parliament attack: man shot after police officer stabbed at House of Commons". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Westminster attackr-and-knife rampage kills four". Al Jazeera. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ Jill Lawless; Paisley Dodds; Danica Kirka (22 March 2017). "U.K. Parliament attack: Five dead and 40 injured in 'sick and depraved terrorist incident' at Westminster". Associated Press.
- ^ Castle, Stephen (22 March 2017). "Deadly Attack Near U.K. Parliament; Car Plows Victims on Westminster Bridge". The New York Times.
- ^ Karla Adam; Rick Noack; Griff Witte (22 March 2017). "Four killed, 40 injured in vehicle and knife assault near British Parliament". The Washington Post.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Hartley-Parkinson, Richard. "Armed police raid house in Birmingham and arrest people after London terror attack". Metro. London: Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ a b "London attack: Seven arrests as police make raids across the country after three killed by 'Islamic terrorist' in Westminster".
- ^ a b lefigaro.fr. "EN DIRECT - Attaque terroriste à Londres : au moins 3 morts et 20 blessés".
- ^ "Attentat à Londres : des lycéens Français blessés, un assaillant neutralisé au Parlement". Capital.fr (in French). Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ Altri articoli dalla categoria ». "Giovane bolognese lievemente ferita nell'attentato di Londra - Repubblica.it". Bologna.repubblica.it. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Londra, attacco al Parlamento. Quattro morti, ferite due italiane. Ucciso l'assalitore. May: 'Atto odioso' - Europa". 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Australian injured in London attack". Guardian. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Chinese tourist injured in London terror attack - Times of News". 23 March 2017.
- ^ "Há um português entre os feridos. "Já teve alta e está bem de saúde", diz Governo". Expresso. 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Keith Palmer named as officer killed in London terror attack as five confirmed dead | Metro News". Metro.co.uk. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ Batchelor, Tom (22 March 2017). "Keith Palmer: Policeman stabbed to death in London terror attack named". The Independent. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Attaque à Londres : des élèves français blessés, selon Bernard Cazeneuve". LesEcho.fr (in French). Paris. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Westminster attack: First picture of suspect". News.sky.com. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ Dan Mangan, Phillip Tutt, Christine Wang - London terrorist attack leaves 5 dead, including attacker and police officer - cnbc.com. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ Nick Miller - London terror attack: 'Attack on democracy' the theme of newspaper front pages - The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2017-03-22/uk-pm-mays-thoughts-are-with-killed-injured-in-appalling-incident
- ^ "Holyrood referendum debate halted after Westminster shooting". BBC News. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ Taylor, Claire Phipps (now); Matthew; Rawlinson, Kevin; Sparrow, Andrew; (earlier), Alexandra Topping (22 March 2017). "Westminster attack: PC Keith Palmer named as police officer killed – live updates" – via The Guardian.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "La Argentina condena el atentado en Londres, Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte" (in Spanish). Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
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(help) - ^ Conifer, Dan (23 March 2017). "London attack: Prime Minister Turnbull condemns assault on 'freedom and democracy everywhere'". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 23 March 2017.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ "British PM condemns 'sick and depraved terrorist attack' that left 5 dead in London". CBC News. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ Quint, The. "London Attack Live: Police Raid Birmingham, Several Arrested". www.thequint.com. The Quint. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ Shaham, Udi (22 March 2017). "Israel stands with UK against terrorism". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ "Rutte noemt beelden uit Londen afschuwelijk". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). Amsterdam: TMG Landelijke Media B.V. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
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suggested) (help) - ^ "London attack – latest updates". BBC News. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
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(help) - ^ "Isil supporters cheer Westminster attack as 'revenge' for British air strikes on Syria". The Telegraph. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2017.