2017 Westminster attack
This article documents a recent attack. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (March 2017) |
2017 Westminster attack | |
---|---|
Westminster Bridge and the Palace of Westminster, the main sites of the attack | |
Location | Westminster, London, United Kingdom |
Coordinates | 51°30′03″N 0°07′19″W / 51.50083°N 0.12194°W United Kingdom |
Date | 22 March 2017 c. 14:40 (GMT) |
Attack type | |
Weapons |
|
Deaths | 4 (confirmed, 1 police officer)[1]
|
Injured | 20+ (3 police officers included) |
Perpetrator | 1 |
Motive | Unclear |
The 2017 Westminster attack was a suspected terror attack that occurred on 22 March 2017, one year after the 2016 Brussels bombings, on Westminster Bridge, in Parliament Square and within the grounds of the Palace of Westminster in central London. A Hyundai Tucson was driven into a crowd of people near the palace gates, and an attacker stabbed people, at least one of them being a police officer. Four people—including one police officer and the assailant—are confirmed dead.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Attack
At around 14:40 GMT on 22 March 2017, a grey Hyundai Tucson on Westminster Bridge ran into approximately ten individuals (including three police officers), before crashing into railings. Following that, a man wearing black clothes was seen stabbing an armed police officer with a knife in New Palace Yard, nearby. After the attacker was warned, two plainclothes police officers shot the individual four times.[1][2][4][7][8]
Response
Shortly after the incident, additional armed police arrived. An air ambulance 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. Injured members of the public were taken to St Thomas' Hospital, which is located around 200 metres south of Westminster Bridge. Member of Parliament Tobias Ellwood attempted to provide resuscitation and stem the bleeding of an injured police officer, who was subsequently reported to have died.[9] 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. All were later evacuated to Westminster Abbey.[1] The Prime Minister, Theresa May, was evacuated to 10 Downing Street.[1]
Westminster tube station was closed and buses diverted as a precaution. The River Thames was shut to boat traffic between Vauxhall Bridge and the Embankment immediately after the attack.[2][8] The London Eye was placed in lock-down.[1] The incidents are being treated by the Metropolitan Police as a terrorist attack; the police asked the public to avoid the area including Parliament Square, Whitehall, Westminster Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Victoria Street up to the junction with Broadway and Victoria Embankment up to Embankment tube station. The UK government's emergency Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBRA) committee will meet later today.[1][4][10][11][6]
The acting Metropolitan Police Service commissioner Craig Mackey was a witness to the incident, and so recused from giving public statements about the events.[1] The London Ambulance Service says it has treated at least 10 people on Westminster Bridge following the incident.[1]
Attacker
A picture of the attacker has been released. It shows him being treated by medics.[12] He was provisionally identified as Abu Izzadeen, british man originally known as [13]Trevor Brooks.[14]
Victims
Four people were killed in the incident, including the perpetrator.[6] One woman was killed in the incident, as announced by a hospital doctor at St Thomas' Hospital.[2] The police officer who was stabbed died of his injuries.[1] Some of those injured suffered "catastrophic" injuries.[4] A woman, with serious injuries, was rescued from the River Thames. It is believed she may have fallen from the bridge or jumped to evade the attacker.[1] A group of French students, aged 15-16, from Concarneau were among those injured.[1][15] Others included three police officers who were returning from a commendation ceremony.[1]
Reactions
Domestic
Downing Street issued a statement:
The thoughts of the PM and the Government are with those killed in this appalling incident, and with their families. The PM is being kept updated and will shortly chair COBRA.
The speakers of both Houses of Parliament issued a joint statement:[1]
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 Home Secretary Amber Rudd tweeted:[16][17]
I know the whole country will be thinking of & praying for those affected this terrible incident. Our top priority is people's security. We have the best police & security services in the world & we will let them get on with their job.
The Muslim Council of Britain issued a statement:[8]
We are shocked and saddened by the incident at Westminster. We condemn this attack and while it is still too early to speculate on the motives, our thoughts and prayers are for the victims and those affected. We pay tribute too to the police and emergency services who handled this with bravery. The Palace of Westminster is the centre of our democracy and we must all ensure that it continues to serve our country and its people with safety and security.
The Scottish Parliament suspended the day's proceedings, including a debate on an independence referendum, because the incident was affecting the contributions of MSPs.[18] Shortly afterwards the Welsh Assembly suspended its day's proceedings.[1]
International
The French President François Hollande released a statement saying that: "Terrorism affects us all and France knows how the people of Britain are suffering today."[19] Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, released a statement: "Deeply shocked by attacks on police and members of public in London. My thoughts are with injured and our solidarity goes out to the UK."[20] The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed his shock upon hearing of the attack. He said that the British people can count on the support of the Dutch.[21] Donald Trump, the US President, spoke with Theresa May by telephone following the attack.[1] The European Council president Donald Tusk tweeted: "My thoughts are with the victims of the Westminster attack. Europe stands firm with the UK against terror and ready to help."[22]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "London attack - latest updates". BBC News. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Parliament shooting: Woman dies in Westminster attack". BBC News. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "'Terror' attack near U.K. Parliament: What we know". USA Today. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d Boyle, Danny; Evans, Martin. "Parliament shooting: Knifeman shot by police after charging through Westminster gates and stabbing officer". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Westminster is in lockdown and Parliament suspended after 'terror' attack". Sky News. London. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ a b c "London attack: Four dead in Westminster terror incident". BBC News. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ Allen, Emily (22 March 2017). "Westminster attack: Everything we know so far". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|website=
(help) - ^ a b c Sparrow, Andrew. "Parliament attack: man shot after police officer stabbed at House of Commons". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood whose brother was killed in Bali bombing 'gave CPR and mouth to mouth' to fatally wounded policeman". The Sun. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ Castle, Stephen. "Shooting Reported Outside U.K. Parliament". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ Murphy, Brian. "British Parliament on lockdown after shooting incident outside". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Westminster attack: First picture of suspect". News.sky.com. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Telegraaf27859872
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Westminster terror suspect revealed: Who is Abu Izzadeen?". International Business Times UK. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Attaque à Londres : des élèves français blessés, selon Bernard Cazeneuve". LesEcho.fr. Paris. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Amber Rudd MP on Twitter". Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Amber Rudd MP on Twitter". Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Holyrood referendum debate halted after Westminster shooting". BBC News. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ @Élysée (22 March 2017). ""Le terrorisme nous concerne tous et la France sait ce que le peuple britannique a comme souffrance aujourd'hui" @fhollande #Londres" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @GermanEmbassyLondon (22 March 2017). "Merkel: Deeply shocked by attacks on police & members of public in London. My thoughts are with injured & our solidarity goes out to the UK" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Rutte noemt beelden uit Londen afschuwelijk". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). Amsterdam: TMG Landelijke Media B.V. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ Donald Tusk [@eurcopresident] (22 March 2017). ""My thoughts are with the victims of the Westminster attack. Europe stands firm with the UK against terror and ready to help" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
External links
- Current events from March 2017
- 2017 in London
- 2017 road incidents
- Attacks on legislatures
- Attacks on government buildings and structures
- City of Westminster
- Deaths by firearm in England
- Homicides by motor vehicle
- Terrorist incidents in 2017
- March 2017 crimes
- Mass murder in 2017
- March 2017 events in the United Kingdom
- Road incidents in England
- Stabbing attacks in 2017
- Terrorist incidents in London
- Terrorist incidents involving vehicular attacks
- Terrorist incidents involving knife attacks
- Terrorist incidents in the United Kingdom in 2017
- Vehicle rampage