ISIS Claims Responsibility for London Attack as Police Arrests 7
The Amaq News Agency, which is seen as the press service of ISIS terrorists has said that the “terrorist” attack in London on Wednesday was carried out by an “Islamic State soldier”.
Amaq said: “The perpetrator of the attacks yesterday in front of the British parliament in London is an Islamic State soldier and he carried out the operation in response to calls to target citizens of the coalition.”
This is coming after the British Police said it has arrested 7 people in the investigation into the attack.
At least 4 persons, including the attacker died in the incident and more than 40 others were injured.
Police had said late on Wednesday that the death toll was five.
Mark Rowley, a senior counter-terrorism official said police had searched addresses in London, Birmingham and other parts of the country in their investigation.
“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,” Rowley said.
He said there was a mix of nationalities among the dead but gave no details.
The victims were a policeman who was stabbed and two members of the public, a woman in her mid-40s and a man in his mid-50s. The fourth dead was the assailant.
Rowley had on Wednesday night named the policeman who died in the attack as Keith Palmer.
“One of those who died today was a police officer, PC Keith Palmer, a member of our parliamentary and diplomatic protection command.Keith, aged 48, had 15 years service and was a husband and father.He was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift and he had every right to expect that to happen.Whilst today is an incredibly sad and sombre day, especially for the MPS and everyone affected, it is only right that I mention the pride I feel in the swift and brave response from our officers – especially those who without fear for their own safety had to confront the terrorist,” Rowley said.
The attack on Wednesday started when the assailant sped across Westminster Bridge in a car, ramming pedestrians along the way.
He then ran towards parliament and stabbed the policeman before he was shot.
Three French high-school students aged 15 or 16, who were on a school trip to London with fellow students from Brittany, were among the injured.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault was expected to arrive in London to visit them at hospital, French media reported.
Westminster Bridge remained cordoned off with a strong police presence.
The nearby Westminster underground train station, normally a busy hub in the morning rush hour, was not accessible from street level as it was within the cordon.
According to UK Mirror, British Prime Minister Theresa May addressing MPs Thursday morning said police still believed the attacker acted alone there was “no reason to believe” further attacks are planned.
“His identity is known to the police and MI5 and when operational considerations allow, he will be publicly identified. What I can confirm is that the man was British-born and that some years ago he was once investigated by MI5 in relation to concerns about violent extremism.He was a peripheral figure. The case is historic. He was not part of the current intelligence picture. There was no prior intelligence of his intent or of the plot,” May said.
Photo Credit: Twitter – @lukesteele4
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