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updated 10:20 AM UTC, Dec 13, 2023

Terror Incident In London, Near House Of Parliament [UPDATED]

Unic Press UK: There was a terror incident in Westminster this afternoon.

A number of policemen, several ambulances, many fire engines and other emergency services on the ground at the moment.

What we know

  • At 14:40 hrs, a car hit a crowd of people on Westminster Bridge, near the House of Parliament, where the two houses of the Parliament – the House of Commons and the House of Lords – meet.
  • The Metropolitan Police has commenced a “full counter terrorism investigation”.
  • After the attack, Scotland Yard advised the general public to avoid Parliament Square, Westminster Bridge, Whitehall, Lambeth Bridge, Victoria Street up to the junction with Broadway and the Victoria Embankment up to Embankment tube.
  • The terrorist, formally identified by the Metropolitan Police as Khalid Masood, killed a police officer and killed at least four members of the public.
  • The terrorist Khalid Masood, aged 52 (25.12.1964), was born in Kent, was shot dead by the Police.
  • At least four of the victims of the attack have died. Circa forty people were injured, many of them are facing life-threatening injuries.
  • House of Parliament was initially sealed off by the Police after the terror attack.

Westminster is the seat of power in the United Kingdom. This is where the House of Parliament, Prime Minister’s official residence, cabinet office, St Thomas Hospital and several diplomatic missions have offices. It is a cherished site for the public and tourists.

UK Prime Minister’s reaction

Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the terror attack, saying:

This attacker, who was armed with a knife, then ran towards Parliament where he was confronted by the police officers who keep us – and our democratic institutions – safe.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected – to the victims themselves, and their family and friends who waved their loved ones off, but will not now be welcoming them home.

“On behalf of the whole country, I want to pay tribute to them – and to all our emergency services – for the work they have been doing to reassure the public and bring security back to the streets of our Capital City.

“The location of this attack was no accident. The terrorists 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.

“These streets of Westminster – home to the world’s oldest Parliament – are ingrained with a spirit of freedom that echoes in some of the furthest corners of the globe. And the values our Parliament represents – democracy, freedom, human rights, the rule of law – command the admiration and respect of free people everywhere.

“That is why it is a target for those who reject those values.

“But let me make it clear today, as I have had cause to do before: any attempt to defeat those values through violence and terror is doomed to failure.

Tomorrow morning, Parliament will meet as normal. We will come together as normal.

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