On 22 March 2017, terror struck the heart of London. It was near the Houses of Parliament on Westminster bridge that a vehicle deliberately mowed down pedestrians. An attacker then proceeded to attack a police man and stab him. At least five people have died in this brutal attack. Here is what we know so far.
Described by eye witnesses as a gray Hyundai, the vehicle sped and crashed into pedestrians on the Westminster Bridge in London at about 2.40 in the afternoon. The speeding car then crashed into the railing of the bridge.
After having slammed into and injuring dozens of bystanders, then crashing his car close to the Houses of Parliament, the attacker abandoned the car and sped off through the gates of the Westminster Palace brandishing a knife.
The attacker proceeded to attack a police officer on duty outside the Houses of Parliament before he was shot and killed by police officers.
Many people have sustained very serious injuries as a result of the car attack and are in critical condition. Eye witnesses said that suddenly they saw people flying through the air as the car ploughed into them. At least 40 people including three police officers are said to be seriously injured as a result of the attack. One woman fell off the bridge and into the river. She was rescued and treated.
As of now, sources say that the attacker was acting alone. He is described as an Asian man in his 40s. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. However supporters of IsiL – the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant channels have cheered the attack and have described the attack as revenge for the UK’s airstrikes on Syria and Iraq.
The authorities are calling it International or Islamist related terrorism; however they don’t yet know about the attacker’s nationality. Right now, the police are focusing on the attacker’s “motivation, preparation and associates”. The threat level in UK currently is set at “severe” meaning that an attack was “highly likely” for some time to come.
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