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'SICK AND DEPRAVED'

London terror attack condemned by Theresa May as British-born terrorist kills three in Westminster rampage

A ‘SICK and depraved’ terrorist killed three people and injured 29 in a rampage on Parliament that knifed Britain in the heart.

Theresa May condemned the maniac who mowed down pedestrians in London “at 70 mph” on Westminster Bridge before storming Parliament and stabbing a police officer to death.

Armed cops draw their guns on a suspected attacker after a knifeman went on a rampage mowing down pedestrians, injuring 29
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Armed cops draw their guns on a suspected attacker after a knifeman went on a rampage mowing down pedestrians, injuring 29Credit: PA:Press Association
PC Keith Palmer who was stabbed to death by a suspected terrorist outside the Palace of Westminster
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PC Keith Palmer who was stabbed to death by a suspected terrorist outside the Palace of WestminsterCredit: PA:Press Association
A man - thought to be the terrorist behind yesterday's attack - is wheeled onto an ambulance
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A man - thought to be the terrorist behind yesterday's attack - is wheeled onto an ambulanceCredit: PA:Press Association
MP Tobias Ellwood gives CPR to a police officer stabbed outside Parliament
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MP Tobias Ellwood gives CPR to a police officer stabbed outside ParliamentCredit: PA:Press Association
The suspect lies on a stretcher outside Parliament with paramedics treating his injuries while armed cops stand guard
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The suspect lies on a stretcher outside Parliament with paramedics treating his injuries while armed cops stand guardCredit: PA:Press Association
One of two knives thought to have been used by the suspect to stab a cop during the terror attack
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One of two knives thought to have been used by the suspect to stab a cop during the terror attackCredit: PA:Press Association

The heroic cop who tried to stop the attacker was named as married father PC Keith Palmer.

Also among the victims was Aysha Frade, 43, who is believed to have been killed as she travelled to pick her children up from school.

Speaking the morning after the devastation, the PM admitted the British-born lone-wolf attacker had previously been investigated by MI5– but had been dismissed as a "peripheral figure".

PM Theresa May says we will 'never give in to terror' following Westminster attack
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PM Theresa May says we will 'never give in to terror' following Westminster attackCredit: PA:Press Association
An image from the scene shows two knives on the ground as paramedics treat a suspect
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An image from the scene shows two knives on the ground as paramedics treat a suspectCredit: PA:Press Association
Emergency services treat two people - thought to be the attacker and injured cop - outside Parliament following the attack
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Emergency services treat two people - thought to be the attacker and injured cop - outside Parliament following the attackCredit: PA:Press Association
A car crashed into gates outside Parliament after mowing down up to a dozen people on Westminster Bridge causing carnage in the capital
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A car crashed into gates outside Parliament after mowing down up to a dozen people on Westminster Bridge causing carnage in the capital

The large-scale terror attack has exposed critical flaws in the security of Westminster, as MPs said the killer ran through a “weak spot” and got 25 yards inside the gates.

Shocking footage emerged of the attacker’s car, a year-old Hyundai Tucson registered in Chelmsford, Essex, ploughing into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, forcing one woman to jump into the Thames to escape.

Witness James Sheriff told the Times "he must have been going at 70mph".

The car used to carry out the slaughter – on the anniversary of the Brussels airport attack - was hired last Thursday in Birmingham, according to Newsnight.

Terror cops arrested eight people in raids on six different addresses across London and Birmingham in connection with the atrocity.

The Prime Minister, who was bundled into a silver Jaguar and rushed from the scene, said it was "no accident" the terrorist struck "in the heart of our capital".

Speaking after a Cobra meeting, she said: "The terrorist chose to strike at the heart of our capital city.

“The values our parliament represents - democracy, freedom, human rights, the rule of law - command the admiration and respect of free people everywhere. Any attempt to defeat those values through violence and terror is doomed to failure."

A woman trapped under a bus after the attack in London
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A woman trapped under a bus after the attack in LondonCredit: Reuters
A woman helps a victim of the terror attack which a car plough down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge
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A woman helps a victim of the terror attack which a car plough down pedestrians on Westminster BridgeCredit: Reuters
Witnesses rushed to help a victim with reports that a car mowed down a number of people on Westminster Bridge before crashing into the gate outside Parliament
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Witnesses rushed to help a victim with reports that a car mowed down a number of people on Westminster Bridge before crashing into the gate outside ParliamentCredit: Reuters

Mark Rowley, national lead for Counter Terrorism Policing and Met Acting Deputy Commissioner, said the attacker was “inspired by Islamic terrorism”.

He added that hundreds of police officers were involved in the investigation to check his background and trace his known associates.

Dramatic pictures show the bloodied bodies of victims littering Westminster bridge as heroic bystanders desperately try to save the lives of those "catastrophically" injured.

Among them were MP Tobias Ellwood who gave PC Palmer mouth-to-mouth. Ellwood's brother was killed in the Bali bombings in 2002.

Heroic bystanders rushed to help those ploughed over on Westminster Bridge this afternoon
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Heroic bystanders rushed to help those ploughed over on Westminster Bridge this afternoonCredit: Reuters
A victim lies at the foot of stairs on Westminster Bridge after this afternoon's attack
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A victim lies at the foot of stairs on Westminster Bridge after this afternoon's attackCredit: Reuters
A man is treated on Westminster bridge by bystanders
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A man is treated on Westminster bridge by bystandersCredit: Reuters
An injured man is assisted after the incident on Westminster Bridge
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An injured man is assisted after the incident on Westminster BridgeCredit: Reuters

The 50-year-old Foreign Office Minister and Conservative MP said: "It is a huge tragedy, it really is.

"I tried to stem the flow of blood and give mouth-to-mouth while waiting for the medics to arrive but I think he had lost too much blood.

"He had multiple wounds, under the arm and in the back."

MP James Cleverley tweeted: "I've known Keith for 25 years. We served together in the Royal Artillery before he became a copper. A lovely man, a friend. I'm heartbroken."

One Romanian tourist suffered serious injuries after she was thrown into the River Thames in yesterday's attack.

Others were tossed into the path of oncoming traffic, including one woman who was seen lying under a bus.

A bloodied victim is pictured at the scene in Westminster
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A bloodied victim is pictured at the scene in WestminsterCredit: Reuters
A doctor walks from the scene with his hand on his head after the attack
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A doctor walks from the scene with his hand on his head after the attackCredit: Getty Images

Speaking to reporters junior doctor Colleen Anderson from St Thomas' Hospital said a female pedestrian had died.

She said: "I confirmed one fatality. A woman. She was under the wheel of a bus. She died, confirmed her death at the scene."

The Metropolitan Police opened a Casualty Bureau for those worried about friends and family.

A man is treated by paramedics at the scene
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A man is treated by paramedics at the sceneCredit: Getty Images
One woman is tended to by paramedics and cops after being injured on Westminster Bridge
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One woman is tended to by paramedics and cops after being injured on Westminster BridgeCredit: Getty Images
A woman is stretchered onto an ambulance after the attack
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A woman is stretchered onto an ambulance after the attackCredit: Getty Images

London mayor Sadiq Khan said: “London is the greatest city in the world and we stand together in the face of those who seek to harm us and destroy our way of life.

"Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism."

Londoners have been asked not to call emergency services unless absolutely necessary as they tend to victims
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Londoners have been asked not to call emergency services unless absolutely necessary as they tend to victimsCredit: Getty Images
A victim is treated by paramedics and wrapped in a foil blanket as he explains to officers what he saw
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A victim is treated by paramedics and wrapped in a foil blanket as he explains to officers what he sawCredit: Getty Images
At least 20 people were injured when an attacker ploughed his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and stabbed a police officer
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At least 20 people were injured when an attacker ploughed his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and stabbed a police officerCredit: Getty Images
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Credit: PA Graphics

The motivation for the attack is not yet known but ISIS supporters celebrated the horror on social media, dubbing it "revenge" for UK strikes in Mosul.

Those celebrating the attack, which had similarities with atrocities in Nice and Berlin, called it "blood for blood".

The attack came on the first anniversary of the Brussels airport bombings.

The Muslim Council of Britain said: "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."

Armed police swarm the area in Westminster after a man was shot following a terror attack
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Armed police swarm the area in Westminster after a man was shot following a terror attackCredit: EPA
Cops gather outside Parliament after the attacker mowed pedestrians down
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Cops gather outside Parliament after the attacker mowed pedestrians downCredit: EPA
Officers with machine guns were pictured at the scene in Westminster
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Officers with machine guns were pictured at the scene in WestminsterCredit: EPA
The Houses of Parliament and Lords were on lockdown after yesterday's incident
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The Houses of Parliament and Lords were on lockdown after yesterday's incidentCredit: PA:Press Association
An armed paramedic arrives at the scene in Westminster
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An armed paramedic arrives at the scene in WestminsterCredit: Getty Images
Officers trawl the Thames after the terror attack in Westminster
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Officers trawl the Thames after the terror attack in WestminsterCredit: Jamie Lorriman
John Prescott pictured at the scene this evening
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John Prescott pictured at the scene this eveningCredit: Fame Flynet

Rob Smith, who was running past Westminster when he said he saw the drama unfolded, told Sun Online: "The grey Hyundai car came across the bridge then across the cycle lane, hit a man on a bike and drive into the wall gates. Police ran straight out and shot him."

He said officers had been drawing their guns as they ran out. Cops had held a practice terror drill on Sunday and were at the scene within six minutes of the attack.

Staff inside Parliament were told to stay in their offices and away from windows as a sitting in the House of Commons was suspended this afternoon. Hundreds of MPs were trapped in the House of Commons for five hours.

Twitter users paid tribute to those killed in yesterday's attack under the hashtag 'IamLondon'.

Flowers at the scene of the terror attack in Westminster
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Flowers at the scene of the terror attack in WestminsterCredit: Reuters
Tel Aviv's Rabin Square lit up in solidarity with London
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Tel Aviv's Rabin Square lit up in solidarity with LondonCredit: Reuters
This is the moment MPs were told of the terror attack at Parliament
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This is the moment MPs were told of the terror attack at ParliamentCredit: Sky News
Cops sealed off the area around Parliament yesterday
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Cops sealed off the area around Parliament yesterdayCredit: Getty Images
An air ambulance landed at the scene after multiple injuries were reported
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An air ambulance landed at the scene after multiple injuries were reportedCredit: Twitter

People were trapped on the London Eye for more than four hours as cops placed the area on lockdown.

Parliament Square, Whitehall, Westminster Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Victoria Street up to the junction with Broadway and the Victoria Embankment up to Embankment tube were all closed after the attack.

London Ambulance Service Deputy Director of Operations Pauline Cranmer said: “Our thoughts are with the friends and families of those affected by today’s incident.

“We treated 12 patients for serious injuries, who were all taken to hospital. Eight further patients were treated for less serious injuries at the scene. Sadly, three people also died at the scene.

“We were called to the incident at 2.40pm today, with the first ambulance crew arriving within six minutes."

They added: “We declared a major incident and our priority was to assess patients and ensure that they were treated and taken to hospital as soon as possible.

“I would like to thank our staff and the other emergency services who responded today."

Donald Trump called Theresa May to “condemn” Parliament terror atrocity and vowed to help “bring attackers to justice”.

His press secretary, Sean Spicer, confirmed the pair had spoken.

Spicer said: "The President has been briefed on the situation in London. He just spoke to Prime Minister May and we will have a readout on that call soon.

"We obviously condemn today's attack in Westminster which the United Kingdom is treating as an act of terrorism we applaud the quick response that the British police and their first responders made to the situation.

"The victims are in our thoughts and our prayers. The city of London and Her Majesty's government have the full support of the US government in responding to the attack and bringing those to justice who are responsible."

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