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Police probe 'terrorist' car attack outside UK parliament

Police probe 'terrorist' car attack outside UK parliament

Police forensics officers work around a silver Ford Fiesta that was driven into a barrier at the Houses of Parliament in London on Tuesday (Aug 14). (Photo: AFP)

LONDON: British police said they believe a man deliberately drove a car into pedestrians and cyclists on Tuesday (Aug 14) before ramming it into barriers outside London's parliament in what appeared to be the second terrorism attack on the building in just under 18 months.

A 29-year-old British man, not previously known to the security services, was arrested at the scene by armed officers. Three people were injured.

Police, who initially said the man was refusing to co-operate, were holding him at a London police station on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack.

Following a briefing, Home Secretary Sajid Javid urged people to keep an open mind about what was behind the incident, as police raided three properties in central England.

Last year, five people were killed when a car mowed down pedestrians in an attack outside parliament.

"There are understandably a lot of questions," said Javid, the interior minister.

The police and security services "are doing everything they can to find out more about the incident.

"We must keep an open mind about what has happened and I'm sure when they do have more information they will say more."

Prime Minister Theresa May said the suspected attack was "shocking" and an "appalling incident" as she condemned the "twisted aim of the extremists".

Footage shows the silver Ford Fiesta veering across an intersection, hitting cyclists and pedestrians, before speeding into a barrier outside the Houses of Parliament at 7.37am (2.37pm Singapore time).

Armed officers swooped in to arrest the driver, removing him from the vehicle at gunpoint.

Images showed police holding the man, dressed in jeans and a black puffer jacket, in handcuffs.

"Given that it appears to have been a deliberate act, the method used and the iconic location, it is being treated as a terrorist incident," police said in a statement.

Police said there was nobody else in the vehicle, which remains at the scene and was being searched. No weapons have been recovered.

'DEADPAN' DRIVER

A man and a woman were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Both have since been discharged. Another man was also treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Witness Ewalina Ochab told the Press Association that the incident "looked intentional".

"I was walking on the other side. I heard some noise and someone screamed," she said.

"I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement. I think it looked intentional - the car drove at speed and towards the barriers."

Jason Williams, another witness, said the car had struck a barrier on a lane used for access to the parliament building with force. He too thought it was deliberate.

"It's a very serious incident," he told reporters. "There was smoke coming from the vehicle."

Images shot by a Euronews journalist showed police pointing their guns at a vehicle. Footage on social media showed a handcuffed man, dressed in jeans and a black puffer jacket, being led away by heavily armed police. Other footage showed a cyclist lying on the street.

"I saw the cyclists, injured cyclists. I've seen people, about 10, on the road, lying down, but I haven't seen any fatalities," Williams said.

Extensive cordons are in place, with the Westminster Tube station closed to the public. 

Parliament is in summer recess and most lawmakers are not using the building.

Prime Minister Theresa May, who is on holiday abroad, said her thoughts are with those injured in the incident.

"My thoughts are with those injured in the incident in Westminster and my thanks to the emergency services for their immediate and courageous response," May said on Twitter.

CRAZY ANIMALS, SAYS TRUMP

May's spokesman said there were 676 live investigations being carried out by the security services and counter-terror police at the end of June, up from more than 500 in March.

Some 13 Islamist and four far-right extremist plots have been foiled in the past 18 months, he added.

US President Donald Trump urged tough action.

"Another terrorist attack in London ... These animals are crazy and must be dealt with through toughness and strength!" he tweeted.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: "All Londoners, like me, utterly condemn all acts of terrorism on our city."

"We will never be cowed, intimidated or divided by any terrorist attack," he said.

Britain is on its second highest threat level of "severe", meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely.

Westminster was the scene of a terror attack last year when Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old British convert to Islam, drove a car at pedestrians on Westminster Bridge over the River Thames, before fatally stabbing a policeman on guard outside parliament.

The attack left five people dead and around 50 injured, and only ended when police shot Masood dead.

Britain endured a tumultuous period following the Mar 22 rampage, with four further terror attacks within months.

Last week, a Muslim convert admitted plotting to kill more than 100 people by driving a truck into pedestrians on London's Oxford Street, the capital's major shopping thoroughfare.

In October last year, 11 people were injured when a car collided with pedestrians near London’s Natural History Museum, raising fears of an attack, but police later said the incident was a road traffic accident.

Source: Agencies/dl/nc/mz/ec/de

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