British police have launched a “full counterterrorism” probe after an assailant drove over pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before attacking a police officer outside Parliament — a rampage that ended with four dead, including the attacker.
More than 20 people were wounded in the attack.
British Police Commander B.J. Harrington said investigators and police are “open-minded” about the motives of Wednesday’s attack at British Parliament but are treating the event as a terrorist incident.
Speaking outside London’s Scotland Yard police headquarters just hours after the incident, Cmdr. Harrington appealed repeatedly for help from the public but would not confirm the number of casualties or discuss the identity of the attacker or attackers. “A full counter-terrorism investigation is under way,” he told the press.
Reports say that at roughly 2:40 p.m. an attacker drove an SUV-type vehicle into one of London’s most densely populated neighborhood’s by Parliament. He then crossed Westminster Bridge mowing down an unknown number of pedestrians in the process.
Witnesses say the driver crashed into the Westminster Bridge railings in the process, then ran through the gates of the Palace of Westminster where he stabbed a police officer.
Eyewitnesses have been reported saying police shot the attacker when he approached a second officer.
In Washington, President Trump was briefed in private about the incident by National Security Adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster. An NSC official told reporters that U.S. officials have been in touch with their British counterparts.
Mr. Trump did not comment on what he had learned, only telling the White House press pool he had been delayed attending a meeting on women’s health because “some big news having to do with London just happened.” White House spokesman Sean Spicer was expected to comment on the incident later in the day.
Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said in a statement that ’the American people send their thoughts and prayers to the people of the United Kingdom.”
“We condemn these horrific acts of violence, and whether they were carried out by troubled individuals or by terrorists, the victims know no difference,” Mr. Tillerson said.
British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, in Washington Wednesday for an anti-Islamic State summit of allies convened by Mr. Tillerson, did not appear at a group photo of summit attendees as the events in London were unfolding.
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House Speaker Paul D. Ryan offered condolences via Twitter. “Terrible scene in London. Praying for the victims of this apparent act of terror. We stand with our friends in Parliament and Great Britain.”
The U.S. Embassy in London issued a statement to Americans living in London about the incident and the State Department in Washington was closely watching events and “stands ready to assist in any way the UK authorities would find helpful,” spokesman Mark Toner said.
“The safety and security of US citizens overseas is one of our highest priorities,” he told CNN. “We urge U.S. citizens in London to contact family members and loved ones to notify them that you are safe, to avoid the area and monitor local news.”
In London, reports from social media showed people lying in the road on Westminster Bridge and just outside Parliament.
BBC and Sky News reported a massive police presence in the area. All buildings around the incident area are in lockdown, according to Metropolitan Police.
A Downing Street spokesman told the BBC that Prime Minister Theresa May will chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee later today. Parliament had been crowded and busy because it was Wednesday’s weekly ’question time’ for the prime minister.
• Dan Boylan can be reached at dboylan@washingtontimes.com.
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