Khalid Masood has been identified as the London attacker who went on a rampage outside Parliament and killed three before he was shot dead by police.
The 52-year-old was born in Kent, England, and was known to police.
His identification British police Thursday came moments after Parliament held a minute of silence and reconvened less than 24 hours after the brutal attack a day earlier that killed three victims — including an American tourist — and forced a lockdown of the U.K. government’s seat of power.
Prime Minister Theresa May delivered a defiant message to the House of Commons, declaring simply: “We are not afraid, and our resolve will never waver in the face of terrorism.”
Mrs. May, who didn’t disclose the man’s name, said that he was once investigated by authorities for extremism links, but was considered a peripheral figure.
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attack and British authorities are reported to have made eight arrests of individuals suspected of involvement.
None of them have been named publicly.
Authorities say it was Masood, who mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and then stabbed a policeman in the shadow of the British Parliament Wednesday, in what police described as a terrorist strike that left the attacker and at three others dead and some 40 people injured.
The police officer killed was 48-year-old Keith Palmer. Authorities said the civilian victims were Kurt W. Cochran, an American tourist in his 50s from Utah, and 43-year-old British teacher Aysha Frade.
Mr. Cochran’s wife, Melissa, who was traveling with him in London, is reported to have suffered serious injuries in Wednesday’s attack.
A statement issued by the Mormon church Thursday cited Melissa’s brother, Clint Payne, as saying the family is “heartbroken.” The couple were in London celebrating their anniversary and were reportedly slated to return to the United States on Thursday.
— Material from the Associated Press was used in this report
• Guy Taylor can be reached at gtaylor@washingtontimes.com.
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