LONDON, March 23 (KUNA) -- British Prime Minister Theres May said on Thursday that the man who carried out the knife attack outside the parliament building was born in Britain and was well known by the nation's security and intelligence apparatuses.
The Westminster attacker was British-born and known to the police and intelligence services, Prime Minister Theresa May has revealed, according to the BBC.
She told MPs he had been investigated some years ago over violent extremism, but was "peripheral" and was not part of the current intelligence picture.
The so-called Islamic State group has said it was behind the attack, says the BBC.
Eight arrests in London and Birmingham followed Wednesday's attack that left four dead - including the attacker. Those killed by the attacker were PC Keith Palmer, Aysha Frade, who worked at a London college, and a man in his 50s.
Seven of the injured are still in hospital in a critical condition. A further 29 had been treated in hospital, police said. In the attack on Wednesday afternoon, a man drove a car along a pavement on Westminster Bridge, knocking down pedestrians, creating panic and leaving dozens injured. He then ran towards Parliament where he stabbed PC Palmer, who was unarmed. Armed police then shot dead the attacker in the grounds.
Premier May paid tribute to PC Palmer saying: "He was every inch a hero and his actions will never be forgotten." She also said one of three police officers injured as they returned from an event to recognise their bravery was in a stable condition.
She told MPs, many of whom had been caught up in the commotion: "We will never waver in the face of terrorism." (end) rk