March 22, 2017
London; image courtesy of Burberry
London is the latest European city to be the target of a suspected terrorist attack.
The attack occurred this afternoon in Westminster just steps from Parliament Square. According to London’s Metropolitan Police, a driver of a small-sized SUV intentionally drove over a number of pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before crashing into the railings found outside the Houses of Parliament.
Love to London
Pedestrians found in harm's way include a group of French schoolchildren, three of whom were injured. A group of police officers who were walking across Westminster Bridge were also struck by the attacker’s vehicle.
A woman was also rescued from the Thames River with injuries related to the bridge incident.
Acting deputy commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Mark Rowley has made a statement that the bridge attack left two individuals dead and 20 injured.
Moments after the Westminster Bridge attack, a police officer was stabbed on the grounds of the Houses of Parliament. The patrolman could not be revived by his fellow officers.
The man believed to the attacker was shot by police officers and died as a result.
London, image courtesy of Harrods
As of press time, it seems the bridge and knife attacks were carried out by the same individual, but searches for additional attackers are ongoing.
Parliament was suspended for the day in the aftermath of the attacks following an approximately two-hour lockdown for all politicians, journalists and visitors. Parliament’s House of Commons and the House of Lords both plan to resume tomorrow at regular scheduled times.
Yesterday, in a move to curb possible airline-related terror threats, the United States and the United Kingdom announced that passengers traveling inbound from certain Middle Eastern and African nations are prohibited from keeping large devices with them in the cabin.
Both bans target electronics that are larger than a cell phone, requiring travelers boarding flights operated by about a dozen airlines to check devices such as laptops, tablets, e-readers and cameras. In the past few months, a number of proposed regulations and new policies have made international travel more of a hassle and more confusing, potentially deterring affluent travelers from visiting and spending outside of their home countries (see story).
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