LONDON Terror Attack: Four Killed; 40 Injured in Lone Wolf Islamic Attack; Eight Arrests in Birmingham and London

A lone wolf terrorist known to MI5 was shot and killed during an early afternoon Wednesday terror attack that began on London's Westminster Bridge and ended with police engaging the suspect as he entered the House of Parliament grounds.

The attacker, whose identity remains sealed, entered the Westminster Bridge, which spans the River Thames, at a high rate of speed and mowed through a crowd that included students from touring groups.

The suspect increased speed as he continued across the bridge, mowing down anyone in his path, until he crashed into the barriers separating the House of Parliament grounds from the street traffic.

He immediately jumped from his vehicle brandishing a knife and quickly began randomly stabbing individuals.

He fatally stabbed Police Constable Keith Palmer, 48, in the Old Palace Yard.

The suspect was then engaged by two Military Police who controlled the threat and ended the attack.

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British Prime Minister Teresa May addressed a packed House of Parliament explaining the suspect was "British Born, investigated by MI5 and a peripheral figure." She also said, "I can confirm that overnight the police have searched six addresses and made eight arrests in Birmingham and London."

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the early afternoon attack which killed four and injured forty

The House of Parliament, the meeting place for all levels of the United Kingdom's government, as it was a working day was bustling with officials, support staff, employees, as well as tourists, tour groups, citizens, and military who would be in the Westminster area on any given day.

Three of those killed were British citizens including Aysha Frade, 43, a teacher who was walking on the bridge to pick up her children attempted to escape the attack and was struck by another vehicle and died from her injuries.

Kurt Cochran, a tourist from Utah celebrating his 25th Wedding Anniversary, was struck by the attacker's vehicle and died from his injuries.

Also murdered was PC Keith Palmer who Prime Minister Teresa May eulogized in her address to Parliament as one who "devoted his life to the service of his country. He had been a Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection command for 15 years and a solider in the Royal Artillery before that. He was husband and father, killed doing a job he loved. He was every inch a hero and his actions will never be forgotten." [From the Independent]

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Additionally, 12 British citizens were injured, five South Koreans, three French, two from Greece, Italy, and Romania and one from the U.S., Australia, Chinese, German, Irish, Polish, Portuguese, were also injured. Eight citizens whose nationality has yet to be confirmed also suffered injuries.

The injuries range from catastrophic and serious to minor. A woman from Romania jumped or fell into the River Thames to escape the speeding vehicle and sustained serious injuries in the fall. Three teenagers from France were also injured.

The area of the attack, known as Westminster, is the home to London's seat of Power. The House of Parliament, as it was a working day was bustling with officials, tour groups, officials, and support staff, as well as tourists,

Parliament Square, the House of Parliament, Elizabeth Tower, Big Ben, and Westminster Hall and many of the historic landmarks on the London skyline.

Using a truck or automobile, has become increasingly popular among extremists with both the French and German governments experiencing Lorry Truck attacks and even Ohio State University in the United States had a similar attack with a lone wolf terrorist driving a vehicle into a crowd of students and then jumped out brandishing a knife and continued his attack on those who believed the driver was injured in an accident.

The motive behind the use of a car battering ram is to initially murder and maim pedestrians, produce incapacitating shock and horror, and bring the crowd of good Samaritans to the vehicle hoping to inflict mass casualty.

The recruitment of the minor lone wolfs into action may be the newest ploy by ISIS to maintain terror attacks without major Islamic State channels being compromised or exposed. The lone wolf represents a fringe loyalists without major influences or ties and minimal electronic trails and even less knowledge.

The United Kingdom is a member of the coalition, a league of nations as it is, created by former President Obama to combat global terrorism. The Brits along with coalition partners will vigorously defend freedom and democracy.

The attack was condemned by all major governments with renewed commitments from coalition members to destroy the Islamic state.

This is a developing story.

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