2017 Westminster attack

2017 Westminster attack
Mайкл Гиммельфарб (Mike Gimelfarb) · Public domain · source
Title	2017 Westminster attack
Date	22 March 2017
Location	Palace of Westminster, Westminster Bridge, City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
Target	Members of Parliament, Parliament of the United Kingdom, pedestrians, police officer
Type	vehicle-ramming, stabbing, terrorism
Fatalities	6 (including perpetrator)
Injuries	49
Perpetrator	Khalid Masood
Weapons	Hyundai Tucson vehicle, knife

2017 Westminster attack was a vehicle-ramming and stabbing incident on 22 March 2017 near the Palace of Westminster in Westminster, London, United Kingdom. The assailant drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and then fatally stabbed a police officer at the main entrance to the Palace of Westminster before being shot by armed officers. The attack killed five civilians and the perpetrator, and injured dozens, prompting a national security review and international reactions from leaders including those of the United States, France, Germany, Russia, and the European Union.

Background

The attack occurred against the backdrop of ongoing concerns about Islamist-inspired terrorism in Europe following incidents such as the Charlie Hebdo shooting, the November 2015 Paris attacks, the Nice truck attack, the Brussels bombings, and the Orlando nightclub shooting. In the months prior, the 2017 UK political calendar and debates over Brexit had heightened security around symbolic sites including the Palace of Westminster and Tower Bridge. The Metropolitan Police Service, MI5, and Home Office had been engaged in counter-terrorism operations alongside international partners such as the FBI and Europol.

The attack

At about 14:40 GMT on 22 March 2017, a grey Hyundai Tucson mounted the pavement on Westminster Bridge and struck pedestrians near the Houses of Parliament, passing the River Thames and heading toward the Palace of Westminster's New Palace Yard entrance. Witnesses reported a wave of panic similar to scenes from the 2013 Woolwich attack and the 2016 Nice attack. The vehicle collided with a railing and the assailant exited carrying a knife, fatally stabbing a Police Constable performing duty at the main gate, before being shot by officers from the Metropolitan Police Armed Response Unit and later pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency services including the London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade, and nearby hospitals such as St Thomas' Hospital responded, and the Westminster Tube station and surrounding roads were sealed off.

Perpetrator

The assailant was identified as Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old British national born Adrian Russell Ajao in Kent with links to Birmingham. Masood had a history of convictions for assaults and public order offences and had been previously investigated by MI5 but was not under current surveillance at the time of the attack. Authorities reported that Masood had become radicalised, with possible inspirations traced to extremist propaganda from groups like Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and online platforms used by al-Qaeda. International intelligence-sharing with agencies such as MI6 and the FBI assisted in mapping Masood's movements and contacts.

Victims and casualties

The attack resulted in six deaths: four pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, the stabbed Police Constable later identified as Keith Palmer, and the attacker. Victims included nationals from the United Kingdom, Romania, China, and France, reflecting the international character of tourists in central London. Official injury counts reported 49 people hospitalised with varying degrees of trauma; some were treated at King's College Hospital and St Thomas' Hospital while others received minor injuries at the scene. Public vigils were held at sites such as Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square, and floral tributes were laid by officials from the British Royal Family including members of the House of Windsor.

Investigation and legal proceedings

The Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police Service led the criminal investigation, conducting searches at multiple addresses in Birmingham and London and arresting several individuals on suspicion of links to the attacker; most were released without charge after inquiries. Forensic teams from the National Crime Agency processed the scene, and coronial procedures were followed by the Westminster Coroner's Court. Intelligence reviews examined failures and gaps in information-sharing among domestic bodies like MI5 and international partners including Europol and the French DGSI. No successful prosecution of co-conspirators occurred; legal scrutiny focused on certification of the incident as terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000 and post-event policy measures pursued by the Home Office.

Response and aftermath

Political leaders across the United Kingdom and internationally condemned the attack, with statements from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and opposition leaders in the House of Commons. The Parliament of the United Kingdom suspended sittings temporarily and later resumed with heightened security. Memorial services were attended by figures from the Church of England and civic leaders from the City of Westminster. Civil liberties organisations including Liberty (UK civil liberties organisation) and human rights advocates called for careful balance between security measures and protections under the Human Rights Act 1998.

Security and policy impact

Following the attack, the Home Secretary ordered reviews of protective measures for parliamentary precincts and transport hubs; recommendations affected deployments by the Metropolitan Police Service, armed policing policy, and barriers at critical infrastructure such as Westminster Bridge. Parliamentary provision of security allowances to Members of Parliament was reassessed, and tighter cooperation between MI5, local police forces, and international partners like the FBI and Europol was emphasised. The incident influenced legislative and operational discussions within the House of Commons on counter-terrorism strategy, resilience of public spaces, and emergency medical response protocols used by the London Ambulance Service.

Category:Terrorist incidents in the United Kingdom Category:2017 in London Category:March 2017 events in the United Kingdom