2017 Westminster attack

2017 Westminster attack
Part of Islamic terrorism in Europe
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Hyundai Tucson mounts Westminster Bridge pavement
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Vehicle collides with 11 pedestrians (One killed, 10 injured). One pedestrian falls off the bridge into River Thames
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Vehicle crashes into railings outside New Palace Yard
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Masood abandons vehicle and enters New Palace Yard
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Masood attacks PC Palmer and is shot by surrounding officers
LocationWestminster, London, United Kingdom
Coordinates51°30′03″N 0°07′19″W / 51.50083°N 0.12194°W / 51.50083; -0.12194
Date22 March 2017; 7 years ago (2017-03-22)
14:40 (GMT (UTC))
Attack type
Weapons
Deaths6 (4 pedestrians, 1 police officer, and the perpetrator)
Injured48
AssailantKhalid Masood
MotiveRevenge for Western military action in the Middle East[1]

On 22 March 2017, a terrorist attack took place outside the Palace of Westminster in London, seat of the British Parliament. Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old Briton, drove a car into pedestrians on the pavement along the south side of Westminster Bridge and Bridge Street, injuring more than 50 people, four of them fatally. He then crashed the car into the perimeter fence of the palace grounds and ran into New Palace Yard, where he fatally stabbed an unarmed police officer. He was then shot by an armed police officer, and died at the scene.

Police treated the attack as "Islamist-related terrorism". Masood said in a final text message that he was waging jihad in revenge for Western military action in Muslim countries in the Middle East. Amaq News Agency, which is linked to Islamic State, said the attacker answered the group's calls to target citizens of states that were fighting against it, though the claim was questioned by the UK police and government. Police have found no link with a terrorist organisation and believe Masood acted alone.[1]

  1. ^ a b Sengupta, Kim (27 April 2017). "Last message left by Westminster attacker Khalid Masood uncovered by security agencies". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2017.