UK Parliament terror: 7 suspects arrested and other key developments so far

Threat level in UK remains 'severe'; no India hurt in the attack

Wednesday's terrorist attack in the heart of London has broken the more than a decade-long lull Britain enjoyed when it came to high-profile terrorist attacks. The attack's relatively lower casualties in comparison to the past attacks in Paris and Brussels has done nothing to dent the sense of shock people have felt, once again, across the world. 

On Wednesday, a suspected terrorist mowed down pedestrians on a bridge and stabbed a police officer outside Britain's Parliament complex before being shot dead by Scotland Yard officers. According to reports, prior to being shot by police, the attacker had tried to gain entry into the British Parliament via the main entrance. (Read more)   

Below is a round-up of all the latest news about the attack

1) Several arrests made: British police on Thursday arrested seven people while investigating Wednesday's terrorist attack, Reuters reported while citing Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer. 

Mark Rowley, national lead for counter-terrorism policing and the acting deputy commissioner, said that police had searched addresses in London, Birmingham and other parts of the country in their investigation.

"It is still our belief ... that this attacker acted alone and was inspired by international terrorism. At this stage we have no specific information about further threats to the public," Rowley said.

2) Death toll rises: Initially, according to reports, four people had died in Wednesday's attack. By Thursday morning, the death toll had risen to five. Further, 40 others were injured in the attack. 

The knifeman behind the attack is among the dead. He was shot dead by armed Scotland Yard officers. A police officer was also among the dead. The Metropolitan Police named the police officer killed as 48-year-old Keith Palmer and also confirmed that the attacker was "known" to the police. (Read more)

3) PM Modi reaches out: While world leaders expressed shock and solidarity over the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to express sadness over the attack and said that India stands with the UK at this difficult moment. 

"Deeply saddened by the terror attack in London. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families," Modi said in a tweet.  

"At this difficult moment, India stands with UK in the fight against terrorism. @theresa_may @Number10Gov," Modi said in another tweet. (Read more)

43) Canada takes caution: Following the attack, Canada tightened security, especially on Parliament Hill. Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale on Wednesday said Ottawa had taken measures in light of the attack in Britain.

Canada's caution should be viewed in past context. On October 20 and 22, 2014, two self-styled jihadists killed two Canadian military staff in separate strikes; one was in Quebec and one in Ottawa, near the nation's Parliament. (Read more)

5) Paris shows solidarity: Paris, unfortunately, is no stranger to the grief that follows a terrorist incident. To pay respect for the victims of Wednesday's vehicle and knife attack in Westminster, the lights of the Eiffel Tower were turned off at midnight. (Read more)

6) Identity of slain suspect remains a mystery: Following the attack, Rowley said, "I will not comment at this stage on the identity of the attacker, but our working assumption that he was inspired by international terrorism."

As of Thursday morning, the suspect remains unidentified. 

7) Threat level remains the same: Given the shock of Wednesday's attack and the reported intent of the attacker to enter the British Parliament, Prime Minister Theresa May said that Britain's terrorism threat level would remain at "severe". "The UK threat level has been set as severe for some time and this will not change," she said in a televised address outside her Downing Street office. (Read more)   

8) No Indian hurt: There is no report of any Indian casualty so far in the terror attack near the UK Parliament, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Wednesday.

"I am in constant touch with Indian High Commission in London. There is no Indian casualty reported so far. #LondonAttack @HCI_London (sic)," Swaraj wrote on Twitter.

"Indian High Commission is there to help all Indian nationals in London. Please note the Telephone nos: 020 8629 5950 & 020 7632 3035 (sic)," Swaraj wrote. (Read more)