UK police treating Parliament crash as act of terrorism, man arrested

LONDON (AP) — A car plowed into pedestrians and cyclists near the Houses of Parliament in London during the morning rush hour Tuesday, injuring three people in what police suspect is the latest in a string of attacks in the British capital that used vehicles as weapons.

Armed police flooded the area after the incident was reported at 7:37 a.m., hauling the driver from the vehicle, arresting him and cordoning off streets surrounding the heart of Britain’s government.

The nearby Westminster subway station was closed, and police asked people to stay away from the area.

“Given that this appears to be a deliberate act, the method and this being an iconic site, we are treating it as a terrorist incident,” Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu of the Metropolitan Police told reporters outside Scotland Yard.

A man in his late 20s was arrested on suspicion of terrorism offence's.

The suspect was not cooperating with police, and officers were working to confirm his identity, said Basu, who oversees U.K. counterterrorism policing.

No other suspects have been identified and police believe there is no further threat to Londoners, he said.

Basu said “we don’t believe this individual was known” to police or Britain’s intelligence services.

Eyewitnesses said the silver Ford Fiesta car was travelling at high speed when it hit pedestrians and cyclists, then crashed into a barrier designed to protect Parliament from vehicle attack.

Two people were taken to local hospitals and another was treated at the scene.

One woman remained hospitalised Tuesday afternoon, but her injuries aren’t believed to be life-threatening, authorities said.

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.