the attack on westminster — the prime minister says the man who carried it out was british born and known to the security services. eight people have been arrested in overnight raids. the so—called islamic state have claimed responsibilty for yesterday's attack. a minute's silence was held this morning at 9.33am. 933 was the shoulder number of the murdered officer. he's named as 48—year—old pc keith palmer — a husband and father. an mp who served with him in the army 25 years ago pays tribute. he was a strong, professional public servant. and it was a delight to meet him here again, only a few months after being elected. 42—year—old ayesha frade, a spanish teacher, was one of two others who died. she was on her way to collect her children from school. forensic police have been carrying out a fingertip search of the scene of the attack outside parliament.

seven people are still in a critical condition. the attacker was shot dead. a terrorist came to the place where people of all nationalities and cultures gather to celebrate what it means to be free. and he took out his rage indiscriminately against innocent men, women and children. we will have all the latest from westminster on the ongoing investigation. and coming up on bbc news, the latest and the stories of those killed and injured in a terror attack in westminster. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at 1pm.

the prime minister says the man who carried out the attack on westminster yesterday was british born and known to the security services. a police officer and two pedestrians were killed when he launched his attack, driving at high speed across westminster bridge, before trying to enter the palace of westminster — where he was shot dead. around a0 others, from 12 different countries, have been injured — seven of them are still critical. so—called islamic state group has claimed responsibility for the attack. this morning a minute's silence was held in westminster in honour of the victims. eight people have been arrested in overnight raids, but police say they believe the attacker was acting alone. ourfirst report this afternoon is from our correspondent wyre davies. the house of commons was in sombre, reflective mood this morning. order. colleagues, in respectful memory

of those who lost their lives in yesterday's attack, and of all of the casualties of that attack, we shall now observe a minute's silence. mr speaker, yesterday, an act of terrorism tried to silence our democracy. but today, we meet as normal. as generations have done before us, and future generations will continue to do, to deliver a simple message. we are not afraid. and our resolve will never waver in the face of terrorism. as the queen said her thoughts and sympathy were with all of those affected by yesterday's awful violence, at new scotland yard the metropolitan police paid their tributes to a fallen

colleague, after an attack on the capital that everyone had dreaded and trained for, but is now determined to overcome. with the union flag at half—mast above the palace of westminster, the immediate area around parliament remains closed to the public. that includes westminster bridge, where shortly before 3pm yesterday afternoon, a lone attacker drove a four—wheel drive vehicle at high speed through an unsuspecting crowd of tourists, police officers and londoners going about their business. one victim was catapulted into the thames, as the car mounted the curb. the unnamed woman was pulled from the river injured, but alive. the vehicle continued at speed, past big ben, and crashed into the railings surrounding the palace of westminster. but the attacker got out, and armed with two large knives, ran around to the main gates, where he stabbed a police officer, 48—year—old keith palmer. as he continued further into the grounds, the assailant

was then shot as he tried to attack other officers. is he coming? the panic clear from this the panic clearfrom this mobile phone footage inside westminster as staff and mps fled. amid the chaos of yesterday's attack, many have commented on the extraordinary bravery and compassion of passers—by, mps and emergency services in giving first aid and tending to the victims. but three people were killed by the attacker, including pc palmer, a father and husband. also aysha frade, a 43—year—old from spain, teaching spanish in london. the attacker, who also received first aid but died from his injuries, has not been named. but he was british and was once investigated for links to extremist organisations.

police from several forces launched simultaneous operations overnight, in the midlands and in london, making eight arrests in connection with the westminster attack. the enquiries in birmingham, london and other parts of the country are continuing. it is still our belief, which continues to be borne out by our investigation, that this attacker acted alone and was inspired by international terrorism. investigators are still painstakingly piecing together the exact circumstances of what happened in and around parliament. but in london and westminster generally, security has been visibly and significantly increased, around what was already one of the most heavily protected areas of the capital. the importance of providing a blanket of security, while maintaining the freedoms britons cherish so deeply, never more challenging. wyre davies, bbc news. well, with me is the policing minister brandon lewis.

good afternoon. it must be of great concern to you that someone who was known to the security services, albeit some time ago, and to the police, was able to carry out an attack of this scale? we don't comment on an ongoing investigation. the prime minister and acting deputy commissioner have said what we can say and there's nothing more we can say and there's nothing more we can say at this stage. the policeman who was killed here in westminster, known to yourself, tributes were paid to him today in the commons. there's a real sentiment today of the great fullness of the british public for what the police have done, a sentiment that must be echoed around the country. absolutely. so many colleagues, not just members of parliament but who saw him every day when he came in... it's a wider grief, all of the police force, while sir thoughts are

with keith's family and friends and close colleagues, everyone in the emergency services, who performed so phenomenally well. we owe them a huge debt of thanks for what they do every day. yesterday really highlighted that. what will be the impact of all this? are we going to see more tighter policing on the streets of london? landmarks with more police around them? what people will see in the next few days and weeks is the metropolitan police will assess what is required for london. there will be more armed police to give reassurance. we are confident this issue was a single incident which has been dealt with. what we see now is to have police officers out there, what we're seeing around westminster is people getting on with their daily lives and showing the very british constitution, getting on with things, and that will prevail. thank you. here at westminster the prime minister said it was very much business as usual, with mps and

peers returning to work as normal. our political correspondent iain watson reports. business as usual, that's the message parliament wanted to send. but around westminster it felt like anything but. security was tightened. and the victims remembered. after the silence, determination. it statement, the prime minister. theresa may's tone was measured but resolute. we meet here in the oldest of all parliaments, because we know that democracy and the values it entails will always prevail. those values, free speech, liberty, human rights and the rule of law are embodied here in this place. but they are

shared by three people around the world. this westminster street is normally bustling with mp5, staff and tourists. today it's a crime scene, you and tourists. today it's a crime scene, you even need and tourists. today it's a crime scene, you even need security clea ra nce scene, you even need security clearance just to be here. scene, you even need security clearancejust to be here. this attack on parliament, this attack on democracy has at least achieved something, at one of the most divisive times in british politics, it's brought together people right across the political spectrum in condemnation. it is by demonstrating our values, solidarity, community, humanity and love that we will defeat the poison and division of hatred. today of all days we are reminded that notwithstanding our differences on political and constitutional issues, we are as one in our dedication to democracy of the rule of law and harmony between peoples of law and harmony between peoples of all faiths and none. we have learned in northern ireland that the way to overcome terrorism is by working together, politically

and in every other way, to ensure that our democratic values, the rule of law, human rights are all upheld in every way they can. this was an horrific crime and it has cost lives and caused injury, but as an act of terror it has failed. it has failed because we are here and we are going to go about oui’ here and we are going to go about our business. for many at westminster the loss of pc keith palmer was notjust tragic but raw. the foreign office minister struggled to try to keep him alive, and for one mp he wasn'tjust a police officer, he was a personal friend from the territorial army. he was a strong, professional public servant. and it was a delight to meet him here again only a few months after being elected. would my right honourable friend the

prime minister, in recognition of the work that he did and the other police officers and public servants here in the house do, consider recognising his gallantry and sacrifice formally with a posthumous recognition? but on this day the tributes and reflection at westminster, difficult questions are still being asked. the assailant was tackled and shot but briefly he managed to get through these gates and into the precinct of parliament. is it time to consider whether the police hougaard sensitive sites known to be of interest to terrorists, like parliament or like airports, should routinely carry personal protection weapons? the police her rohit pleaded their job. but, as is routine, the police together with house authorities are securing reviewing the security of the parliamentary state, together with the cabinet office, who have

responsibility for the security measures. the heart of democracy continues to beat but parliament remembered those who lost their lives, in what the prime minister described as an attack on liberty foster iain watson, bbc news, westminster. have a system political editor norman smith is in westminster. after the attack yesterday and the shock of that attack, can it really be business as usual? i think that might be difficult. how could it be given yesterday? people's minds are still on those events. we began the day with a minute's silence, some mps were close to tears but i think today was about symbolism, and symbolism matters. there was the symbolism of a packed commons chamber with many mps cancelling trips away, cancelling other business, making a determined effort to make sure they we re determined effort to make sure they were in the chamber as a sort of visible symbol to the world that parliament continues, it is not

cowed or curtailed by yesterday's attack. similarly there was the symbolism of the day you hear beginning as it always begins with the speaker's procession behind me here through central lobby. the speaker leading his chaplain and this serjeant at arms, a visible symbol of the longevity of this parliament. it has survived through the centuries, it has survived numerous threats and attacks and will continue to do so. there was a more sort of prosaic symbolism of members of the public able to go through those doors up to the public gallery, to watch their elected representatives, a visible symbol that this building remains a public building that people still have access to. although it is often portrayed as a sort of theatre of discord and confrontation, i think there was a genuine sense of unity today, about what binds this place together and it is a shared conviction in democracy. norman

smith in parliament, thank you. westminster bridge was packed, as it always is, yesterday afternoon with tourists taking photos, school children on tours, people on their way to and from work walking through the very heart of london. three people were killed by the attacker — a police officer and two pedestrians on the bridge. around a0 people others were injured — from 12 different countries, as daniel boetcher reports. pc keith palmer, a husband, a father, a police officerfor 15 yea rs. father, a police officerfor 15 years. he died protecting parliament. the prime minister said he was every inch a hero. he was remembered today by colleagues in a police service that has been left numb by the loss of one of their own. today, across the service we have police officers in mourning for theirfallen colleague, pc police officers in mourning for their fallen colleague, pc keith palmer. words can't express the grief that everyone in the police service feels that losing a

colleague, but of course that pales into insignificance. one one thinks of pc palmer's colleagues, family and friends at this extremely troubling time. also killed in this attack was aysha frade, who was in her 40s and worked ata frade, who was in her 40s and worked at a college close to westminster bridge. it is reported she was on her way to pick up her children. the principle of the college that she was highly regarded and loved by stu d e nts was highly regarded and loved by students and colleagues. a former neighbour spoke of her devastation. she was just neighbour spoke of her devastation. she wasjust a neighbour spoke of her devastation. she was just a lovely person with two lovely children. this two lovely, lovely girls. how obese children... they've lost their mother. you leave your kids, you took them to school and go to pick them up and now this has happened to you. i'm just them up and now this has happened to you. i'mjust in them up and now this has happened to you. i'm just in shock, too much shock. those caught up in this attack came from many different countries, romanian officials say a woman who fell into the river thames when the car ploughed into pedestrians is a tourist who was in london to celebrate her boyfriend's birthday. it's reported that she was

seriously injured. and there was a gi’oup seriously injured. and there was a group of students from the school in brittany, they were in london on an educational trip, three were injured, two of them are reported to have suffered serious fractures. the french foreign minister travelled to london to visit them. it's a new tragedy. i want to return to paris, but i wanted to stop in london first, to send a message to the british people. a message of solidarity. of those injured in the attack, 29 were treated in hospital and some of those remaining critical condition. daniel boettcher, bbc news. let's go to france. lucy williamson is at the school in brittany, where that group of stu d e nts brittany, where that group of students who were visiting london, who were here on westminster bridge, are from. it was a big party of stu d e nts are from. it was a big party of students who were here, wasn't it? yes, it was, we've been speaking to

their classmates and friends this morning who turned up for school here and base broke about how upset and shocked they were to learn the news last night that their comrades had been caught up in this attack in london. one woman was telling us how people were in tears. another said that when the headteacher gave their address to the students here this morning, it was interrupted, when one of the pupils fainted. we've also been down to a gathering near the town hall here today, where stu d e nts the town hall here today, where students from other schools in the area came to show their solidarity and as you say, there were many people in london when this attack happened. over 90 pupils from this school behind me. some of whom at least we believe are expected back in france today, so parents here, grandparents, are now waiting to be reunited with those children. lucy williamson, thank you. seven people remain in a critical condition. most of them are being treated at kings college hospital in central london. helena lee is there for us. what

more can you tell us? this is one of five hospitals across london where the injured have been treated this lunchtime. it was just before 4p yesterday afternoon that major incident was declared here and there area incident was declared here and there are a lot of police officers manning all of the entrances here at the hospital. they've got a major trauma centre here. they are very well used to dealing with patients who have life—threatening injuries. in terms of the numbers of those who have been injured, we now know at least 40 been injured, we now know at least a0 were injured in the attacks yesterday. 29 of those have been treated in hospital. three of those are police officers. seven, as you say, are still in a critical condition this lunchtime. here at kings college in particular, there are eight patients, six of them men, two women, and two of them here are ina two women, and two of them here are in a critical condition. in terms of the injuries, some have been

described as catastrophic. here we understand some of the patients do have head injuries. in time police officers will want to speak to the patients to get their version of events, what happened to them, but that will happen in time, and they'll also get support as well as those patients begin to process and died just exactly what happened to them yesterday afternoon. —— and digester them yesterday afternoon. —— and d igester exactly them yesterday afternoon. —— and digester exactly what happened to them yesterday afternoon. let's bring you live pictures of the scene here in westminster, because in the last few minutes the police have opened westminster bridge again. that bridge, which has been closed since the attack that took place at about 2:a0pm yesterday afternoon. bridge that at the time packed with people crossing the bridge, tourists, children, people going to and from work. that bridge now has been opened again. much of westminster, as you can probably tell, still very much locked down at

the moment. as we now know, the attacker was british—born and known to police and the security services. he'd been investigated in the past in connection with violent extremism. what police are now trying to establish is who — if anyone — was helping him. our security correspondent frank gardner reports. investigating the london attack. the clues are out there but this is going to take some time. there's a lot to follow up. but already so—called islamic state has claimed responsibility. first priority has been to identify this man, the attacker. that's been done. he was born in britain, unknown radical on mi5‘s database, —— a known radical. and investigated years ago for violent extremism. then there's the car he drove, crashing into parliament's railings. forensic teams will be able to gather fingerprints and dna samples to find out who else has been inside it recently. cctv and anpr, that's automated numberplate recognition, should reveal the exact route he took yesterday in the lead up to the attack.

the bbc understands it was hired from a rental company in the west midlands, called enterprise. last night there was an armed police raid in birmingham and across the country six addresses have been searched and eight arrests made. it certainly looks like this individual was acting alone, although it's very unusual for someone to actually be completely on their own, isolated. extremists and terrorists live in communities. they have relationships the same as everybody else. i would be very surprised if there weren't others who at least knew that there was an intention to carry out an attack. they may not have known the timing. much of this investigation will be taking place out of sight. gchq, the government's listening station and its partners in mi5, the security service, will want to read and analyse every communication the attacker made. they'll be using analytical software to match up his contacts with other with other known extremists.

if his messages were encrypted, which they probably were, then the codebreakers will get to work. the aim, to find out who else might have been involved. on mi5‘s databases that are over 3000 british citizens known to have links to violent extremism. some of them only on the edges. many people will now be asking, so why couldn't this attack has been stopped? there are issues about whether mi5, which does an excellentjob by the way, has sufficient staffing to be able to track people who come onto its radarfor long enough. we now have the investigatory powers act 2016 in force, which empowers the security services in a proportionate way, to follow the internet traffic of people who are interested in being radicalised and we need to see if it is sufficient. but low tech, high impact attacks like this one, are hard to predict and harder to stop. were it not for the swift response of police and emergency services the casualties could have been far worse. frank gardner, bbc news. let's go to our correspondentjohn

kay, who is in birmingham, where there were arrests last night. what information do you have? it's not clear exactly how the police activity here involves and relates to everything else that's going on in this wider investigation, but what we do know is that this is one of the number of properties across the west midlands that have been raided and searched since yesterday afternoon, when the attack happened in westminster. this appears to be a key pa rt, in westminster. this appears to be a key part, a key focus, four officers right now. eyewitnesses have told us that at about midnight last night a large number of police, some of them armed, descended on this area of hagley road, which is about half a mile from the centre of the city of birmingham. some of them armed, we are told, and some have told us that about three people left with police. i'm not sure if they were formally arrested or not,

but that's what we've been told. i've spoken to one guy who saw it from his window, and he said what he saw was terrifying. i saw like a war. a war? yes, like a war on the streets. something you see only in movies. i saw it behind my windows on the street. it was very frightening. it was like, what the hell is happening here? is it a dream? do i have to wake up? what's happening? do i have to go away from here? am i safe here? all those questions were arising in me. i was frightened. the police didn't tell me anything. they didn't bother to tell me anything, just, stay away. that was a student, who lives in a neighbouring building, who witnessed the police activity here last night. we've seen crates, bags, being taken out of here by forensic officers this morning and another thing we know is that the car used in the attack was hired from an enterprise

car rental unit also here in the city of birmingham. jon kay, thank you. let's get the latest on the police investigation from daniel sandford, who's at scotland yard. we know the man who carried out the attack was british—born, known to the security services. we are not being told who he was though. know, if you imagine how this investigation is working, the police are starting with the incident itself. there's a man who has stabbed a police officer, driven a car, mowing down lots of pedestrians, and then he's shot dead bya pedestrians, and then he's shot dead by a plainclothes police officer with a handgun. so they started with him and they are fairly confident now they know the identity of that man, but at this stage, for investigative reasons, they do not wa nt investigative reasons, they do not want that name to get into the public domain, because they think it might help people who may have been assisting him. the next thing was to gather the evidence of the crime

itself, to gather the evidence of where people were hit by the vehicle, what damage was done, where the man had stabbed the police officer, where the weapons were left. and actually, quite a lot of that evidence gathering has happened now, because in the last ten minutes we've seen suddenly the road sweepers that were finishing the cleaning of westminster bridge leaves, and pedestrians now walking across westminster bridge. traffic is not yet flowing. pedestrians walking back and forth across the bridge. the next phase of evidence gathering has happened. but of course the big, big, big part of the investigation is still to be done. police have arrested eight people overnight, people known to the man is to see if they knew anything about it, and they'll be working outwards from that, from his devices, his computers and his mobile phones and trying to work out who he knew and what communication he may have had about is planned attack. daniel sandford, thank you. the pope has expressed sympathy for the victims of yesterday's attack.

in a letter to the archbishop of westminster, he offered his solidarity for all those affected. our religious affairs correspondent martin bashir is at westminster cathedral. yes, i spent the morning here at westminster cathedral, where cardinal vincent nichols has been praying for the victims, the emergency services and the wider communities response to this attack. he emphasised that regardless of who claims responsibility, our response cannot be one of hatred. we have to be very clear about i think two other things. one is that we utterly condemn and reject this kind of mindless violence. it has nojustification. it has no credibility. there is nothing to be gained, no kudos to be gained, in this behaviour. and also we have to make sure we do not give space in our response to hatred. if we make enemies out of people who are our friends, then we are falling in to the very

trap that the violent people want us to fall into, so there is no space for hatred for those who are our friends, for hatred for the muslim population in general in this country. no reprisals, no sense that we are targeting our condemnation at anybody other than those who perpetrate these things. at moments like this religious faith is seen as a source of comfort. but there are many people who would say that religious faith is the source of conflict in ourworld. what do you say to them? you know, every ideology has always had this experience of extremism growing from within it, and that is secular ideologies as well as religious beliefs. but nobody in their right mind can claim the name of god for violence of this sort.

this is an abomination against the name of god. and as if to further emphasise the catholic church's commitment to interfaith relationships, we'vejust learned that cardinal vincent nichols will be taking a delegation of four british imams to meet with pope francis at the beginning of next month. back to you. martin, thank you. let's look at the latest weather, with helen willetts. it's chilly