first, a terrorist attack at the heart of the british establishment this wednesday. at least three people have been killed and 20 wounded after a man drove his car into the westminster bridge before going on to stab a police officer. he was shot and killed by police. police say they are satisfied that there was only one suspect involved. alexander hearst has the story. the attacker 2:40,

mowed down numerous pedestrians as he drove h his car across was mr. bridge before crashing into railings next the houses of parliament -- next to westminster bridge. >> the car -- passed me. that small shop, the victim was hit. i did not pay attention. a second after that, a few meters -- they continued. by the end of the bridge, i did not know what was happening. the car went straight. alexander: the assailant ran to the gates of the palace of westminster and stabbing officer who later died. the attacker described as a middle-aged man was almost immediately shot by other officers on the scene. >> there was allowed bang. sosomeone crashed the car. it took some pedestrians out. they were just laying there.

surged around the corner by the gates, just the opposite o of big ben. a guy came across my right shoulder with a knife and just started plunging into the policeman. which had parliament been meeting for prime minister's questions suspended its session and prime minister theresa may was rushed away to safety. after spending two hours capped inside the houses of parliament as police searched the building room by room, relator evacuated to westminster abbey. the attack, which unfolded in the heart of london near some of britain's most a misalignments, took place on the one-year anniversary of the brussels bombing, and it is being treated as a terrorist incident. >> three french high school students are among the injured. the french prime minister has sent his condolences to the families. they came from school in western brittany. at least two of those high

between 15dren, age and 16, are in critical condition. their families have been flown in to be with them tonight. to talk a bit about today's attack, i am joined by an expert in counterterrorism. thanks for being with us on "france 24." we have got no claim of responsibility. the suspect it has been killed has not been named. we do know this was a lone wolf attack. a man acting on his own. >> yes. there will love the acclaim of responsibility because the perpetrator is deceased. there might be others to claim responsibility on his behlalf. the evidence for any links between those will probably be tenuous. about debate will now be whether this was somebody who was instructed by a terrorist group. the number one suspect tonight being islamic state group.

or whether he was simply inspired by online propaganda. >> yeah. i mean, instructed, inspired. what we are looking g at, as we did only a a few days ago o at l y airport, are the acts of increasingly desperate individuals. the rate of return on incidents theg vehicles from -- to german christmas market at christmas, to this incident today, is a diminishing rate of return. these incidents are all too producible. -- predictable. what we see is individual have a tremendous sense of grievance but self-righteousness but really who are expressing that disconnection from any community. that's why they perpetrate such acts of barbarism, because they are not accountable to anybody. >> and there are, of course, been links to him with previous

attacks, in that this was a very low tech method. for societyifficult in countries to protect themselves against these kind of attacks, isn't it? >> it is absolutely impossible. anybody who after today -- we will probably hear the same ed even moreg we ne security -- are wasting even more money because it is impossible to assure that such security and society in all places in all time. the fact it took place so close to the british establishment proves that fact. we need to begin to think about why it is that there are monamot us individual so disconnected from society they pursue these kinds of acts of nihilistic barbarism. i wouldn't even credit it with the word terrorism. >> what would you suggest as a way of stopping these kinds of attacks, stopping people like this from doing this sort of

thing? >> there's not going to be any short-term solution. i'm not against a security forces doing what security forces are meant to do, but at the same time, we need to understand there is no security solution to what is evidently a much more widespread social problem. there are amongst us, and they are not all muslims are not all arab or middle eastern or asian a great there are number of people who have an exaggerated sense of grievance and self-righteousness in their cauxsse. they are occasionally encouraged in their belief -- >> the vast majority of civilians, sorry to interrupt you, who have been murdered by terrorists have been -- terrorists who claim allegiance to islamic state group. >> that is because they know that you claim allegiance -- is scheap.

and it scares the hell out of us. the reality is, the sooner we can return to normality the better. because what we have is a tragic loss of four lives, as well as some very seriously injured individuals. but the longer we ourselves as a society reacts by giving these individuals 24/7 media coverage, the more we complete their act of terror. for terrorism to work, it requires the society in which it occurs to alter its ways. we are altering our ways. no matter how many prime ministers and presidents cannot just say we will continue with life as normal, to lock down the whole of westminster for so long for one individual is to credit that individual with far too much power. >> if the security services had not acted in the way they had, he could've been much worse and a lot more people may have been killed. >> i'm not sure i understand that.

obviously, there are around the palace, around parliament -- >> there are more armed police around westminster because of previous terrorist attacks. if there had not been armed ways that westminster today, a lot more people would have been murdered -- because this individual is trying to get into the houses of parliament. >> i presume you have been working -- watching the same images i have. and you will have seen possibly hundreds of emergency vehicles responding to one individual. if you think that is a proportionate response, fine. but the reality is, you're right. there are armed police surrounding the houses of parliament. be somewhereey'll else next week. i think the response itself needs to -- i understand why it is at the scale it is -- >> surely the security services must protect the people. i'm here and france were a lot of people were mowed down on the street by a man driving a lorry in nice.

if the police had been there there would have been -- the police were doing what they were supposed to do in london. >> i disagree. what would more police have done in -- >> shot the driver. >> shoot him? well, you know, there was an attack at orly airport a few days ago where the individual tried to seize the gun of a military -- >> he was shot by two other armed shoulders. >> if the gun had not been there, he would not have been seizing it, eitither. >> thank you very much indeed. to talk, find out a bit more about the french schoolchildren caught up in these terrible attacks who are in critical condition. you were telling us about how the french are trying to get them back to france as quickly as possible. >> now there's a confirmation that the french government has

sent up governmental playing with the families of the three students injured. they should be landing in the next couple of hours in london, so the families can be with those high school students. three students, two critically injured. of course, as soon as those children, or those students are in a condition where they can be moved back to france, that is probably what is going to happen. but we don't have much detail about the exact situation, -- they said critical but that is also a vague word. the french president francois hollande doing what he can to get those students and parents together. they're trying to get those fellas together as soon as they can. >> and, of course, members of parliament a pure have been one of the targets of this attack. it happened right in the middle

of prime minister's questions, which happens every wednesday at westminster, when prime minister theresa may was taking questions from members of parliament. when the speaker of the house ended the session and people heard gunshots outside. here is one mp describing her experience a little earlier. knew shots ofwe been fired, we knew it was a very serious situation.. we all raced outside. i ran to westminster patrol and told them they had to shut the tube. my concern was about people going a obout their business and wandering into a terrorist situation. deeply shockeded. our thoughts are with the braid police offfficer who stand on te cacarriage gates e every day, keeping this country safe. our thoughts are with them and their families. >> i spoke to another member of parliament's, paul monahan. he, too, was locked in a chamber

for over an hour. here is what he had to say. >> i think is a tragic event. a significant event at westminster in london. there wererry that some french citizens involved, caught up in the struggle attack. the facts are still unclear but obviously, some individuals have tried to gain access to the house of commons at westminster to cause injury, alarm, harm. very briefly, police officers have intervened, and a number of individuals have lost their lives both in the parliament restate and members of the public, as your reporter just noted in the vicinity of westminster. a struggle situation that obviously -- a dreadful situation. >> we are still getting reports coming in. no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which police say was carried out

by a so-called lone wolf. when you are inside the chamber, what was it like? what were other mp's saying? what was the atmosphere? >> i think the mood was very low. clearly members of parliament were very -- worried, we had been hearing had been injured. information coming into the chamber where i was locked in for safety, -- we relied for social media for that as i suspect the rest of the world was. we're now many of us back in our offices. we're started to hear more about the events that have taken place. unfortunately, our worst fears have been founded. it does seem to have been a dreadful attack with the motivation still unknown. dangerouscoming more to be a member of parliament, isn't it? it is a terrible thing to say but one things about jeri cox.

the numbers of threats that mp's say they are receiving, violent threats by social media and other methods. do you feel more fearful for your personal safety than you did in the past? >> yes, i think so. i'm a relatively new member of permit. i was elected in may 2015. very few individuals elected along with me suspected that at some point in our political careers would be the targets of times like this. it is not why people go into politics. it is not something many people are prepared for. it is at solely a source of concern. i think members of parliament i scotland refn to do a lot of traveling and spend a lot of time away from home also have great concern over their families who are left in our constituencies, perhaps without us being there to help and assist if any trouble should take place. it is a very worrying time. i do think, as you say, the

threat to politicians -- not just in the u.k., but around the world -- is increasing. and that is regrettable. >> here in france, we have been living under a state of emergency for many months now following attacks in paris and, of course, subsequent attack ion nice, in t -- in nice. do you think the u.k. needs to bring in tougher anti-terrorism laws, or are you satisfied that all is being done to keep people safe? >> i think the prospect of an attack by an individual or small group of individuals who perhaps hijack a vehicle or something like that, i think, is probably very difficult to contract. i think some individuals are intend on taking that sort of action. that is assorted concentric to be honest, i really do not think it is something security service can mitigate against. so, i think secure levels are

very high in the u.k., just as they are in france. my understanding is that we are at the highest possible level in the u.k. the police, the military, are all working very hard to make sure everybody is kept as safe as possible. as we've seen in france, in germany, as we have seen in belgium, i know the u.k., it's often impossible to make sure that everybody is 100% safe 100% of the time. >> one final thing. a lot of people in the u.k. will be very frightened and feeling nervous tonight, particular in the capital. what message which you have for people, for your constituents? >> for my constituency in the north of scotland, one of the safest places in the u.k., and one of the safest places in europe. but it is incumbent on everybody, i think, to be careful, to take care, to watch other people. and any size concern or any signs of worry, contact the

police immediately -- or any signs of concern. to individuals if you are worried, if you do see something that you think is wrong, get in touch with the police. >> that was par monahan speaking to me earlier. news just in in france. the eiffel tower will be switched off at midnight to patriot to the victims of the attacks in westminster. news also coming through from romania. the government saying that two romanian nationals were caught up in the attack on westminster bridge and are being treated for their injuries in hospital. let's just remind yourself what happened in london today. at least three people were killed and around 20 injured following the police have called a terrorist attack in center london. policetims includes a

officer stabbed to death -- and one who died when the assailant drovove his car into the pedestrians on westminster bridge. three french school were caught up in the attack, as well. the assailant was shot dead by police, and police say they are satisfied only one s suspect was involvlved. alexander hirst has more details. theander: at 2:40 p.m., attacker -- drove his car across westminster bridge before crashing it into railings next to the houses of parliament. >> i was waiting for the green light to change. passed me. that small shop after the traffic light, the victim was hit. i did not pay attention afterwards. a second after that, a few meters -- they continued, but i do not know -- i do not know what was happening. but there was a lot of people. the car went straight. alexander: t t assailant ran

through the gates of the palace of westminster and stabbed an officer who died from her wounds. the attacker described by witnesses as a middle-aged man was almost a medially shot by other officers on the scene. >> there was allowed bang. the guy crash the car, and took some pedestrians out. there.re just layining the whole crowd d just surged -- just opppposite the big ben. a guy came alongside me with a big knife and started plunging into the policeman. parliament which have been meeting for prime minister's question suspended its session and prime minister theresa may was rushed away to safety. mp's, after spending two hours kept inside the houses of parliament, as police searched the building, were later evacuated to westminster abbey. the attack, which unfolded in the heart of london are some of britain's most famous monuments, took place on the one-year

anniversary of the brussels bombing, and is being treated by police as a terrorist incident. there keeping an eye on the latest of elements. has been a while since we heard from the police. they gave a press conference earlrlier the seven. the most important thing is that they are satisfied only one suspect was involved, and he was shot dead by police this afternoon. there is still a lot of things we do not know about what happened, not least to this man was. >> yes. we know information about the identity of this man, where he was from, his name, his eight. -- his age. that is what mark raleigh, the head of counterterrorism at scotland yard was saying. he was saying this is an ongoing investigation. when he mentioned was that this was, indeed, terrorist attack. there is a counterterrorism investigation going on. he did not want to give more details about the investigation. and that is probably why there is no information about the

identity of this man. as you said, we are confident this is a lone wolf. this is one man attacked, but he was very cautious still because it was the early hours of the investigation, saying "it would be foolish to be overconfident early on --" still trying to keep options open for the rest of the investigation. we've mentioned the casualties. four dead total, that includes the attacker as well as the police officer who was stabbed by that attacker. at least 20 injured, including those three french high school students, two in critical condition. so, as you mentioned, it has been a while now since that press conference that took place at 7 p.m. paris time, 6:00 p.m. in the u.k. since then, no information coming from scotland yard. and probably coming -- in the

coming hours, we may have more information but this is as the head of counterterrorism said, an ongoing investigation. they do not want to give any information that could hamper that investigation. have not heard from prime minister theresa may or the mayor of london. we are still waiting to hear from several officials in london. quite a few hours ago p.m. we know that a security meeting is underway. a little earlier i spoke to a counterterrorism expert. he's based in jerusalem. i asked him for his initial reaction to this attack. we're looking at right here is something that is incredibly difficult to contain, the british clear security services are first-rate -- but we have heard again and again and again, in recent weeks, for example, when the new independent review of terrorism legislation took up his posted

two or three weeks ago, very, very commentary to say that the threat is unmanageable and terms of resources. we always have thehe idea that somebody is s eventually going o get through. and that is particularly tu rue were you are dealing with the t threat inspired by thee memessage. this is a very low-tech thing to do. the car i s readily available. it is incredibly difficult to protect against, because it is an idea that is inspiring this kind of -=- to take-up action in any way you can, which islamist state is extensively promoting this idea. grab anything within your your vicinity, go out and kill infidels. i think in terms of going after policeman and is very much in line with this sort of propaganda that has been pushed on these people. as i say, i think it is something that is very difficult to protect from. and, unfortunate, and never ball

in my view that it will eventually happen in london again. >-- unfortunately inevitable. >> the part of the british establishment, where the laws are made in the country. an attack on power. this comes on, of course, the anniversary of the isis attack in brussels, on the airport and on the metro system where more than 30 people were killed. there is a lot of symbolism today. >> correct. too much't read e attacks -- so often th profile reveals a disaster, diverse sort of gestation to these attacks. so, it's unclear exactly why now and why this target. but what is clear is we're seeing an increasing focus on symbols of state, soldiers, policemen. these are preferred targets -- also jewish on account of the

extreme anti-says isemitism. we heard the british government say just recently again that the jewish committee is under severe threat from this particular problem. so, i do not think it is surprising that this is the target. at the same time, one must not read too much into this until it is clear how this specific attack unfolded in terms of how this person came to decide on the attack, how they came to decide on the target. in many ways, it is irrelevant. i think anybody who has been to parliament recently could see they take the threat extremely seriously. the security has been stepped up. even in recent months, significant we stepped up again. i'd like to think -- that they did stop further harm coming rather rapidly. to hear still waiting from the british prime minister

theresa may for a statement on the events of this afternoon. as we've been reporting, as she is chairing an emergency meeting of ministers talking about security. but we did hear from her interior minister, the home, secretary who made these comments earlier. priorityvernment's top is the security of its people. i urge everyoyone to remain cal, but to be vigilant. if they see anything thehey are concererned about, they should report it to the police. the british people will be united in working together to defeat those who would harm our shared values. values of democracy, tolerananc, and the rule of law.w. values symbolized by the houses of parliament. valuescócócócócócóvp

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