UK Parliament Crash: Man Arrested, At Least 3 Injured

August 15, 2018 National News

A car crash outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster is being treated as a terrorism threat, BBC reports. 

Three people were injured when the silver Ford Fiesta hatchback swerved into cyclists and pedestrians before colliding with barriers outside Parliament at 7:37 BST this morning.

The suspect was identified as Salih Khater, a 29-year-old British citizen of Sudanese origin. Officials are investigating his ties to terrorist organizations.

Eyewitnesses say that the driver seemed to intentionally hit pedestrians. Police say the driver was the only person in the car and no weapons were found.

He has been arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses and is being held in a south London police station.

A video showing an aerial view of the scene appears to show the vehicle swerving off the road and into the barriers.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu stated that the event will be treated as a terrorist incident, as it appears to have been a “deliberate act on an iconic London building,” according to CNN.

Two of the injured were taken to the hospital, while the third was treated at the scene for minor injuries. One woman is currently being treated for non-life threatening injuries and one man has since been discharged from the hospital.

In response, the police have closed the nearby Westminster Underground station and Londoners have been told to avoid the area.

President Trump tweeted a reaction to the event early this morning:

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Hailey Nagma
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Hailey Nagma is a sophomore journalism major at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is passionate about writing, music, movies, and The Bachelor. She hopes to one day travel as a freelance reporter and witness all of the amazing things the world has to offer.

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