London Attacker Identified, ISIS Claims Responsibility
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LONDON (CBSMiami) -- Eight people were taken into custody in overnight raids in London and Birmingham in connection with Wednesday's deadly attack outside of Britain's Parliament that left 4 people dead, including the attacker.
American Kurt Cochran was among the dead. The Utah man was celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary, his wife was injured in the attack.
British officials said 52-year-old Khalid Masood drove a speeding car across the Westminster Bridge deliberately mowing down pedestrians. Witnesses said he rammed the gates of Parliament before getting out of the car and stabbing 48-year-old police officer Keith Palmer to death.
Masood was shot to death by police.
Thursday morning ministers of Parliament held a moment of silence honoring the victims of the attack that took place just steps away from the building.
"Yesterday an act of terror tried to silence our democracy," said Prime Minister Theresa May in her address to the ministers.
As for Masood, the prime minister said he was known to British intelligence.
"What I can confirm is that the man was British born and that some years ago he was once investigated by MI5 in relation to concerns about violence extremism," said May.
However, he was no longer been deemed "part of the current intelligence picture," according to May.
British officials are investigating ISIS claims of responsibility for the attack.
The incident is the latest in a series of recent terror attacks in Europe where a lone individual used a vehicle as their weapon of choice.
"Who is going to be able to stop anybody with a desire to carry out an ideology from hiring a truck or buying a car," said Robin Simcox, a security analyst with the Thatcher Center for Freedom.
Police have increased patrols in London and May said there is no reason to believe further attacks are planned.
