News / Politics

Police seek more information on London attacker

Friday, 24 March 2017 5:11 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 24 March 2017 5:11 PM ]

Mark Rowley, Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations in the Metropolitan Police, speaks to the media outside Scotland Yard in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. (Photo by AP)

The British police have sought more information on the man who on Wednesday plowed a car into pedestrians and stabbed a police officer outside the Parliament in London, killing and injuring several people, an incident that has been declared a terrorist incident.

On Friday, the Metropolitan Police revealed that the London attacker Khalid Masood's original birth name was Adrian Russell Ajao, who was born on Christmas Day 1964.

British police said two further arrests have been made in connection with the deadly attack outside parliament in London and police are trying to establish if he acted on his own or others had directed him to do so. Nine people have been reported to be in custody.

His name is believed to have changed to Adrian Elms during childhood before his conversion to Islam when he became known as Khalid Chowdhury and later Khalid Masood.

The Metropolitan police added that the 52-year-old’s first conviction was in November 1983 for criminal damage and his last conviction was in December 2003 for possession of a knife.

It's understood Masood was once investigated by MI5 for violent extremism but was discounted as a threat.

Khalid Masood, the assailant of the deadly attack is treated by emergency services outside the Houses of Parliament in London on March 22, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Four people were killed and 50 others injured after the assailant rammed a car into pedestrians and stabbed a police officer outside the British parliament. Also on Friday, a 75-year-old pensioner became the fifth person to die in the Westminster attack.

Earlier, police raided a house in the city of Birmingham, where they arrested a number of people.

The police have also asked people to remain vigilant and called on anyone with images or films from the incident to share it with authorities.

Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack has also drawn strong condemnation from Western leaders, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressing shock at the assault. US president Donald Trump has also offered condolences to British Prime Minister Theresa May over the terror attack.

Meanwhile, the House of Commons has observed a minute of silence to pay tribute to the victims of the attack.

The leader of the Muslim Council of Britain has also condemned the attack and described it as "cowardly and depraved". Londoners also held a vigil at a square in the city to pay tribute to the victims of the attack.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk