The Westminster attacker was British-born and known to the police and intelligence services, the prime minister has revealed.
In a statement to the Commons, Theresa May said he had been investigated some years ago over violent extremism but had been a "peripheral figure".
"He was not part of the current intelligence picture," she said.
Eight arrests have been made following the attack on Wednesday that left four dead.
Those that died are PC Keith Palmer, Aysha Frade who worked at a London college, a man in his 50s and the attacker.
Seven of the injured are still in hospital in a critical condition.
A further 29 had been treated in hospital, Mr Rowley added.
In the attack on Wednesday afternoon, a man drove a car along a pavement on Westminster Bridge knocking down pedestrians, creating panic and leaving dozens injured.
He then ran towards Parliament where he stabbed PC Palmer who was unarmed. Armed police then shot dead the attacker in the grounds.
Mrs May paid tribute to PC Palmer saying: "He was every inch a hero and his actions will never be forgotten."
She also said one of three police officers injured as they returned from an event to recognise their bravery was in a stable condition.
She told MPs, many of whom had been caught up in the commotion: "We will never waver in the face of terrorism."
Mrs Frade worked at a London sixth form college just a few hundred metres from Westminster Bridge.
Principal at DLD College, Rachel Borland, said she was "highly regarded and loved by our students and by her colleagues".
Mrs May said 12 Britons were admitted to hospital and other victims included three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, one German, one Pole, one Irish, one Chinese, one Italian, one American and two Greeks.
Thierry Terret, who is in charge of schools in Brittany, said the three injured students were not in a life threatening condition and were expected to be back home by Friday.
In a statement made earlier outside Scotland Yard, Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley said seven arrests had been made during raids in London and Birmingham - an eighth was announced several hours later.
"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.
"To be explicit, at this stage we have no specific information about further threats to the public."
He urged journalists not to publish the attacker's name while searches were continuing.
He said Londoners should expect to see more police officers on the streets, after officers' leave had been cancelled and duty hours extended.
It was initially thought that three members of the public had been killed on Westminster Bridge, but Mr Rowley referred to just two in his statement.
Director General of MI5 Andrew Parker condemned the attack as "appalling and disgusting".
The agency's operational response was "fully mobilised in support of the police", he said.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Westminster attack: Murdered officer named as PC Keith Palmer
An unarmed police officer who was among four people killed by a terrorist in Westminster has been named as PC Keith Palmer.
The 48-year-old husband and father was stabbed by a man armed with two knives in the grounds of the Houses of Parliament.
Moments earlier the assailant struck a number of pedestrians with a car on Westminster Bridge, before crashing the vehicle into railings outside Parliament. He was shot dead by armed police after attacking PC Palmer.
One of the three members of the public who died was hit by the attacker's car on Westminster Bridge.
Police say approximately 40 people were injured in the atrocity, some of whom were said to have sustained "catastrophic" injuries.
:: Live updates: Five dead in Westminster terror attack
Among those who rushed to help PC Palmer was Government minister Tobias Ellwood, who performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the injured officer.
Paying tribute to PC Palmer, Met Police deputy commissioner Mark Rowley said: "He was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift - and he had every right to expect that would happen."
Conservative MP James Cleverly, who served with PC Palmer in the Royal Artillery, described the officer as "a lovely man".
He said: "I'm heartbroken. My thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of PC Keith Palmer. A brave man."
:: Westminster attack: How the terror unfolded
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the officer "personifies the brave men and women of our police and emergency services who work around the clock to keep us safe".
Theresa May has described the incident, which happened a year to the day after the Brussels attacks, as "sick and depraved" and praised the "exceptional bravery" of police and security services.
She also vowed that "the voices of hate and evil" would never be allowed "to drive us apart".
:: Witnesses recall horror of Westminster attack
Among those injured on Westminster Bridge were three police officers who were on their way back from a commendation ceremony. Two of them are in a serious condition.
Five South Koreans, three French youngsters on a school trip and two Romanians were also injured on the bridge, while a woman who fell into the Thames was rescued and given urgent treatment on a nearby pier.
Moments after the attack Parliament was placed on lockdown and the Prime Minister was bundled into a car as officers searched the building, evacuating floors one-by-one.
:: Analysis - Lone wolves keep security services up at night
Bomb squad officers were also called in to deal with a suspicious package found in a vehicle outside Parliament.
Metropolitan Police has deployed extra armed officers on the streets of the capital.
Meanwhile, Mr Rowley said the force "can call on the support of the military should we need to at a future point".
Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will sit at their normal times later, less than 24 hours after the deadly attack.
The 48-year-old husband and father was stabbed by a man armed with two knives in the grounds of the Houses of Parliament.
Moments earlier the assailant struck a number of pedestrians with a car on Westminster Bridge, before crashing the vehicle into railings outside Parliament. He was shot dead by armed police after attacking PC Palmer.
One of the three members of the public who died was hit by the attacker's car on Westminster Bridge.
Police say approximately 40 people were injured in the atrocity, some of whom were said to have sustained "catastrophic" injuries.
:: Live updates: Five dead in Westminster terror attack
Among those who rushed to help PC Palmer was Government minister Tobias Ellwood, who performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the injured officer.
Paying tribute to PC Palmer, Met Police deputy commissioner Mark Rowley said: "He was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift - and he had every right to expect that would happen."
Conservative MP James Cleverly, who served with PC Palmer in the Royal Artillery, described the officer as "a lovely man".
He said: "I'm heartbroken. My thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of PC Keith Palmer. A brave man."
:: Westminster attack: How the terror unfolded
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the officer "personifies the brave men and women of our police and emergency services who work around the clock to keep us safe".
Theresa May has described the incident, which happened a year to the day after the Brussels attacks, as "sick and depraved" and praised the "exceptional bravery" of police and security services.
She also vowed that "the voices of hate and evil" would never be allowed "to drive us apart".
:: Witnesses recall horror of Westminster attack
Among those injured on Westminster Bridge were three police officers who were on their way back from a commendation ceremony. Two of them are in a serious condition.
Five South Koreans, three French youngsters on a school trip and two Romanians were also injured on the bridge, while a woman who fell into the Thames was rescued and given urgent treatment on a nearby pier.
Moments after the attack Parliament was placed on lockdown and the Prime Minister was bundled into a car as officers searched the building, evacuating floors one-by-one.
:: Analysis - Lone wolves keep security services up at night
Bomb squad officers were also called in to deal with a suspicious package found in a vehicle outside Parliament.
Metropolitan Police has deployed extra armed officers on the streets of the capital.
Meanwhile, Mr Rowley said the force "can call on the support of the military should we need to at a future point".
Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will sit at their normal times later, less than 24 hours after the deadly attack.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Westminster terror attack: Lone wolves keep security services up at night
A carving knife. A car. An ideology twisted into madness itself and vanity. These are the ingredients that make for the perfect terrorist.
Membership of a cell of like-minded monsters may have been a source of confidence and a source of inspiration.
But it's the lone wolves who keep the security services up at night.
The Westminster attack on ordinary civilians and police guarding the Houses of Parliament could have been predicted and it was.
:: Witness: 'I saw 8-10 people on the ground'
But short of ending democracy, of closing access to the democratic process and its trappings, short of delivering strategic effect to lunatics and death cult members, by shutting off the mother of parliaments off from the world, very little more could be done to protect the precinct.
Not, that is, unless the United Kingdom turned itself into something resembling the so-called Islamic State or at the very least a nation so preoccupied with its own security that it has lost touch with what it was that was worth protecting.
This is both the physical vulnerability and the philosophical strength that extremists so wish to attack.
The latest London atrocity is an attempt to repeat the Nice mass murder-by-truck committed last year in which 86 people were killed watching Bastille Day celebrations in Nice.
:: First picture of terror attack suspect
It has fallen on the anniversary of last year's Brussels attacks too.
The Nice attack was echoed in the December Christmas market attacks in Berlin. None of them were planned by a terrorist cell following orders from Raqqa, the capital of the so-called Islamic State.
That would have meant that they were vulnerable to penetration and exposure.
:: Live updates on attack
IS and other groups have long understood that all that is required is to find, or make, a fanatic and give them a few basic hints over the internet and the world's attention will be focused on the bloody outcome.
We've seen it in London before with the murder of Lee Rigby in Woolwich. Two semi-deranged wannabe jihadists with egos in inverse proportions to their understanding of Islam can cause mayhem.
But it is worth remembering that these attacks are dramatic but they are tactical assaults. They do not result in strategic change.
Power will still come on, the wheels of commerce and industry will turn and the United Kingdom will not shudder under the impact of a fanatic with a car.
:: Witness: 'A guy ran past me and stabbed cop with big knife'
Membership of a cell of like-minded monsters may have been a source of confidence and a source of inspiration.
But it's the lone wolves who keep the security services up at night.
The Westminster attack on ordinary civilians and police guarding the Houses of Parliament could have been predicted and it was.
:: Witness: 'I saw 8-10 people on the ground'
But short of ending democracy, of closing access to the democratic process and its trappings, short of delivering strategic effect to lunatics and death cult members, by shutting off the mother of parliaments off from the world, very little more could be done to protect the precinct.
Not, that is, unless the United Kingdom turned itself into something resembling the so-called Islamic State or at the very least a nation so preoccupied with its own security that it has lost touch with what it was that was worth protecting.
This is both the physical vulnerability and the philosophical strength that extremists so wish to attack.
The latest London atrocity is an attempt to repeat the Nice mass murder-by-truck committed last year in which 86 people were killed watching Bastille Day celebrations in Nice.
:: First picture of terror attack suspect
It has fallen on the anniversary of last year's Brussels attacks too.
The Nice attack was echoed in the December Christmas market attacks in Berlin. None of them were planned by a terrorist cell following orders from Raqqa, the capital of the so-called Islamic State.
That would have meant that they were vulnerable to penetration and exposure.
:: Live updates on attack
IS and other groups have long understood that all that is required is to find, or make, a fanatic and give them a few basic hints over the internet and the world's attention will be focused on the bloody outcome.
We've seen it in London before with the murder of Lee Rigby in Woolwich. Two semi-deranged wannabe jihadists with egos in inverse proportions to their understanding of Islam can cause mayhem.
But it is worth remembering that these attacks are dramatic but they are tactical assaults. They do not result in strategic change.
Power will still come on, the wheels of commerce and industry will turn and the United Kingdom will not shudder under the impact of a fanatic with a car.
:: Witness: 'A guy ran past me and stabbed cop with big knife'
Hollywood screenwriter claims Disney 'copied' ideas for Zootopia
Disney is being sued by a Hollywood producer and screenwriter who claims to have come up with the idea for hit film Zootopia 17 years ago.
Gary L Goldman filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, accusing the animation giant of stealing his ideas for the Oscar-winning animated blockbuster.
The producer and screenwriter, who has credits in big budget films such as Arnold Schwarzenegger's Total Recall and Tom Cruise's Minority Report, says he pitched a similar idea to Disney in 2000 and 2009.
He claims there are substantial similarities between his project and Zootopia, released last year.
"The Disney Zootopia is substantially similar to the Goldman Zootopia," says the complaint filed by Mr Goldman's Esplanade Productions.
"They copied Goldman's themes, settings, plot, characters, and dialogue - some virtually verbatim," says the 37-page lawsuit.
The lawsuit says that Mr Goldman's idea saw the film pitched as a way to explore life in America through a civilised society of animals.
Zootopia was nominated for a number of awards this year, and went on to win best animated film at the Oscars.
The story explores prejudice and contemporary race issues through different types of animals.
In response to the lawsuit, Disney told Deadline that "Mr Goldman's lawsuit is riddled with patently false allegations".
"It is an unprincipled attempt to lay claim to a successful film he didn't create, and we will vigorously defend against it in court."
Zootopia has grossed more than $1bn to date.
Gary L Goldman filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, accusing the animation giant of stealing his ideas for the Oscar-winning animated blockbuster.
The producer and screenwriter, who has credits in big budget films such as Arnold Schwarzenegger's Total Recall and Tom Cruise's Minority Report, says he pitched a similar idea to Disney in 2000 and 2009.
He claims there are substantial similarities between his project and Zootopia, released last year.
"The Disney Zootopia is substantially similar to the Goldman Zootopia," says the complaint filed by Mr Goldman's Esplanade Productions.
"They copied Goldman's themes, settings, plot, characters, and dialogue - some virtually verbatim," says the 37-page lawsuit.
The lawsuit says that Mr Goldman's idea saw the film pitched as a way to explore life in America through a civilised society of animals.
Zootopia was nominated for a number of awards this year, and went on to win best animated film at the Oscars.
The story explores prejudice and contemporary race issues through different types of animals.
In response to the lawsuit, Disney told Deadline that "Mr Goldman's lawsuit is riddled with patently false allegations".
"It is an unprincipled attempt to lay claim to a successful film he didn't create, and we will vigorously defend against it in court."
Zootopia has grossed more than $1bn to date.
Westminster attack: Social media unites with #WeAreNotAfraid and #prayforlondon
Social media users around the world have united in a show of support for the people of Britain following the terror attack in London.
As the scale of the incident became clear, driven by pictures and video of the horrors in Westminster being shared, #prayforlondon and #WeAreNotAfraid became top trends on Twitter.
There was unity in terms of condemnation, with many appealing for the actions of a single man not to divide society.
But others chose to point the finger of blame at Islamic extremism, despite a lack of confirmation of the identity of the attacker.
The vast majority preferred to offer their condolences to those killed and injured and praise the bravery of the emergency services.
:: Live updates: Death toll rises in Westminster attack
One user, @RodBishop15, wrote: "Twitter 2 short 4 me to express my outrage at today's #Westminster attack and my admiration for our police officers #parliament #prayforlondon."
There was debate too as media commentator and talkRADIO host Julia Hartley-Brewer sparked a backlash - as well as support - from a post requesting people stop "all this #prayforlondon nonsense", arguing "it's these bloody stupid beliefs that help create this violence in the first place."
She responded to her critics by adding: "Prayers don't solve anything".
As Londoners reported they were safe and well, others struck a defiant tone by saying people were not cowering from the spectre of terrorism as night fell.
@HillyFoz said: "London's just going about its business. Pubs and theatres still full. Trains packed. Everyone looks a little sadder but #WeAreNotAfraid."
Others were more concerned that the attack would be used by politicians as justification for curbing freedoms.
@TerriPaddock wrote: "Dear Americans & Trump fans. #prayforlondon if you want but don't use us to justify racism & religious hatred. #WeAreNotAfraid #Westminster.
As the scale of the incident became clear, driven by pictures and video of the horrors in Westminster being shared, #prayforlondon and #WeAreNotAfraid became top trends on Twitter.
There was unity in terms of condemnation, with many appealing for the actions of a single man not to divide society.
But others chose to point the finger of blame at Islamic extremism, despite a lack of confirmation of the identity of the attacker.
The vast majority preferred to offer their condolences to those killed and injured and praise the bravery of the emergency services.
:: Live updates: Death toll rises in Westminster attack
One user, @RodBishop15, wrote: "Twitter 2 short 4 me to express my outrage at today's #Westminster attack and my admiration for our police officers #parliament #prayforlondon."
There was debate too as media commentator and talkRADIO host Julia Hartley-Brewer sparked a backlash - as well as support - from a post requesting people stop "all this #prayforlondon nonsense", arguing "it's these bloody stupid beliefs that help create this violence in the first place."
She responded to her critics by adding: "Prayers don't solve anything".
As Londoners reported they were safe and well, others struck a defiant tone by saying people were not cowering from the spectre of terrorism as night fell.
@HillyFoz said: "London's just going about its business. Pubs and theatres still full. Trains packed. Everyone looks a little sadder but #WeAreNotAfraid."
Others were more concerned that the attack would be used by politicians as justification for curbing freedoms.
@TerriPaddock wrote: "Dear Americans & Trump fans. #prayforlondon if you want but don't use us to justify racism & religious hatred. #WeAreNotAfraid #Westminster.
Contraceptive pill 'protects women from cancers for 30 years'
The contraceptive pill can protect women from some types of cancer for as long as 30 years, according to new research.
Women who have used the pill are less likely to have bowel cancer, endometrial cancer or ovarian cancer than those who had never taken it, a University of Aberdeen study found.
The study also confirmed that the pill does not lead to more cancer risks later in life, researchers say.
The findings are the latest published from the Oral Contraception Study - established by the Royal College of General Practitioners in 1968 to explore the effects of taking the contraceptive pill.
The latest study relates to 46,000 women followed for up to 44 years.
Dr Lisa Iversen, who led the study, said: "What we found from looking at up to 44 years' worth of data, was that having ever used the pill, women are less likely to get colorectal, endometrial and ovarian cancer.
"So, the protective benefits from using the pill during their reproductive years are lasting for at least 30 years after women have stopped using the pill.
"We were also interested in what the overall balance of all types of cancer is amongst women who have used the pill as they enter the later stages of their life.
"We did not find any evidence of new cancer risks appearing later in life as women get older."
She added: "These results from the longest-running study in the world into oral contraceptive use are reassuring.
"Specifically, pill users don't have an overall increased risk of cancer over their lifetime and that the protective effects of some specific cancers last for at least 30 years."
The contraceptive pill prevents ovulation and contains artificial versions of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone.
It is prescribed to approximately 3.5 million women in Britain.
Women who have used the pill are less likely to have bowel cancer, endometrial cancer or ovarian cancer than those who had never taken it, a University of Aberdeen study found.
The study also confirmed that the pill does not lead to more cancer risks later in life, researchers say.
The findings are the latest published from the Oral Contraception Study - established by the Royal College of General Practitioners in 1968 to explore the effects of taking the contraceptive pill.
The latest study relates to 46,000 women followed for up to 44 years.
Dr Lisa Iversen, who led the study, said: "What we found from looking at up to 44 years' worth of data, was that having ever used the pill, women are less likely to get colorectal, endometrial and ovarian cancer.
"So, the protective benefits from using the pill during their reproductive years are lasting for at least 30 years after women have stopped using the pill.
"We were also interested in what the overall balance of all types of cancer is amongst women who have used the pill as they enter the later stages of their life.
"We did not find any evidence of new cancer risks appearing later in life as women get older."
She added: "These results from the longest-running study in the world into oral contraceptive use are reassuring.
"Specifically, pill users don't have an overall increased risk of cancer over their lifetime and that the protective effects of some specific cancers last for at least 30 years."
The contraceptive pill prevents ovulation and contains artificial versions of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone.
It is prescribed to approximately 3.5 million women in Britain.
What you should think about before buying Apple’s cheaper iPad and red iPhone
Apple announced several new products Tuesday morning, including a cheaper version of the iPad and a new red shade for the iPhone. Consumers can place their orders for the new devices starting Friday.
If you’ve been thinking about treating yourself to something new and are intrigued by Apple’s announcements, here are some things to consider before you buy.
The strongest selling point for the new 9.7-inch iPad is its price. The tablet now starts at $329, which is $70 less than its previous price. It has a retina display and comes in three colors: gold, silver and space gray.
The new iPad appears to be a replacement for the iPad Air 2, so it's best to think of it as a successor to that product — an in-between, easy-to-carry tablet for watching video and Web browsing. It is about 20 percent thicker than its predecessor but is still pretty trim at 1.03 pounds.
The lower price tag comes with a few trade-offs, however. It doesn’t have Apple’s latest processor but packs the same one from the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, meaning that it is a little slower than the latest iPhone. The new tablet also has no support for the Apple Pencil or Apple’s Smart Keyboard — those appear to still be reserved for the iPad Pro line.
That will probably be fine for most people. If you’re looking for a full laptop replacement, however, it’s probably not your best option.
Apple also upped the storage space on the iPad mini to 128 GB, for $399, which could make the smaller tablet more appealing as a travel companion for watching video — if you don't mind the price. The smaller size makes it a little more plane-friendly than a full-size tablet.
As for the new red iPhone, deciding whether to pay $749 for it is almost entirely a cosmetic decision. The anodized red hue is a head-turner and benefits the AIDS awareness campaign Red. Apple has already put a similar color on its iPods, but this is the first time it has come to the iPhone.
If you’re really digging the color or if you are an AIDS research supporter, those are the reasons to buy. There’s no difference in the actual hardware, so you won’t be upgrading anything apart from your style.
If you’ve been thinking about treating yourself to something new and are intrigued by Apple’s announcements, here are some things to consider before you buy.
The strongest selling point for the new 9.7-inch iPad is its price. The tablet now starts at $329, which is $70 less than its previous price. It has a retina display and comes in three colors: gold, silver and space gray.
The new iPad appears to be a replacement for the iPad Air 2, so it's best to think of it as a successor to that product — an in-between, easy-to-carry tablet for watching video and Web browsing. It is about 20 percent thicker than its predecessor but is still pretty trim at 1.03 pounds.
The lower price tag comes with a few trade-offs, however. It doesn’t have Apple’s latest processor but packs the same one from the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, meaning that it is a little slower than the latest iPhone. The new tablet also has no support for the Apple Pencil or Apple’s Smart Keyboard — those appear to still be reserved for the iPad Pro line.
That will probably be fine for most people. If you’re looking for a full laptop replacement, however, it’s probably not your best option.
Apple also upped the storage space on the iPad mini to 128 GB, for $399, which could make the smaller tablet more appealing as a travel companion for watching video — if you don't mind the price. The smaller size makes it a little more plane-friendly than a full-size tablet.
As for the new red iPhone, deciding whether to pay $749 for it is almost entirely a cosmetic decision. The anodized red hue is a head-turner and benefits the AIDS awareness campaign Red. Apple has already put a similar color on its iPods, but this is the first time it has come to the iPhone.
If you’re really digging the color or if you are an AIDS research supporter, those are the reasons to buy. There’s no difference in the actual hardware, so you won’t be upgrading anything apart from your style.
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