The Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed the British-born “lone wolf” jihadist who killed three and injured at least 29 in Wednesday’s Westminster attack was part of its terror group.
The attacker, described by witnesses as “Asian and in his forties”, has not been named by police, while investigations continue into any possible associates.
But, giving a statement in the Parliament, on Thursday, Prime Minister Theresa May said he was a British citizen, who was known to the police and security services and had been investigated some years ago over violent extremism.
May said he was a “peripheral” figure and “was not part of the current intelligence picture”. She also told MPs there was “no prior intelligence” of his intent.
A statement released through ISIS-linked Aamaq news agency said the attacker was a “soldier of the Islamic State”.
The details of his background will raise questions over what security officials knew about the assailant and what decisions were taken when he first appeared on the radar.
The Prime Minister’s statement came after armed police arrested eight people and raided six properties in London and Birmingham, where three people were detained in a flat thought to have been lived in by the killer.
Emergency personnel removing the body of the assailant from the scene, on Wednesday. 