Police arrest suspected terrorist after UK parliament car crash

A man has been arrested on grounds of terrorism after ramming his vehicle into barriers outside the UK houses of parliament in London.

BBC reports that the suspect, a young man in his late 20s, was arrested by police officers shortly after the crash in the early hours of Tuesday.

Two people who may have been hit during the crash were treated at the scene for non-life threatening injuries.

Scotland Yard, London’s Metropolitan Police Service, said the incident would be treated as an act of terrorism, with its counterterrorism command leading the investigation.

After the incident, parliament did not sit and streets around Parliament Square, Millbank and Victoria Tower Gardens were cordoned off to restrict civilian movement.

Westminster tube station and the UK supreme court have also been closed as investigations are in full swing.

Recounting the incident, an eyewitness said the suspect deliberately swerved from his lane and drove against traffic, driving full speed towards a group of cyclists waiting for signals from the traffic light.

Commenting, Prime Minister Theresa May said: “My thoughts are with those injured in the incident in Westminster and my thanks to the emergency services for their immediate and courageous response.”

Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, said he is in close contact with police as enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

June Kelly, a BBC home affairs correspondent, said the suspect’s arrest was a “significant development”.

“The police will be looking at this man’s background, his identity – they’ll either know it or they will be working towards it,” she said.

“They will be looking at his beliefs his associates, also his mental state.

“Also, crucially, is he on their radar – is he somebody who was known to them?”