By Charlotte Webster-
An amateur terrorist with mental health issues has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament at high speed.
A number of people were injured after a man drove a silver Ford Fiesta into a group of cyclists and pedestrians waiting for traffic lights to change. Witnesses said the car mounted the pavement on the wrong side of the road at up to 50mph and traveled around 40 metres (130ft) before hitting a bollard. The man is being spoken to by police, but is reportedly not co-operating. The suspect, in his late 20s, is not believed to be known to MI5 or counter-terrorism police, and is not co-operating with officers. Scotland Yard’s head of counter terrorism Neil Basu said there was “no intelligence at this time of further danger” to London or the UK as a whole. The suspect has not been formally identified,and is being held at a south London police station and the vehicle is being searched.
A close examination of the man’s background should reveal symptoms of mental health problems for him to act in the pathetic manner he has. In fact, it should be assumed that all terrorists have mental health problems, no matter their precise motivation for launching attacks. Mental health issues cannot be seen as always mitigating the actions of offenders in the same manner as with other criminal offences committed by people who fall under this category. Most terrorists know what they are doing, and the more time spent in planning an attack, the less presence there is of mental health issues. Mentla health issues have various levels, some suffer from lower or higher levels than others. The mentally ill man that stabs a random stranger for no apparent reason is more mentally ill than the one who chooses to launch a terror attack.
Westminster was in lockdown today as armed police swarmed the scene on Tuesday morning. Witnesses have confirmed the man’s actions were intentional.. British Police have said the crash is being treated as a “terrorist incident” and the Met’s counter-terrorism command is leading the investigation. Aerial footage of the crash shows the silver Ford Fiesta coming along the road next to Parliament Square before moving to turn right towards Westminster Abbey.As an ambulance sped past the car on its right-hand side, the vehicle swerved left , crossing oncoming traffic and a pavement before entering a small road and crashing into a security barrier. Westminster tube station has been closed and streets around Millbank, Parliament Square and Victoria Tower Gardens have been cordoned off. Nearby Strutton Ground has also been closed to the public. The Met Police have vowed to intensify its reinforcement and counter-terrorism measures.
Uk prime minister, Theresa May has also confirmed she will be chairing a Cobra meeting at 2pm today in the wake of the latest attack to hit London. Mrs 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.’ MPs from across the political spectrum echoed the Prime Minister by giving thanks to the first responders on the ground, as it emerged a man in his 20s is being held on suspicion of terrorist offences.
Pic Credit:Sky News