Know that democracy and the values that it entails will always prevail. Values, free speech, liberty, human rights are embodied here in this place. They are shared by free people around the world. A terrorist came to the place where people of all ionalities and cultured cultures gather to celebrate what it means to be free. He took out his rage indiscriminately against innocent men, women and children. A anpeaker, this was attack on free people everywhere. People, iof british would like to thank our friends and allies around the world who have made it clear that they stand with us at this time. What happened on the streets of westminster after yesterday afternoon sickened us all. The house will understand that there are limits to what i can say. Having being updated by police and security officials. Housel the health that at two 40 p. M. , a single attacker throat just drove his vehicle into innocent pedestrians who are crossing westminster bridge. Killing two people and injuring around 40 more. 12 peoplen to admitted to hospitals. We know the victims included three french children, the four german,s, koreans, one one poll, one irish, when chinese, one italian, one american and two greeks. We are in close contact with the governments of the countries to all those affected. Included threeo ts officers who were returning from an event to recognize their bravery. Two of those three remain in serious condition. The attacker approached a Police Officer, attacking that officer with a large knife before he was shot dead by an armed peace officer. Tragically, as the house will know, 48yearold keith palmer was killed. Lifelmer had devoted his to the service of his country. He had been a member of the parliamentary and diplomatic Protection Command for 15 years. And a soldier in the royal artillery. Father, husband and a killed doing a job he loved. He was every inch a hero and his actions will never be forgotten. I know the whole house will join me in sending our deepest condolences to his family and to the families and friends of all those who have been killed or injured in yesterdays awful attack. I know also, the house will reach to thank all those who acted with such speed and professionalism yesterday to secure this place and ensure we are able to meet as we are doing today. Nighteaker, at 7 30 left we will have further briefings and meetings with security officials. The threat level to the u. K. Has been set at severe, meaning attack is highly likely for some time. This is the second highest threat level. The highest level, critical, means there is specific intelligence that in attack is imminent. There is no such intelligence, the independent joint Terrorism Analysis Center has decided that the threat level will not change in the likes of yesterdays attack. Speaker, the whole country will want to know who was responsible for this atrocity, and the measures we are taking to strengthen our security, including here in westminster. If all counterterrorism investigation is already underway. Hundreds of our police and Security Officers have been working through the night to establish Everything Possible about this attack, including its preparation, motivation and whether there was any associates involved in this planning. Wall there remain limits on what i can say at this stage, i can say that overnight, the police have searched six addresses and made eight arrests in birmingham and lending it london. It is still believed that the attacker acted alone. The people have no reason to believe there are imminent further attacks on the public. His identity is known to the police and mi five, and when operational consideration is allowed, he will be publicly identified. What i can concern is that the man was british born, some years ago he was once investigated by mi5 in relation to extremism. He was a peripheral figure. The case is historic. He was not part of the current intelligent picture. There was no prior intelligence of his intent, or plot. Intensive investigations continue. As acting Deputy Commissioner our working night, assumption is that the attacker was inspired by islamic ideology. This to speaker, we know the is really terrorism will, but whilthe public should remain at your levera a link, they should not and will not be cowed by the threat. As acting Deputy Commissioner had made clear, we are setting up policing to check communities across the country and to reassure the public. As a precautionary measure, this will be increasing the number of patrols in cities across the police on theore streets. Since june, 2013, our police securi and Intelligence Agency has successfully disrupted 13 separate terrorist plots in printing. In 2015, strategic defense and security review, we protected counterterrorism and committed to increase cost Government Spending on counterterrorism over the course of this parliament. Over the next five years, we two andest in action half billion in building our Global Security intelligence network, employee govern 1900 additional staff at mi5, mi six ngc hq. Of our Global Network counterterrorism experts working across europe, the middle east, africa and asia. Mr. Speaker, in terms of security here in westminster, we should be clear, that an attacker attempted to break into parliament and was shot dead within 20 yards of the gate. Clear that he did not succeed. Access to this building, we should be clear that he did not succeed. Please police aerobically did their job. But as is routine, the police, together with the house authorities are reviewing of the security of the parliamentary estate coordinated with the Cabinet Office who have responsibility for security measuresn place around the government secure zone. All of nuss this house have a responsibility for the security and safety of our staff. And advice is available for membs who need it. Yesterday we saw the worst of humanity. But we will remember the best. We will remember the the extraordinary efforts to save the life of the worst of Pc Keith Palmer including those by my right honorable friend the. And we will remember the exceptional bravery of our Police Security and Emergency Services. Who once again ran towards the the danger even as they encouraged others to move the the other way. On behalf of the whole country, i want to pay tribute to them for the the work they have been doing to the reassure the public treat the injured and bring security back to the streets of our capital city. That they have lost one of their own in yesterdays attack only makes their calmness and professionalism all the more remarkable. A lot has been said since terror struck london yesterday. Much more will be said in the coming days. But the the greatest response lies not in the words of politicians but in the everyday actions of ordinary people. For beyond these walls today in scenes repeated in towns and cities across the country millions of people are going about their days and get ong with their lives. The streets are as i busy asr the offices full the coffee shops and cafes bustling. As i speak milons will be boarding trains and airplanes to travel to london and to see for themselves the greatest city on earth. It is in these actions millions of acts of normality that we find the best response to terrorism. A response that denies our enemies their victory. That refuses to let them win. But shows we will never give in. A response driven by that same spirit that drove a husband and father to put that refuses to let them win. But shows we will never give himself between us and our attacker and to pay the ultimate price. A response that said to the men and women who prop gate this hate show less text john bercow and evil you will not defeat us. Let this be the message from this house and this nation today. Our values will prevail. And i commend this statement to the house. Order. Colleagues, i am advised that we have been joined today by French Foreign minister who is accompanied by a number of his colleagues and also by the deputy current screct the right honorable gentleman. Sir, we appreciate your presence and your very fitting display of solidarity with us. Mr. Speaker, i join the view in welcoming our colleagues from france here today. And i would like to the associate myself with the Prime Ministers remarks that she just made. What happened yesterday within meters of where we sit nowas an appalling atrocity. The police are still piecing together what took place and what lay behind it. Itehooves us all not to rush to judgment but to wait for the the police to establish the facts, to stay united in our communities, and not allow fear or the voices of hatred to divide or cower us. Today were united by our humanity and by our democratic values. And by that human impulse of solidarity. To stand together in times of darkness and adversity. I express my condolences to the family and friends of Police Officer keith palmer who gave his life yesterday in defense of the public and of our democracy. We thank the police and security personnel who keep us safe every day this estate. We especially pay tribute to the bravery of those who took action to stop thperpetrater of yesterdays assault. The police and security staff especially pay tribute to the lost a colleague yesterday, and continue to fulfill their duties despite their shock and their grief for their fallen colleagues which many expressed to me late last night when i was talking to them. We see the police and security every day. They are our colleagues theyre fellow workers, friends, neighbors. And as the Prime Minister the police and security every day. They are our dangerous and said, when violent instance take place we run away from them for our own safety. The police and Emergency Services run towards them. We are grateful for the public service. Yesterday, today, and every day that they put on their uniforms to protect us all. I want also to express our admiration to the honorable member whose efforts yesterday deserve special commendation. He used his skill to try to save life. Innont people were killed instance te place we run away from them for our own safety. The police andesterday walking across the bridge. As many millions of londonners and tourists have before yesterday them. And as all of us in this chamber have. As the Prime Minister said, the injured include people of ten nationalities. We send our deepest condolces to their loved ones and to the loved ones of those still in a very critical condition, including the the french schl children so welcomed in our capital visiting yesterday. We send our sympathies to them and to the people of their town and communities. We thank all the dedicated yesterday National HealthService Staff working to save lives, including all those from st. Thomas hospital who rushed out of that hospital straight over to the scene of the instance to try to support and save lives. Many people would have been totally traumatized by yesterdays awful events. Not just all of us here but watching on television worried for the safety of their friends and loved ones. So i ask in this house and this country, please look after each other. Help one another. And think of one another. It is by demonstrating our values solidarity, community, humanity and love that we will defeat the poison and division of but watching on television worried for the safety of their hatred. Prime minister. Thank you. First may i join the right honorable gentleman in expressing our gratitude to the support and solidarity which the french government have shown us at this diffict time. Like a number of other countries on the continent obviously fratches itself has felt the hurt and trauma of terrorist attacks and we are grateful to the french government for the support they have shn us. The right honorable gentleman is absolutely right in his description of our Police Officers. Every day when they put on that uniform they dont know what they are going to confront in the course of their duties that day. It is a fact often forgotten when people see the Police Officer walking on the streets that actually they do put their life on the line for our safety and security. They show enormous bravery and we are grateful to them all. Were also grateful as the right honorable gentleman said to all those from the Emergency Services to those from the hospitals who and others who rushed forward to give aid and support to those who had been injured at a time when they knew not what else might be happening in t vicinity and whether they might themlves be in danger. Finally, as the the right honorable gentleman says, at this time it is so important that we showhat it is our value that is will prevail. That the terrorists will not win. That we will go about our lives showing that unity of purpose and the value at is we share as one nation Going Forward and ensuring that the terrists will be defeated. Mr. Speaker, i join with my right honorablfriends in everything she said in respect of the deaths and injuries that have taken place, and joinith her in sending condolences to the families and the injured. My right honorable friends have set exactly the the right tone. Those of us privy to the information and background of these matters know have well that it has been little short of a america that will over the course of the last few years we have escaped so likely from the evil that is i am afraid present our society and manifests itself in the senseless and hideous acts of violence and evil. We have been very fortunate in that our Security Services have been iensely diligent and helpful inreventing such attacks. But she may agree with me that the house is going to have to simply be resolute in accepting that such attacks cannot always be prevented and that we have to accept that we havto fight this evil with rational democratic pnciples in order to get rid of it and that there are in reality no short cuts that will ever enable us to do that. I certainly agree with my right honorable friend. And in season, he refers to the number of plots that have be the number of plots disrupted he refers to the number off plots that have been the number of plots disrupted in recent years. It is easy to forget that when the threat level is at severe what that means is that an attack is highly likely. And it is not possible we live in a free and open country. We live in a democracy. It is not possible to ensure as he says that we can prevent any attack from taking place, but we can work as hard as our Security Services and police do precisely to try to prevent attacks from taking place. They have worked hard. They have been doing a good job. And they continue to do a good job in keeping us safe and will do so into the future. But if we are to defeat this evil then my right honorable friend is right. We will defeat this evil through our democracy and our values, and we must defeat of course the terrible ideology that leads people to conduct these horrific attacks. May i again associate myself with everything that has been said by the the Prime Minister, the leader of the labor party and by you mr. Speaker. Today of all days we are reminded that not withstanding our on political and cons tusal issues we are as one in our dedication to democracy, the rule of law, and harmony between peoples of all faiths and none. May i personally wish the Prime Minister and the home secretary well as they work very hard on our behalf with the security and Intelligence Services and to deal with the aftermath of the appalling indiscriminate terrorist act yesterday. Our hearts go out to the Family Friends and colleagues of Pc Keith Palmer and other casualties. We are hugely grateful to all police, security, and intelligence staff and First Responders who run towards danger without concern for their own safety. And i include in that our colleague and right honorable member. Today is not a day for details and questions so will the the Prime Minister accept on behalf of the Scottish National party and no doubt every member of this house our huge debt of gratitude to police and security staff. And does she agree with me that no terrorist outrage, no terrorist outrage is representive of any faith or of any faith community, and we recommit ourselves to strengthening the bonds of tolerance and understanding. Here here. And finally, is it not best to follow thadvice of brendan cox, the husband of our murdered colleague who hasaid in the days to come i hope we will remember the love and bravery of the victim, not just the the hatred and cowardness of the attacker. May i thank the right honorable gentleman for his words. I think he is absolutely correct. Now is the time for us to come together to promote those values of tolerance and understanding that he has referred to. To recognize that what motivates the terrorists is a warped ideology and a desire to destroy the values that we share and the values that we that underpins our democracy. The values of human rights, tolerance, understanding. And we should be absolutely as one in ensuring that those values prevail. Finally, as he says, we should remember the the bravery of the victims and the bravery of those who keep us safe day in and day out. Mr. Speaker, may i commend my right honorable friends powerful statement. May i add my prayers to those of hers for those who died and who are suffering. And also particularly for keith palmer, our wonderful and brave Police Officer. Faced such threats before by those of twisted and violent ideologies as the broken stones of the arch that we ter through on a daily basis bear testament to. Time and again. They have failed, they will always f