Thursday, March 23, 2017

London Victims

From the BBC:
"London attack: The victims"

Three people were killed, along with the assailant, in Wednesday's attack in Westminster, close to the Houses of Parliament. About 40 people from 11 different countries were injured, of whom 29 needed hospital treatment and seven remain in a critical condition. Details have not been given of all the victims.

Killed

PC Keith Palmer

PC Keith Palmer, 48, was stabbed as he tried to stop the attacker in a courtyard outside the Houses of Parliament. He was an unarmed member of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Squad who had served for 15 years. "Keith will be remembered as a wonderful dad and husband," his family said in a statement.  "A loving son, brother and uncle. A long-time supporter of Charlton FC. Dedicated to his job and proud to be a police officer, brave and courageous. A friend to everyone who knew him.
"He will be deeply missed. We love him so much. His friends and family are shocked and devastated by his loss." PC Palmer, who had a five-year-old daughter, joined the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command in April last year after serving in the Territorial Support Group (TSG) based in Catford but working across London. He had previously been based in Bromley borough between 2002 and 2009. "Keith was a genuinely nice person; nobody had a bad word to say about him. When I heard what had happened I knew it would be him because that's just the sort of guy he was, to step straight in when others might step back," said PC James Aitkenhead, who worked alongside Keith in the TSG. Conservative MP and former colleague James Cleverly tweeted: "A lovely man, a friend. I'm heartbroken." Mr Cleverly said the two had served together in the Royal Artillery before PC Palmer joined the police. In an emotional tribute in the Commons, he later described him as a "strong, professional public servant". Also addressing MPs, Prime Minister Theresa May said PC Palmer "was every inch a hero and his actions will never be forgotten". A minute's silence was held in Parliament and in front of the New Scotland Yard police headquarters at 09:33 GMT - chosen because 933 was the shoulder number on PC Palmer's uniform.


Aysha Frade

Aysha Frade, who worked at DLD College London, close to Westminster Bridge, also died in the attack. She was a British national whose mother was Spanish, the Spanish foreign ministry said. Ms Frade lived in London with her two young daughters and husband, according to Spanish media reports. Her father was of Cypriot origin, while her mother was from the Galician town of Betanzos, where her two sisters run an English school, the Voz de Galicia reports. The principal of the independent sixth form college said she worked in the administration team and described her as "a highly regarded and loved" member of staff. "She will be deeply missed by all of us," Rachel Borland added.  A former neighbour, Patricia Scotland, who lives in the Ladbroke Grove area of London, said the family had lived close by for 40 years before moving away two years ago. She described Ms Frade as a "lovely mother, a lovely wife". "She was just a lovely person, with two lovely, lovely girls," she said. "You couldn't ask for better neighbours". A teacher at DLD College, Courtney Love, said she was a "great staff member" who was a "helpful, supportive, kind" and "a lovely, lovely person". Betanzos councillor Andres Hermida said the community in Spain was in "enormous pain" and shrouded in an "atmosphere of sadness". "Aysha spent her summers here and had many friends here since her childhood, so we are all very affected," he said.

Kurt Cochran

Kurt Cochran from the US state of Utah was in London as part of a holiday in Europe to celebrate 25 years of marriage to his wife Melissa, who was seriously hurt in the attack. In a statement, Mrs Cochran's family said they were "heartbroken" by the news of Mr Cochran's death. "Kurt was a good man and a loving husband to our sister and daughter, Melissa," they said. They said Melissa had received serious injuries in the attack and was being treated in hospital. The couple had been scheduled to return to the US on Thursday. "We express our gratitude to the emergency and medical personnel who have cared for them and ask for your prayers on behalf of Melissa and our family. Kurt will be greatly missed," they added. US President Donald Trump paid tribute to Mr Cochran on Twitter, saying: "A great American, Kurt Cochran, was killed in the London terror attack. My prayers and condolences are with his family and friends."

Injured

Romanian couple

Andreea Cristea suffered multiple injuries in the attack, and has undergone complex surgery, while her boyfriend Andrei Burnaz sustained a broken foot, according to the Romanian ambassador to the UK. The Romanian couple were on a trip to London to celebrate Mr Burnaz's birthday and are planning to marry, Dan Mihalache told the Romanian news agency Agerpress. The ambassador said Ms Cristea was suffering problems with her lungs and had a blood clot removed from her brain overnight. The Romanian embassy in London has also confirmed that she was the woman seen falling into the River Thames as the attacker drove across Westminster Bridge. British police had said a seriously injured woman was rescued from the water.

French schoolchildren

Three French schoolchildren on a school trip to London were among those injured as pedestrians were struck by a car on Westminster Bridge. They are from the St Joseph's School in Concarneau, Brittany. The parents of the injured students were flown to London on Wednesday evening by the French government. The mother of one of them told local newspaper La Telegramme that her son was in intensive care with fractures to the legs, a head wound and a localised haematoma behind the lung. She said he did not remember what had happened, the newspaper reported. The mother of one of the group who escaped unhurt told the Associated Press her daughter "was next to her school friends who were ran over by the car. She saw the car driving past near her and saw the terrorist getting out of the car."  The woman, who gave her name only as Martine, said: "She is very shocked by what she saw. She was really scared for her friends." More than 90 students from the school were on the trip to London. Those who are uninjured are due to return home on Thursday.

British students

Four students from from Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire were among those injured in the Westminster attack. Owen Lambert and Travis Frain were struck when a car drove along the pavement on Westminster Bridge at the outset of the attack. They were part of a group of 13 students on a visit, with a lecturer, to the Houses of Parliament. Mr Lambert, 18, from Morecambe, is understood to have required stitches to a head wound, while Mr Frain, from Darwen, suffered a wrist injury. Two other students needed treatment for lesser injuries.

Other victims

Three police officers, two of whom are in a serious condition, were also injured as they returned from an event marking their bravery in service, the Metropolitan Police said. Four South Korean tourists, in their 50s and 60s were hurt in a rush of people trying to flee the attack, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said. Also among the injured were 12 British citizens, two Greeks, one German, one Pole, one Irish citizen, one Chinese person, one Italian and one American, Mrs May told MPs.


^ By remembering the victims (those dead and injured) of this and all terrorist attacks we help make sure what the terrorist(s) did was in vain. ^


http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39363933

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