LONDON: Police in London identified the Westminster attacker as 52-year-old Khalid Masood. During his rampage, after which he was shot dead, Masood injured 50 people while five people died. Foreign media cited officials as saying that the individual was inspired by “Islamic terrorism” before he mowed down crowds on Westminster Bridge and stabbed policeman Keith Palmer to death outside Parliament. The Westminster terrorist was previously known to security services and had once been investigated by MI5 over violent extremism. Prime Minister Theresa described the attacker as a “peripheral” figure who had not been part of the current intelligence picture before the terror attack unfolded in London. Khalid Masood was a married dad-of-three and a former English teacher who had been living with his family in Birmingham. Masood reportedly converted to Islam later in life and had a string of aliases including Khalid Choudri. Scotland Yard said he was a violent criminal convicted of multiple offences spanning 20 years. His offences included assaults, grievous bodily harm, possession of offensive weapons and public order offences. However, he had not been convicted for any terrorism offences, according to Home Secretary Amber Rudd. His first conviction was in November 1983 for criminal damage and his last conviction was in December 2003 for possession of a knife. Metropolitan Police said Masood was not the subject of any current investigations and there was no prior intelligence about his intent to mount a terrorist attack. The so-called Islamic State group claimed it was behind the attack. Their statement said, “The perpetrator of the attacks yesterday in front of the British parliament in London is an Islamic State soldier and he carried out the operation in response to calls to target citizens of the coalition.” But there is currently no evidence ISIS orchestrated the terror plot. The terrorist organisation has a track record of claiming responsibility for any act of atrocities in the world, irrespective of whether there is any formal connection. It’s also not clear whether Masood was directed externally by them. Police believe he acted alone, although they are investigating possible associates. Eight people have been arrested after raids at six addresses in London, Birmingham and elsewhere.