Salih Khater: 29-year-old charged with attempted murder of public and police in Westminster crash

Prosecutors treating incident as terrorism, police say

Salih Khater has been charged with attempting to murder members of the public and police officers by driving his car through crowds in Westminster.

The 29-year-old was arrested after crashing the silver Ford Fiesta into the barriers outside the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday.

Police said the case is being treated as terrorism by the Crown Prosecution Service "due to the methodology, iconic location and the alleged targeting of civilians and police officers".

Mr Khater, a British citizen who came to the UK as a refugee from Sudan, is charged with two counts of attempted murder under the Criminal Attempts Act 1981.

Three people were injured when the car hit a group of cyclists at the junction of Parliament Square and Abingdon Street.

Police officers had to leap out of the way as it crossed a central reservation before crashing into a barrier at around 7.30am.

The incident happened during parliament’s summer recess and before the daily rush of tourists to Westminster.

It came 17 months after terrorist Khalid Masood drove a car at pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four and injuring dozens more, before stabbing to death police constable Keith Palmer outside parliament.

Britain's most senior police officer has suggested that streets around the Houses of Parliament could be pedestrianised.

Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick said authorities would discuss restricting traffic in Westminster in response to vehicles becoming the "weapon of choice".

Mr Khater, from Birmingham, will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday.