LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - British police named the man who killed three people near parliament before being shot dead as Khalid Masood, saying he had a string of criminal convictions but none for terrorism-related offenses.

Masood, 52, was born in Kent to the southeast of London and had been most recently living in central England, London police said. Known by a number of other aliases, he had not been convicted previously for any terrorism offenses, they added.

Images from the attack outside UK Parliament in London



30 PHOTOS Terrorist attack outside UK Parliament in London See Gallery Terrorist attack outside UK Parliament in London LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: An armed police officer stands guard near Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament on March 22, 2017 in London, England. A police officer has been stabbed near to the British Parliament and the alleged assailant shot by armed police. Scotland Yard report they have been called to an incident on Westminster Bridge where several people have been injured by a car. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Terror attack outside U.K. Parliament. 2 men down on road. Man with knife/machete got into Parliament and stabbed p… https://t.co/CxeL2zS6uw Armed police respond outside Parliament during an incident on Westminster Bridge in London, Britain March 22, 2017. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth Armed police respond outside Parliament during an incident on Westminster Bridge in London, Britain March 22, 2017. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth Armed police have taken the precaution of closing the gates at Buckingham Palace, where the Queen is in residence after today's incident. LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Emergency services vehicles seen on Westminster Bridge on March 22, 2017 in London, England. A police officer was stabbed near to the British Parliament and the alleged assailant shot by armed police. Scotland Yard also reported an incident on Westminster Bridge where one woman has been killed and several people seriously injured by a car. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) @Reuters photographer at the scene of shootings near House of Parliament in London says at least a dozen injured on Westminster bridge At least one body seen being covered by a blanket. People leave after being evacuated from the Houses of Parliament in central London on March 22, 2017 during an emergency incident. Britain's Houses of Parliament were in lockdown on Wednesday after staff said they heard shots fired, triggering a security alert. / AFP PHOTO / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) An ambulance is driven through a police cordon outside the Houses of Parliament in central London on March 22, 2017 during an emergency incident. Britain's Houses of Parliament were in lockdown on Wednesday after staff said they heard shots fired, triggering a security alert. / AFP PHOTO / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) Police officers surround two individuals on the ground inside the gates of the Houses of Parliament near the entrance, left, in London, U.K. on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. Shots were fired outside Parliament in London, and at least two people are being treated, according to a Bloomberg reporter on the scene. Photographer: Robert Hutton/Bloomberg via Getty Images Air ambulance just landed at Parliament Square, Westminster, dozens of police cars https://t.co/TZVTO6IzDR London's air ambulance arrives at the Houses of Parliament in central London on March 22, 2017 during an emergency incident. Britain's Houses of Parliament were in lockdown on Wednesday after staff said they heard shots fired, triggering a security alert. / AFP PHOTO / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) A car on Westminster Bridge has just mowed down at least 5 people. https://t.co/tdCR9I0NgJ We were called at approx 2:40pm to reports of an incident at #Westminster Bridge. Being treated as a firearms incident - police on scene Incident in #Westminster: We are treating this as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise Richard tice political campaigner tells me he can see ten bodies on westminster bridge - I can't confirm that from where I am An armed police officer gestures as he stands guard in Parliament Square, opposite the Houses of Parliament in central London on March 22, 2017 during an emergency incident. British police shot a suspected attacker outside the Houses of Parliament in London on Wednesday after an officer was stabbed in what police said was a 'terrorist' incident. / AFP PHOTO / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) People leave after being evacuated from the Houses of Parliament in central London on March 22, 2017 during an emergency incident. Britain's Houses of Parliament were in lockdown on Wednesday after staff said they heard shots fired, triggering a security alert. / AFP PHOTO / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) A police officer stops traffic as the Jaguar car of British Prime Minister Theresa May (R) is driven away from the Houses of Parliament in central London on March 22, 2017 during an emergency incident. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) An armed police officer guards inside a police cordon outside the Houses of Parliament in central London on March 22, 2017 during an emergency incident. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) Police officers surround two individuals on the ground inside the gates of the Houses of Parliament near the entrance, left, in London, U.K. on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. Shots were fired outside Parliament in London, and at least two people are being treated, according to a Bloomberg reporter on the scene. Photographer: Robert Hutton/Bloomberg via Getty Images Police tapes off Parliament Square after reports of loud bangs, in London, Britain, March 22, 2017. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth The injured being treated in New Palace Yard at Westminster Palace https://t.co/I7uRyOv2D4 Government source says PM is OK Police trying to resuscitate one of the Commons attackers. Still seems to be breathing House of Commons has been suspended following gunshots in Parliament, MPs are leaving the chamber BREAKING NEWS -- Two people shot outside Houses of Parliament in London Armed police officers stand guard inside a security cordon, outside of the Houses of Parliament in central London on March 22, 2017 during an emergency incident. Britain's Houses of Parliament were in lockdown on Wednesday after staff said they heard shots fired, triggering a security alert. / AFP PHOTO / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

"Masood was not the subject of any current investigations and there was no prior intelligence about his intent to mount a terrorist attack," they said in a statement.

"However, he was known to police and has a range of previous convictions for assaults, including GBH (grievous bodily harm), possession of offensive weapons and public order offenses."

Police said his first conviction was in November 1983 for criminal damage and his last was in December 2003 for possession of a knife.

The link to central England tied in with the news that the car used in the attack had been hired from rental company Enterprise's Spring Hill branch in Birmingham. (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison)

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