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ISIS have claimed responsibility for the terror attack in London in which four people died and 29 were injured.

The Amaq News Agency, seen as the terror group's official press service, report the attacker was "a soldier of Islamic State".

The terror group does not provide the name of the attacker who killed three people before he was shot dead by police.

The Amaq 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."

It comes after Theresa May said the terrorist was previously investigated by Britain’s security services for extremism.

Islamic State-inspired attacks have previously taken place in France and Germany where vehicles were driven into large crowds.

The terrorist responsible for yesterday's attack sped across Westminster Bridge in a car, ploughing into pedestrians along the way, then ran through the gates of the nearby parliament building and stabbed a police officer to death.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA) (Image: Sky News)

The Prime Minister addressed MPs this morning and revealed more details about the unnamed attacker.

She said it was still believed that the terrorist acted alone and there was "no reason to believe" further attacks on the public were planned.

Mrs May added: "His identity is known to the police and MI5 and when operational considerations allow, he will be publicly identified.

"What I can confirm is that the man was British-born and that some years ago he was once investigated by MI5 in relation to concerns about violent extremism.

"He was a peripheral figure. The case is historic. He was not part of the current intelligence picture.

"There was no prior intelligence of his intent or of the plot."

Police have arrested eight people at addresses across the UK following yesterday's devastating terror attack.

A total of 29 people were also injured after a knife-wielding terrorist drove a car into pedestrians before he attacked a police officer outside the Houses of Parliament.

The Metropolitan Police today updated the number of those dead to four - including two members of the public, a police office protecting parliament and the attacker himself.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

Police arrested eight people after raids in London, Birmingham and elsewhere linked to the attack.

Speaking this morning, Mark Rowley, the Met's senior anti-terror officer, said six addresses were raided overnight.

He spoke as MPs were returning to Parliament in a show of defiance.

Mr Rowley said those killed included the attacker, Pc Keith Palmer, who he stabbed, and a woman in her mid 40s and a man in his mid 50s, who were mown down as the terrorist sped across Westminster Bridge in his car.

He said 29 people had been treated in hospital with seven people in a critical condition.

Overnight, officers stormed a flat in Birmingham and a large scene was cordoned off around an address on Hagley Road, a main road in the Edgbaston area of the city, for several hours after police descended on the scene at around 10.30pm on Wednesday.

Referring to the attacker, a witness who works nearby said: "The man from London lived here."

He added: "They came and arrested three men."

Mr Rowley said it was still his belief the attacker worked alone and was inspired by "international terrorism", adding that there was no specific information to suggest any further threat to the public.

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(Image: SWNS) (Image: SWNS)

(Image: SWNS)

Eyewitnesses described how the attacker deliberately mounted the pavement with a car on Westminster Bridge before hitting more than 12 people - including three police officers returning from a commendation ceremony.

The driver then reportedly got out of his car at the Houses of Parliament where he attempted to force his way past a security check-point.

After being confronted by police he reportedly attacked an officer with a knife before he was shot a number of times.

(Image: Met Police)

A dramatic picture from the scene shows the suspected terrorist being treated by medics as an armed police officer points a gun at him.

Several medical staff and police watch over him as the man was wheeled on a stretcher in the parliament precinct.

The man's shirt is off and the blood-stained gloves of emergency services are on his chest.

Two knives are seen on the ground nearby.

(Image: Alamy / Reuters / Twitter / PA) (Image: PA) (Image: Getty) (Image: Reuters)

Speaking last night Mr Rowley said: "One of those who died today was a police officer, PC Keith Palmer, a member of our parliamentary and diplomatic protection command.

"Keith, aged 48, had 15 years service and was a husband and father.

"He was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift and he had every right to expect that to happen.

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"Whilst today is an incredibly sad and sombre day, especially for the MPS and everyone affected, it is only right that I mention the pride I feel in the swift and brave response from our officers - especially those who without fear for their own safety had to confront the terrorist."

Mr Palmer was reportedly stabbed by the attacker as the terrorist tried to storm parliament after mowing down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood was then seen among medics desperately trying to save the officer outside the parliament.