London Terrorist Attack Prompts Defiant Londoners To Get On With Business As Usual

'No place for terrorism. Only tea.'
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Defiant Londoners have again shown they will not be cowed in the face of terror by doing what they do best - getting on with life.

As the city picked itself up after the terror attack in Westminster on Wednesday, Londoners shared their thoughts and there was very much a common thread: it’s business as usual here in the capital.

Some noticed people actually seemed to be being a little kinder to each other...

Train to London packed as usual. Only difference is people are being nice to each other. Smiling and chatting

— Annie (@AnnieCricket) March 23, 2017

But on the whole, it was Londoners being their usual brilliant, grumpy selves...

Pleased to report #London is as grumpy and stroppy as usual today. One or two trying random acts of kindness but it's not catching on. #fb

— Anthony Painter (@anthonypainter) March 23, 2017

I was shouted at by a cyclist on the way to work. London is fine.

— Mark Allison (@marka17) March 23, 2017

London attack has not been mentioned by a single person in work this morning. Carry on everyone, nothing to see here. #businessasusual

— Richard Adams (@Dubbsisrich) March 23, 2017

Bless, someone's just been on the tube for the first time ever. pic.twitter.com/b6tENXYJKJ

— Joe McNally (@GaspardWinckler) March 22, 2017

Train still crowded. People still on their headphones. Nobody talking.

Life in #london carrying on as usual.#wearenotafraid

— TraceyWilliamsAllred (@tewilliam) March 23, 2017

Woolwich to Westminster. Bus late, train delayed, people selfish. Business as usual. Love London. pic.twitter.com/MjCQwKkE85

— David Pratt (@onedavidpratt) March 23, 2017

Many also shared the hashtag #wearenotafraid to show just how defiant they were in the face of terror...

London carries on calmly. Don't buy the "shut down" story. Our city is as determined, dignified & open as ever. #WeAreNotAfraid #LoveLondon

— Schona Jolly QC (@WomaninHavana) March 23, 2017

Lovely quote from Tower Hill @towerhilltube #westminster #WeAreNotAfraid pic.twitter.com/am5QPEQdvO

— gareth harrington (@merthyrboyo35) March 23, 2017

Attack us, you make us stronger. 🇬🇧
Try to divide us, we become closer. 🇬🇧
Try to make us fear you, we laugh. 🇬🇧#WeAreNotAfraid 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/ME2RWFz8sy

— WILDFIRE (@FingerInYourPie) March 22, 2017

No place for terrorism, only tea.#WeAreNotAfraid 🇬🇧

— Rav Vadgama (@TVRav) March 22, 2017

together #WeAreNotAfraid pic.twitter.com/DJyu03Z8BM

— Dr Ben White (@drbenwhite) March 22, 2017

Aside from some road closures and Westminster Tube station remaining shut, , the city’s transport system is working well.

Parliament sat as usual despite yesterday’s incident, which left four people, including the attacker, dead.

Off to work as usual like millions of Londoners #WestminsterAttack #WeAreNotAfraid pic.twitter.com/pv77I4NYtE

— Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) March 23, 2017

At work ready to face the day -Commons will sit at 9.30 in defiance & with innocent victims of yesterdays horror in mind #WeStandTogether pic.twitter.com/PcmlbBiYzf

— Caroline Dinenage (@cj_dinenage) March 23, 2017

Back in parliament this morning filled with thoughts of those who lost their lives and those who work to protect us in London. #westminster pic.twitter.com/QL7PdVs61h

— Chris Law MP (SNP) (@ChrisLawSNP) March 23, 2017

Returning to work and remembering how fortunate I am to have the huge honour of representing the people of Carms pic.twitter.com/0rM88r5k3D

— Jonathan Edwards (@JonathanPlaid) March 23, 2017

Joining millions of other Londoners in going to work as usual. Meeting in Ilford this morning and heading to Parliament later today.

— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) March 23, 2017

Walking into @UKParliament as normal today. Flag at half mast however. Thanks to thousands of police on the streets keeping us safe pic.twitter.com/Zm097PuOoH

— Ben Howlett MP (@ben4bath) March 23, 2017

Many politicians, including the Prime Minister herself, were also pictured on their way into work.

Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street to travel to work
Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street to travel to work
PA Wire/PA Images
Dominic Grieve passes through the police cordon as he walks along Whitehall
Dominic Grieve passes through the police cordon as he walks along Whitehall
JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images
Former Labour party leader Ed Miliband walks along Victoria Embankment towards Parliament
Former Labour party leader Ed Miliband walks along Victoria Embankment towards Parliament
PA Wire/PA Images
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon leaves Downing Street on Thursday morning
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon leaves Downing Street on Thursday morning
PA Wire/PA Images

Speaking in the Commons, May told MPs: “We are not afraid and our resolve will never waiver in the face of terrorism.”

She pid tribute to the police officer who was killed in the attack, saying he was “every inch a hero and his actions will never be forgotten”.

PC Keith Palmer and teacher Aysha Frade have been named as among the victims of the attack.

May said the government’s “working assumption” was that the attacker was inspired by Islamist ideology.

Prime Minister Theresa May speaking to MPs in the House of Commons in the aftermath of yesterday's terror attack
Prime Minister Theresa May speaking to MPs in the House of Commons in the aftermath of yesterday's terror attack

“We know the threat from Islamist terror is very real but while the public should remain utterly vigilant they should not will not be cowed by this threat,” she said.

“Yesterday an act of terrorism tried to silence our democracy, but today we meet as normal, as generations have done before us and as future generations will continue to do, to deliver a simple message - we are not afraid and our resolve will never waver in the face of terrorism.

“Those values, free speech, liberty, human rights and the rule of law are embodied here in this place but they are shared by free people around the world. A terrorist came to the place where people of all nationalities and cultures gather to celebrate what it means to be free.

“This was an attack on free people everywhere. On behalf of the British people I would like to thank our friends and allies around the world who have made it clear they stand with us at this time.”

Jeremy Corbyn told the Commons it was “by demonstrating our values – solidarity, humanity and love – that we will defeat the poison and division of hatred”.

“It behoves us all not to rush to judgment and wait for the police to establish the fact, to stay united in our communities and not allow fear or the voices of hatred to divide or cower us,” the Labour leader added.

The attacker, armed with two large knives, mowed down pedestrians with a car on Westminster Bridge, including schoolchildren, then rushed at the gates in front of the Houses of Parliament, stabbing Palmer before being shot dead by other officers.

The prime minister said those injured included 12 Britons, three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, two Greeks, and one each from Germany, Poland, Ireland, China, Italy and the United States. Three police officers were also hurt, two of them seriously.

Police officers salute during a minute's silence outside New Scotland Yard
Police officers salute during a minute's silence outside New Scotland Yard
Neil Hall / Reuters

At 9.33am - a reference to Palmer’s shoulder number - a moment of silence was held around the country in remembrance.

Officers stood outside London’s Scotland Yard in memory of their fallen colleague, while members of the public also marked the moment - even on the Tube.

A minute's silence on the tube this morning 💔💔💔

— Milly (@meliabell) March 23, 2017

Eight people have been arrested and six addresses raided in London, Birmingham and elsewhere in connection with the attack.

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