Op-ed; When Khalid Masood began his deadly journey across Westminster Bridge last Wednesday the first people he hit were an American couple visiting the UK for an anniversary celebration and to meet up with Melissa Cochran's parents.

Kurt Cochran, 54, from Utah was knocked from the bridge to a parapet below and killed. His wife Melissa, 46, sustained injuries including a broken leg and rib.

The couple were on the last day of their vacation in the UK; the trip to London was to celebrate the couple's 25th wedding anniversary. They arrived in Britain March 3 visiting Scotland, Ireland and parts of Europe.

Masood killed three other people and injured others some sustaining what was described as catastrophic injuries.


His victims were young and old and from many nationalities.

He had a history of violence.

The Cochrans however were by all accounts a lovely couple who will be sorely missed by their loved ones and friends.

Monday family members, of Melissa and Kurt, who are in London have spoken about the couple.

Their words are an inspiration.

They are not opting for hate but rather hope. Clint Payne, Mr Cochran's brother-in-law, said;

A beautiful life snuffed out by a person who was never a positive force for anything good.

Thoughts with all of those involved.

Breaking news Wednesday 2.30pm GMT London

There has been an attack near to the Houses of Parliament London.

Parliament is now in lockdown and has been suspended for the rest of today.

PM Theresa May was whisked away by security personnel.

Wednesday lunchtime is PMQs and the Houses of Parliament are usually full.

A car was driven across Westminster bridge before mounting the pavement and striking down several people.

One police officer has reportedly been stabbed by a gunman. That attacker has now been shot.

CNBC report "Police in London said they were called to Westminster Bridge at 2:14 p.m. local time "for an incident," and that is is now being treated as a "firearm incident and officers are on the scene and dealing with this." Multiple ambulance crews were en route to the scene as armed police entered Parliament, some of them carrying shields, Reuters reported."

ITV news has just rounded up today's events with what is known at this time;

• Scotland Yard said it was called to a firearms incident on Westminster Bridge amid reports of several people injured at about 2.40pm on Wednesday
• Sounds similar to gunfire were heard close to the Palace of Westminster
• Eyewitnesses said a man with a knife charged through the gates into the front yard of the Palace
• Two people were seen lying within Old Palace Yard, immediately outside Westminster Hall
• Commons Leader David Lidington told MPs a "police officer has been stabbed" and the "alleged assailant was shot by armed police" following a "serious" incident within the parliamentary estate
• Nearby tube stations have been closed
• The sitting in the House of Commons was suspended while police officers sealed off the area around the incident

Some people have sustained injuries but details remain sketchy.

The incident is being treat as a terrorist incident until there is confirmation one way or another.

The situation remains fluid and the story is still unfolding.

As members of the public, tourists and reporters are in the area a variety of images are being shared and some are graphic.

Parliament is being searched and police are unable to confirm at this time whether at least one attacker is still at large.

Wednesday evening update;
At least four people have died including the police officer who was stabbed and his suspected attacker.

Social media buzzed with the alleged name and images of the attacker; later Channel 4 retracted a report as that man is reportedly still in jail.

Twitter accounts had already shared his name, footage and more. One person had actually updated a wikipedia page on the man adding today as his date of death.

This is the latest information from the Metropolitan Police Force http://news.met.police.uk/news/latest-on-westminster-incident-229843?hootPostID=771543ff5a7c584b366b8b3a360e403d

More
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/22/man-shot-police-outside-parliament-officer-reportedly-shoots/
​http://www.itv.com/news/update/2017-03-22/westminster-bridge-area-cordoned-off-as-casualty-is-treated/