Frances Haugen, a Facebook data scientist turned whistleblower, appeared Monday before a UK Parliamentary committee looking at online safety legislation.

Speaking to the British parliament, she said that Facebook will fuel more violent unrest around the world because of the way its algorithms are designed to promote divisive content.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/frances-haugen-to-testify-about-facebook-and-online-harm-423860">Frances Haugen to testify about Facebook and online harm</a>

In her view, the social network saw safety as a cost centre and glorified a start-up culture where cutting corners was good. It was "unquestionably" making hate worse, she added.

"The events we're seeing around the world, things like Myanmar and Ethiopia, those are the opening chapters because engagement-based ranking does two things: one, it prioritises and amplifies divisive and polarising extreme content and two it concentrates it," she said.

Haugen said she had come forward "because now is the most critical time to act"

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/facebook-struggles-to-combat-misinformation-and-hate-speech-in-india-report-423506">Also read |&nbsp;Facebook struggles to combat misinformation and hate speech in India: Report</a>

She explained how Facebook Groups amplify online hate, saying algorithms that prioritize engagement take people with mainstream interests and push them to the extremes.

“One of the things that happens in aggregate is the algorithms take people who have very mainstream interests and they push them towards extreme interests. You can be someone who is center left and you’ll be pushed to radical left, you can be centre right and you’ll be pushed to radical right.”

As per her, the company could add moderators to prevent groups from being used to spread extremist views.

Watch |&nbsp;Facebook selective in curbing hate speech, mis-information and inflammatory posts

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The committee is proposing that companies that fail to limit and remove harmful online material should face heavy fines and other significant penalties.

"It pushes you to the extremes and it fans hate," she told lawmakers, adding," Anger and hate is the easiest way to grow on Facebook... bad actors have an incentive to play the algorithm, and they figure out all the ways to optimise Facebook."

Social media companies could face fines of up to 10% of their revenue if they fail to remove or limit the spread of illegal content, such as child sexual abuse.

The government has also called on platforms such as Facebook to do more to protect children from grooming, bullying, and pornography.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Frances Haugen, a Facebook data scientist turned whistleblower, appeared Monday before a UK Parliamentary committee looking at online safety legislation. Speaking to the British parliament, she said that Facebook will fuel more violent unrest around the world because of the way its algorithms are designed to promote divisive content.

Frances Haugen, a Facebook data scientist turned whistleblower, appeared Monday before a UK Parliamentary committee looking at online safety legislation. Speaking to the British parliament, she said that Facebook will fuel more violent unrest around the world because of the way its algorithms are designed to promote divisive content. Also read | Frances Haugen to testify about Facebook and online harm In her view, the social network saw safety as a cost centre and glorified a start-up culture where cutting corners was good. It was "unquestionably" making hate worse, she added. "The events we're seeing around the world, things like Myanmar and Ethiopia, those are the opening chapters because engagement-based ranking does two things: one, it prioritises and amplifies divisive and polarising extreme content and two it concentrates it," she said. Haugen said she had come forward "because now is the most critical time to act" Also read | Facebook struggles to combat misinformation and hate speech in India: Report She explained how Facebook Groups amplify online hate, saying algorithms that prioritize engagement take people with mainstream interests and push them to the extremes. “One of the things that happens in aggregate is the algorithms take people who have very mainstream interests and they push them towards extreme interests. You can be someone who is center left and you’ll be pushed to radical left, you can be centre right and you’ll be pushed to radical right.” As per her, the company could add moderators to prevent groups from being used to spread extremist views. Watch | Facebook selective in curbing hate speech, mis-information and inflammatory posts The committee is proposing that companies that fail to limit and remove harmful online material should face heavy fines and other significant penalties. "It pushes you to the extremes and it fans hate," she told lawmakers, adding," Anger and hate is the easiest way to grow on Facebook... bad actors have an incentive to play the algorithm, and they figure out all the ways to optimise Facebook." Social media companies could face fines of up to 10% of their revenue if they fail to remove or limit the spread of illegal content, such as child sexual abuse. The government has also called on platforms such as Facebook to do more to protect children from grooming, bullying, and pornography. (With inputs from Agencies)

Hate easiest way to grow on Facebook: Whistleblower Frances Haugen testifies before UK parliament

An American tech company is planning to offer the&nbsp;option of implanting microchips on it employees. The rice-sized implant will be installed in the employees&#39; hands for free.

The implant will help in opening of a door without a key in the office and employees can buy food without a credit card, cash or even a smartphone.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Wisconsin technology company named Three Square Market which offers this technology for break room or micro markets has stated that over 50 people have signed up&nbsp;for the chip implant. The company is expected to start the chip injection process from August 1. The chip can be easily be inserted between the thumb and the forefinger within seconds.&nbsp;

&quot;It&#39;s the next thing that&#39;s inevitably going to happen, and we want to be a part of it,&quot; Three Square Market Chief Executive Officer Todd Westby said.

Three Square Market will collaborate with a Swedish company BioHax International, which is already experienced at &quot;chipping&quot;&nbsp;its employees.

The chip which is designed to use the Radio Frequency Identification Technology works with the electromagnetic field to identify electronically stored information. The employees can access the information with a simple hand wave.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

A man killed one person and wounded several others in a knife attack at a supermarket in the German city of Hamburg

An American tech company is planning to offer the option of implanting microchips on it employees. The rice-sized implant will be installed in the employees' hands for free. The implant will help in opening of a door without a key in the office and employees can buy food without a credit card, cash or even a smartphone. The Wisconsin technology company named Three Square Market which offers this technology for break room or micro markets has stated that over 50 people have signed up for the chip implant. The company is expected to start the chip injection process from August 1. The chip can be easily be inserted between the thumb and the forefinger within seconds. "It's the next thing that's inevitably going to happen, and we want to be a part of it," Three Square Market Chief Executive Officer Todd Westby said. Three Square Market will collaborate with a Swedish company BioHax International, which is already experienced at "chipping" its employees. The chip which is designed to use the Radio Frequency Identification Technology works with the electromagnetic field to identify electronically stored information. The employees can access the information with a simple hand wave.

Germany: 1 killed, six injured in knife attack in Hamburg

A man has been arrested near the UK parliament after being suspected of preparing terror acts, Britain&#39;s metropolitan&nbsp;police said.

The police have locked down&nbsp;Westminster street. Metropolitan police said the man was arrested for possession of weapons near the house of Parliament in central London. Police said the incident is being investigated as &quot;terrorism&quot;.

&quot;Detectives are investigating the incident,&quot; metropolitan police said.

Police said the man was in his late twenties and was detained on a major street between the parliament and the residence of prime minister Theresa May, on suspicion of committing or instigating acts of terrorism and possession of an offensive weapon.

London&#39;s police force said they knew of no immediate further threat as a result of the arrest, and said counter-terrorism officers were continuing their investigation.

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A man is led away by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall in central London. (Reuters)
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Meanwhile, the Scottish parliament said that 3 suspicious packages were sent to political offices&nbsp;between April 25 and 26.

The packages were sent to an elected official, a political party headquarters, and a local council building. Police were investigating and further advice has been issued to elected representatives across Scotland, the assembly said.

An AFP photographer saw firearms officers surrounding the man, who was dressed in dark clothing, and pinning him to the ground at a pedestrian island.

The bearded man, with close-cropped hair, was seen being detained closed to a telephone booth used by countless tourists posing for photographs with the Houses of Parliament in the background.

David Wisniowski, who was working on a building site right next to the incident, told AFP he could see &quot;three knives on the floor, one big one and two small&quot;.

Gabrielle Hennessy, 20, a US tourist, described seeing police rush at a man.

&quot;We were walking along Parliament Square and we saw police rush at him. And then he was on the ground surrounded by police. They stood him up and that&#39;s when I saw the knife on the ground,&quot; she told AFP.

Police taped off the area in question.

An officer in forensic overalls could be seen photographing and picking up the knives, and looking inside a bag on the ground.

The incident happened close to Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s Downing Street office.&nbsp;

May was outside London on a general election campaign visit at the time, a spokeswoman said.&nbsp;

&quot;This is an ongoing police operation and we are monitoring it,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

&quot;The prime minister has been informed by officials and she will be updated, as usual for incidents like this.&quot;

(WION with agency inputs)

Britain's metropolitan police said a man suspected of carrying terror acts has been arrested

A man has been arrested near the UK parliament after being suspected of preparing terror acts, Britain's metropolitan police said. The police have locked down Westminster street. Metropolitan police said the man was arrested for possession of weapons near the house of Parliament in central London. Police said the incident is being investigated as "terrorism". "Detectives are investigating the incident," metropolitan police said. Police said the man was in his late twenties and was detained on a major street between the parliament and the residence of prime minister Theresa May, on suspicion of committing or instigating acts of terrorism and possession of an offensive weapon. London's police force said they knew of no immediate further threat as a result of the arrest, and said counter-terrorism officers were continuing their investigation. A man is led away by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall in central London. (Reuters) × Meanwhile, the Scottish parliament said that 3 suspicious packages were sent to political offices between April 25 and 26. The packages were sent to an elected official, a political party headquarters, and a local council building. Police were investigating and further advice has been issued to elected representatives across Scotland, the assembly said. An AFP photographer saw firearms officers surrounding the man, who was dressed in dark clothing, and pinning him to the ground at a pedestrian island. The bearded man, with close-cropped hair, was seen being detained closed to a telephone booth used by countless tourists posing for photographs with the Houses of Parliament in the background. David Wisniowski, who was working on a building site right next to the incident, told AFP he could see "three knives on the floor, one big one and two small". Gabrielle Hennessy, 20, a US tourist, described seeing police rush at a man. "We were walking along Parliament Square and we saw police rush at him. And then he was on the ground surrounded by police. They stood him up and that's when I saw the knife on the ground," she told AFP. Police taped off the area in question. An officer in forensic overalls could be seen photographing and picking up the knives, and looking inside a bag on the ground. The incident happened close to Prime Minister Theresa May's Downing Street office. May was outside London on a general election campaign visit at the time, a spokeswoman said. "This is an ongoing police operation and we are monitoring it," she said. "The prime minister has been informed by officials and she will be updated, as usual for incidents like this." (WION with agency inputs)

Man arrested near UK parliament for preparing terror attack

A massive manhunt was underway for the driver of a stolen truck that ploughed into a crowd outside a busy department store in central Stockholm Friday, killing four and injuring 15, Swedish police said.

A national police chief, Stefan Hector, said the police&#39;s &quot;working hypothesis is that this is a terror attack&quot;.

One man was arrested in connection with the attack but the driver remained at large, police said.

According to the Aftonbladet newspaper, the arrested man is a 39-year-old of Uzbek origin and a supporter of the Islamic State (IS) group.

Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he had strengthened the country&#39;s border controls.

&quot;Terrorists want us to be afraid, want us to change our behaviour, want us to not live our lives normally, but that is what we&#39;re going to do. So terrorists can never defeat Sweden, never,&quot; he said.

If confirmed as a terror attack, it would be Sweden&#39;s first such attack with a deadly outcome.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Part of central Stockholm was cordoned off and the area was evacuated, including the main train station. All subway traffic was halted on orders from the police.

Stockholm&#39;s subway service has&nbsp;now been cleared to restart after the attack, but all bus traffic in the centre of the city remains at a standstill, the public transport authority said.

The authority said trains would not stop at the two stations closest to where the truck attack took place.

&quot;A truck that drove into a crowd of people outside a busy department store in central Stockholm was a deliberate attack,&quot;&nbsp;Swedish intelligence agency Sapo said.

&quot;We were standing by the traffic lights at Drottninggatan (Queen Street) and then we heard some screaming and saw a truck coming,&quot; a witness, who declined to be named, told Reuters.

&quot;Then it drove into a pillar at Ahlens City (department store) where the hood started burning. When it stopped we saw a man lying under the tire. It was terrible to see,&quot; said the man, who saw the incident from inside his car.

Radio Sweden reporter Martin Svenningsen said he saw three dead people &quot;but probably more&quot;. A Reuters witness saw a number of body-like forms covered by blankets at the scene.

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A truck rammed into a departmental store in central Stockholm killing at least 3 people and injuring several as the Swedish PM called it a terror attack (WION)
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&quot;Police received a call from SOS Alarm that a person in a vehicle has injured other people on Drottninggatan,&quot; police wrote on Twitter.

Thick smoke was rising from the scene, but police have yet to confirm the information.&nbsp;Video images showed an area blocked off by police and crowds gathering around the police cordon.

Helicopters could be heard hovering in the sky over central Stockholm, and a large number of police cars and ambulances were dispatched to the scene, witnesses said.

King Carl Gustaf, Sweden&#39;s head of state, expressed his horror at the attack.

&quot;Our thoughts are going out to those that were affected, and to their families,&quot; he said in a statement from the royal palace.

European leaders reacted almost immediately with German Chancellor Angela Merkel declaring her support for the Swedish people. &nbsp;

&quot;Germany stands with Sweden against terror,&quot;&nbsp;German Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s spokesman said.

Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission said,&quot;Sweden truck attack is an attack on us all.&quot; &nbsp;&quot;One of Europe&#39;s most vibrant and colourful cities appears to have been struck by those wishing it &ndash; and our very way of life &ndash; harm,&quot; he said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres joined other leaders to condemn the attack. Guterres expressed hope that those responsible for the attack are swiftly brought to justice.

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A truck drove into a crowd in Stockholm (Agencies)
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An area of central Stockholm was cordoned off and large numbers of police and emergency services were at the scene. The area was evacuated. (Reuters)
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Several attacks in which trucks or cars have driven into crowds have taken place in Europe in the past year. Al-Qaida in 2010 urged its followers to use trucks as a weapon.

In London on March 22, a man in a car killed&nbsp;pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four, and then stabbed a policeman to death before being shot by police.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for two attacks - Nice, France, July 2016, when a truck killed 86 people celebrating Bastille Day, and one in Berlin in December last year, when a truck smashed through a Christmas market, killing 12 people.

(WION with AFP, Reuters &amp; other agency inputs)

One person has been arrested in connection with the attack, police said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility

A massive manhunt was underway for the driver of a stolen truck that ploughed into a crowd outside a busy department store in central Stockholm Friday, killing four and injuring 15, Swedish police said. A national police chief, Stefan Hector, said the police's "working hypothesis is that this is a terror attack". One man was arrested in connection with the attack but the driver remained at large, police said. According to the Aftonbladet newspaper, the arrested man is a 39-year-old of Uzbek origin and a supporter of the Islamic State (IS) group. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he had strengthened the country's border controls. "Terrorists want us to be afraid, want us to change our behaviour, want us to not live our lives normally, but that is what we're going to do. So terrorists can never defeat Sweden, never," he said. If confirmed as a terror attack, it would be Sweden's first such attack with a deadly outcome. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Part of central Stockholm was cordoned off and the area was evacuated, including the main train station. All subway traffic was halted on orders from the police. Stockholm's subway service has now been cleared to restart after the attack, but all bus traffic in the centre of the city remains at a standstill, the public transport authority said. The authority said trains would not stop at the two stations closest to where the truck attack took place. "A truck that drove into a crowd of people outside a busy department store in central Stockholm was a deliberate attack," Swedish intelligence agency Sapo said. "We were standing by the traffic lights at Drottninggatan (Queen Street) and then we heard some screaming and saw a truck coming," a witness, who declined to be named, told Reuters. "Then it drove into a pillar at Ahlens City (department store) where the hood started burning. When it stopped we saw a man lying under the tire. It was terrible to see," said the man, who saw the incident from inside his car. Radio Sweden reporter Martin Svenningsen said he saw three dead people "but probably more". A Reuters witness saw a number of body-like forms covered by blankets at the scene. A truck rammed into a departmental store in central Stockholm killing at least 3 people and injuring several as the Swedish PM called it a terror attack (WION) × "Police received a call from SOS Alarm that a person in a vehicle has injured other people on Drottninggatan," police wrote on Twitter. Thick smoke was rising from the scene, but police have yet to confirm the information. Video images showed an area blocked off by police and crowds gathering around the police cordon. Helicopters could be heard hovering in the sky over central Stockholm, and a large number of police cars and ambulances were dispatched to the scene, witnesses said. King Carl Gustaf, Sweden's head of state, expressed his horror at the attack. "Our thoughts are going out to those that were affected, and to their families," he said in a statement from the royal palace. European leaders reacted almost immediately with German Chancellor Angela Merkel declaring her support for the Swedish people. "Germany stands with Sweden against terror," German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said. Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission said,"Sweden truck attack is an attack on us all." "One of Europe's most vibrant and colourful cities appears to have been struck by those wishing it – and our very way of life – harm," he said. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres joined other leaders to condemn the attack. Guterres expressed hope that those responsible for the attack are swiftly brought to justice. A truck drove into a crowd in Stockholm (Agencies) × An area of central Stockholm was cordoned off and large numbers of police and emergency services were at the scene. The area was evacuated. (Reuters) × Several attacks in which trucks or cars have driven into crowds have taken place in Europe in the past year. Al-Qaida in 2010 urged its followers to use trucks as a weapon. In London on March 22, a man in a car killed pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four, and then stabbed a policeman to death before being shot by police. Islamic State claimed responsibility for two attacks - Nice, France, July 2016, when a truck killed 86 people celebrating Bastille Day, and one in Berlin in December last year, when a truck smashed through a Christmas market, killing 12 people. (WION with AFP, Reuters & other agency inputs)

Sweden terror attack: Truck drives into crowd in Stockholm, 4 killed

An explosion in a metro station in St Petersburg has killed at least 11&nbsp;people and injured at least 45&nbsp;others, according to reports.&nbsp;

The man suspected of the attack is in his 20s and belongs to central Asia, according to BBC.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is in St&nbsp;Petersburg for a meeting with Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko, said the cause of the blasts was not clear and efforts were underway to find out. He said he was considering all possibilities &quot;including terrorism&quot;.

Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed source as saying the blast, which occurred when the train was between two stations, was caused by a bomb filled with shrapnel. The blast occurred at 2:40 pm(local time) before evening rush hour.

An &quot;unexploded device&quot;&nbsp;was found at the second St Petersburg metro station, an official told AFP.

The Life News website showed pictures of blown-out train doors and injured people on the station platform.&nbsp;

The St Petersburg metro said evacuation of passengers is ongoing, there are people injured. &quot;An unidentified object supposedly blew up in a (train) carriage,&quot;&nbsp;the statement added.

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An image of the blast site at St Petersburg&#39;s metro station (Twitter)
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Another agency, RIA Novosti, said there appeared to have been blasts at two metro stations but it is still not confirmed. Russian metro authorities have closed all St&nbsp;Petersburg metro stations. The Moscow metro said it was taking unspecified additional security measures in case of an another attack.

President Vladimir Putin later went to lay flowers at the scene of the deadly blast.

Putin, who made no comment, left a bouquet of red flowers at the entrance to the Technological Institute metro station.

Russia&nbsp;has been the target of attacks by Chechen militants in the past. Chechen rebel leaders have frequently threatened further attacks.

At least 38 people were killed in 2010 when two female suicide bombers detonated bombs on packed Moscow metro trains.

(WION with agency inputs)

The man suspected of the attack is reportedly in his 20s and belongs to central Asia

An explosion in a metro station in St Petersburg has killed at least 11 people and injured at least 45 others, according to reports. The man suspected of the attack is in his 20s and belongs to central Asia, according to BBC. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is in St Petersburg for a meeting with Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko, said the cause of the blasts was not clear and efforts were underway to find out. He said he was considering all possibilities "including terrorism". Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed source as saying the blast, which occurred when the train was between two stations, was caused by a bomb filled with shrapnel. The blast occurred at 2:40 pm(local time) before evening rush hour. An "unexploded device" was found at the second St Petersburg metro station, an official told AFP. The Life News website showed pictures of blown-out train doors and injured people on the station platform. The St Petersburg metro said evacuation of passengers is ongoing, there are people injured. "An unidentified object supposedly blew up in a (train) carriage," the statement added. An image of the blast site at St Petersburg's metro station (Twitter) × Another agency, RIA Novosti, said there appeared to have been blasts at two metro stations but it is still not confirmed. Russian metro authorities have closed all St Petersburg metro stations. The Moscow metro said it was taking unspecified additional security measures in case of an another attack. President Vladimir Putin later went to lay flowers at the scene of the deadly blast. Putin, who made no comment, left a bouquet of red flowers at the entrance to the Technological Institute metro station. Russia has been the target of attacks by Chechen militants in the past. Chechen rebel leaders have frequently threatened further attacks. At least 38 people were killed in 2010 when two female suicide bombers detonated bombs on packed Moscow metro trains. (WION with agency inputs)

Russia: Explosion in St Petersburg metro, 11 killed, at least 45 injured

Two people have died in Wednesday&#39;s incident near Britain&#39;s parliament, Sky News said on Twitter, citing unspecified sources.

Earlier it was reported that a woman had died and other people were being treated for &quot;catastrophic&quot; injuries after the attack in Westminster in London.

A policeman was stabbed, an assailant shot and several other people injured in what police said they were treating as a terrorist incident.

(Reuters)

It was earlier reported that one woman had died and other people were being treated for 'catastrophic' injuries

Two people have died in Wednesday's incident near Britain's parliament, Sky News said on Twitter, citing unspecified sources. Earlier it was reported that a woman had died and other people were being treated for "catastrophic" injuries after the attack in Westminster in London. A policeman was stabbed, an assailant shot and several other people injured in what police said they were treating as a terrorist incident. (Reuters)

Two dead in London attack near parliament: Sky

Britain&#39;s parliament went into lockdown on Wednesday as a police officer was stabbed and the alleged assailant shot, reportedly after ploughing down pedestrians on one of London&#39;s busiest bridges.

Here is what we know about what police are treating as a terrorist attack:

What happened? 
In quick succession at around 2:40 pm (1440 GMT) on Wednesday, media reported gunfire outside the parliament and, separately, that several people had been injured in an incident on Westminster Bridge next to it, a busy traffic conduit that is also a popular tourist spot due to its views of parliament and its &quot;Big Ben&quot; clock tower.

David Lidington, a government minister who is the leader of the lower House of Commons, told the chamber that a police officer had been stabbed on the parliamentary estate and that armed police had shot the alleged attacker in response, adding that there had been &quot;reports of further violent incidents in the vicinity&quot;.

Unconfirmed media reports said the attacker mowed people down on the bridge in a car before veering towards the parliament building and ramming the railings surrounding the grounds. He got out and attacked the police officer before he was shot.

Reports said the attacker was carrying a large knife.

One woman was killed, according to medics cited by local media, and several suffered &quot;catastrophic&quot; injuries.

How did authorities respond? 
Parliament was put on lockdown, with lawmakers and staff ordered to remain inside.

Downing Street said Prime Minister Theresa May was safe, and she was seen getting into a car and being driven away from the parliament where she had been holding her weekly question-and-answer session a couple of hours earlier.

Television pictures showed a red air ambulance landing on the grass square opposite the parliament building and other emergency vehicles swarming nearby roads.

Westminster Bridge and the Westminster Underground station which serves parliament and the surrounding political district, were closed off.

What is known about the attacker? 
For the moment, very little. Witness reports, which could not be immediately confirmed, described a middle-aged man of Asian appearance who was carrying a large knife.

Has anything like this happened in London before? 
London&#39;s transport system was hit by four co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks in July 2005 that left 52 people dead, carried out by British attackers inspired by Al-Qaeda terror network. There was an attempted second wave of attacks two weeks later.

In 2013, two Islamic extremists killed soldier Lee Rigby on a London street by hitting him with a car before attempting to behead him.

Last August, a paranoid schizophrenic knifeman who tried to behead a commuter in a London Underground station in an Islamic State-inspired attack was sentenced to life behind bars.

In terms of attacks on parliament, Airey Neave -- the shadow Northern Ireland Secretary and a close friend of Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher -- was killed by an Irish National Liberation Army car bomb in the House of Commons car park.

The latest incident comes with Europe on high alert after a series of deadly jihadist attacks, including the Brussels bombings exactly a year ago on March 22, 2016.

(AFP)

The attacker first rammed his car into pedestrians on Westminster bridge, then attacked a policeman outside Parliament

Britain's parliament went into lockdown on Wednesday as a police officer was stabbed and the alleged assailant shot, reportedly after ploughing down pedestrians on one of London's busiest bridges. Here is what we know about what police are treating as a terrorist attack: What happened? In quick succession at around 2:40 pm (1440 GMT) on Wednesday, media reported gunfire outside the parliament and, separately, that several people had been injured in an incident on Westminster Bridge next to it, a busy traffic conduit that is also a popular tourist spot due to its views of parliament and its "Big Ben" clock tower. David Lidington, a government minister who is the leader of the lower House of Commons, told the chamber that a police officer had been stabbed on the parliamentary estate and that armed police had shot the alleged attacker in response, adding that there had been "reports of further violent incidents in the vicinity". Unconfirmed media reports said the attacker mowed people down on the bridge in a car before veering towards the parliament building and ramming the railings surrounding the grounds. He got out and attacked the police officer before he was shot. Reports said the attacker was carrying a large knife. One woman was killed, according to medics cited by local media, and several suffered "catastrophic" injuries. How did authorities respond? Parliament was put on lockdown, with lawmakers and staff ordered to remain inside. Downing Street said Prime Minister Theresa May was safe, and she was seen getting into a car and being driven away from the parliament where she had been holding her weekly question-and-answer session a couple of hours earlier. Television pictures showed a red air ambulance landing on the grass square opposite the parliament building and other emergency vehicles swarming nearby roads. Westminster Bridge and the Westminster Underground station which serves parliament and the surrounding political district, were closed off. What is known about the attacker? For the moment, very little. Witness reports, which could not be immediately confirmed, described a middle-aged man of Asian appearance who was carrying a large knife. Has anything like this happened in London before? London's transport system was hit by four co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks in July 2005 that left 52 people dead, carried out by British attackers inspired by Al-Qaeda terror network. There was an attempted second wave of attacks two weeks later. In 2013, two Islamic extremists killed soldier Lee Rigby on a London street by hitting him with a car before attempting to behead him. Last August, a paranoid schizophrenic knifeman who tried to behead a commuter in a London Underground station in an Islamic State-inspired attack was sentenced to life behind bars. In terms of attacks on parliament, Airey Neave -- the shadow Northern Ireland Secretary and a close friend of Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher -- was killed by an Irish National Liberation Army car bomb in the House of Commons car park. The latest incident comes with Europe on high alert after a series of deadly jihadist attacks, including the Brussels bombings exactly a year ago on March 22, 2016. (AFP)

UK Parliament attack: What we know

The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday it was closely monitoring the &quot;concerning situation&quot; near to Britain&#39;s Houses of Parliament and offered to assist in any way after a policeman was stabbed and several people injured in an attack.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner urged Americans in London to contact their families to let them know they are safe.

&quot;We stand ready to provide all possible consular assistance should we become aware of any affected U.S. citizens,&quot; he said in a statement.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

The US state department offered to assist in any way possible

The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday it was closely monitoring the "concerning situation" near to Britain's Houses of Parliament and offered to assist in any way after a policeman was stabbed and several people injured in an attack. State Department spokesman Mark Toner urged Americans in London to contact their families to let them know they are safe. "We stand ready to provide all possible consular assistance should we become aware of any affected U.S. citizens," he said in a statement. (Reuters)

US says closely monitoring 'concerning situation' in London

Scotland&#39;s parliament suspended its debate on authorising the government to seek a new independence referendum after Wednesday&#39;s attack on Britain&#39;s Houses of Parliament which police said they were treating as a terrorist incident.

The suspension was announced by the speaker of Holyrood, Ken Macintosh, after a policeman was stabbed, an assailant shot and several people injured in London.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

The suspension was announced by the speaker of Holyrood, Ken Macintosh

Scotland's parliament suspended its debate on authorising the government to seek a new independence referendum after Wednesday's attack on Britain's Houses of Parliament which police said they were treating as a terrorist incident. The suspension was announced by the speaker of Holyrood, Ken Macintosh, after a policeman was stabbed, an assailant shot and several people injured in London. (Reuters)

Scottish Parliament suspends debate on independence referendum after Westminster attack

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