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British MPs and members of the House of Lords have paid tribute to Police Constable Keith Palmer, the 48-year-old officer who was stabbed in today's London terrorist attack.
Constable Palmer had been a member of the police force for 15 years and had previously served with the British Royal Artillery.
"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 would happen," Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley said.
As further details emerge about the attack, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed that Constable Palmer was unarmed.
"Our parliamentary protection team are a combination of armed and unarmed officers doing different roles, and sadly the officer who lost his life today was unarmed," Mr Rowley explained.
"He was supported by armed colleagues who shot and killed the attacker.
"[The attacker] tried to enter Parliament and was stopped at the gate."
The attacker was shot dead shortly after stabbing Constable Palmer.
"A guy came past my right shoulder with a big knife and just started plunging it into the policeman," witness Rick Longley told the Press Association.
Witnesses said three to four shots were then fired by the officer's colleagues.
British MPs and members of the House of Lords have paid tribute and shared their condolences for the officer on social media, while Scotland Yard lowered its flag to half-mast.
"He was 48 and a husband and a father," London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in a statement.
"He personifies the brave men and women of our police and emergency services who work around the clock to keep us safe — tonight all Londoners are grateful to them."
ABC/wires
Topics: terrorism, crime, law-crime-and-justice, united-kingdom
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