By Police1 Staff
LONDON — The police officer who was among those killed during yesterday’s terror attack in London was honored across the city Thursday.
Fellow officers and other city employees honored Officer Keith Palmer, 48, and three other victims who were killed with a minute-long moment of silence, the BBC reported. Palmer was stabbed while attempting to stop the attacker in Parliament’s courtyard.
https://twitter.com/ABC/status/844961553279520770
He was a soldier in the Royal Artillery before he joined the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Squad, where he served for 15 years, the Associated Press reported.
Prime Minister Theresa May said Palmer was “a husband, a father ... he was every inch a hero … His actions will never be forgotten.” His family described him as “dedicated to his job and proud to be a police officer, brave and courageous.”
https://twitter.com/metpoliceuk/status/844946749651374080
Longtime friend and Parliament member James Cleverly, who served with Palmer in the Royal Artillery 25 years ago, asked the Prime Minister to honor Palmer’s “gallantry and sacrifice formally with a posthumous recognition,” ITV News reported.
https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/844893946631348225
Palmer was honored by Charlton Athletic Football Club as well. He was a loyal fan of the team and a “familiar face” at the stadium, the Associated Press reported. The club placed a red-and-white scarf on his seat where he sat “for many years” in the stadium as a tribute. It will remain there until the next game on April 4.
https://twitter.com/bbcsoutheast/status/844895475115405312
“Keith Palmer was killed while bravely doing his duty, protecting our city and the heart of our democracy from those who want to destroy our way of life,” London Mayor Sadiq Khan told CNN. “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.”
The assailant, who died by police gunfire after he stabbed Palmer, drove a car into a crowd of people on Westminster Bridge, wounding 40. According to CNN, the incident was the most lethal terror attack since the public transit bombings in 2005.
https://twitter.com/metpoliceuk/status/844943645061103617