Pin
The Library of Birmingham is lit up in the colours of the Union Jack as a tribute to the victims of the London Westminster attacks (Photograph: Majid Mahmood)
The Library of Birmingham is lit up in the colours of the Union Jack as a tribute to the victims of the London Westminster attacks (Photograph: Majid Mahmood)

The Library of Birmingham has been lit up in the colours of the Union Jack tonight, in tribute to the victims of today’s tragic London attacks.

The Birmingham landmark is illuminated in red, white and blue this evening to show solidarity with the Capital, after five people have died and 20 people have been injured following a violent stabbing frenzy near the Houses of Parliament.

Reports suggest a single attacker drove a car over Westminster Bridge, near the Houses of Parliament, killing two pedestrians and injuring many others, before crashing into railings outside the Houses of Parliament.

According to witnesses, the armed attacker ran towards Parliament with a knife, where he came face to face with police officers. The assailant then confronted an unarmed officer, stabbing and killing him. In response, the attacker was shot dead by nearby armed officers.

How the Westminster attack is reported to have unfolded in London (Image: OpenStreetMap)
How the Westminster attack is reported to have unfolded in London (Image: OpenStreetMap)

The attacker, the victims and those in intensive care had not been initially identified.

The policeman who was killed has since been named as Keith Palmer, a 48-year-old husband and father, who was a member of the Diplomatic Protection Service.

Among those injured, a woman was pulled out alive from the River Thames but suffered injuries.

48-year-old PC Keith Palmer has been named as the police officer killed in the line of duty during the Westminster attacks in London earlier today
48-year-old PC Keith Palmer has been named as the police officer killed in the line of duty during the Westminster attacks in London earlier today

On high alert and as a precautionary measure, Parliament was suspended and most visitors to the buildings were locked in for about five hours.

As Londoners and visitors to the city come to terms with the incident, solidarity is being shown across the country.

The Palace of Westminster in London, the meeting place of the UK Parliament (Photograph: Mike Gimelfarb)
The Palace of Westminster in London, the meeting place of the UK Parliament (Photograph: Mike Gimelfarb)

In Birmingham, the city’s landmark library is paying tribute by displaying the colours of the Union Flag, known as the Union Jack and recognised as the flag of the United Kingdom.

The move follows a request made by city councillors to the Library to mark the tragedy, to show solidarity and express a firm stance against all forms of terror.

Majid Mahmood, the councillor for Birmingham Hodge Hill (Lab) stated:

“We have lit the Library of Birmingham in the colours of the Union Jack to show solidarity with London. All of us stand together against those who preach division, hatred, and terror. We will never be cowed by terrorists whoever, and wherever they are.”

Cllr Majid Mahmood (left), here with Cllr Yvonne Mosquito and Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn last weekend, called for unity against hate following the attacks in London (Photograph: Majid Mahmood)
Cllr Majid Mahmood (left), here with Cllr Yvonne Mosquito and Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn last weekend, called for unity against hate following the attacks in London (Photograph: Majid Mahmood)

Mahmood, who has previously requested a similar response following international terror attacks, added:

“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the horrific attack in Westminster, London.

“My heart goes out to the emergency services who are working tirelessly helping the injured, and keeping us safe in these difficult times.

“Solidarity against all those who preach, division, hatred and terror.”

The councillor concluded his statement with a quote from the Qur’an, the Muslim holy book:

“Whoever kills a person unjustly is it as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.”

MPs and those working in and around Parliament used Facebook's 'Safety Check' to mark themselves 'sage' during the Westminster incident
MPs and those working in and around Parliament used Facebook’s ‘Safety Check’ to mark themselves ‘sage’ during the Westminster incident

>> READ MORE: Library of Birmingham lit up red and white in tribute to Turkey terror attack victims <<

Birmingham MP Steve McCabe marked himself as 'safe' using Facebook following the Westminster attacks (Image: Steve McCabe/Facebook)
Birmingham MP Steve McCabe marked himself as ‘safe’ using Facebook following the Westminster attacks (Image: Steve McCabe/Facebook)
Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood marked himself as 'safe' using Facebook following the Westminster attacks (Image: Khalid Mahmood/Facebook)
Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood marked himself as ‘safe’ using Facebook following the Westminster attacks (Image: Khalid Mahmood/Facebook)

Birmingham MPs working in and around Parliament used Facebook’s ‘Safety Check’ feature to mark themselves as ‘safe’.

Members of Parliament Steve McCabe (Birmingham Selly Oak) and Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham Perry Barr) checked in to show they were safe, while MP Jess Phillips (Birmingham Yardley) posted to let her online friends and followers know she was “okay”.

Jess Phillips MP paid tribute to the emergency services who responded to the tragic incident in London (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Jess Phillips MP paid tribute to the emergency services who responded to the tragic incident in London (Photograph: Adam Yosef)

As the day unfolded, Phillips praised the emergency services for their swift response to the chaos in Westminster:

“The admiration I have for the people who work here to keep us safe is boundless. I’m so sorry for them today.

Birmingham MP Jess Phillips paid tribute to emergency services and police officers dealing with the incident in Westminster (Image: Jess Phillips/Facebook)
Birmingham MP Jess Phillips paid tribute to emergency services and police officers dealing with the incident in Westminster (Image: Jess Phillips/Facebook)

“To lose a colleague and friend in line of duty is so painful, to get straight back up and keep serving under fire and pressure makes you a hero.

“As we walked from Parliament today there were no words that seemed good enough for the police and security staff who lined our safe passage.”

Leader of Birmingham City Council John Clancy described the scenes in London as “distressing”. Sharing his thoughts on Twitter, he wrote:

“Distressing scenes from Westminster – BBC referring to as terror incident. Thoughts and prayers with those affected and with emergency services.”

“The Library of Birmingham lit to show Birmingham’s solidarity with London. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by today’s Westminster attack.”

Birmingham City Council Leader John Clancy shared the hashtag #LoveIsLove (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Birmingham City Council Leader John Clancy shared his condolences for the victims of the attack in London (Photograph: Adam Yosef)

>> READ MORE: Birmingham shows solidarity for Paris terror victims <<

In March last year, the library was lit up in green and white to remember the victims of a terrorist attack which killed 70 in Pakistan, and was also enveloped in the colours of the Belgian flag following terror attacks in Brussels in the same month.

The Library of Birmingham lit up green and white for victims of the Pakistan attacks
The Library of Birmingham lit up green and white for victims of the Pakistan attacks in March 2016
The Library of Birmingham was lit up in French tricolore following attacks in paris (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
In 2015, The Library of Birmingham was lit up in French tricolore following attacks in Paris (Photograph: Adam Yosef)

In November 2015, the French tricolore was on display following terror attacks in Paris, France, during which bomb blasts and gunmen took the lives of 129 people.

At the time, similar displays of sympathy and solidarity were also shown by other city landmarks including the Birmingham Central Mosque in Highgate and the The Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Smethwick.

.

 

(Visited 556 times, 1 visits today)
Pin