UK parliament attacker used ‘a number of aliases’

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood shakes hands with an armed police officer as he arrives at the Houses of Parliament in London on March 24, 2017. Mr Ellwood desperately tried to save the life of constable Keith Palmer, the police officer killed on Wednesday when a man went on a deadly rampage near the UK seat of government. Matt Dunhan / APShow less

LONDON // Khalid Masood, who attacked Britain’s Parliament, killing four people and wounding another 50 or so before being shot dead by police, was born Adrian Russell Ajao, London’s top counterterror officer said Friday.

Mark Rowley revealed the name in a briefing outside Scotland Yard, where also announced two more “significant” arrests had been made. That brings the number of people in custody for the Wednesday attack to nine.

"We remain keen to hear from anyone who knew Khalid Masood well, understands who his associates were and can provide us with information about places he has recently visited," Rowley said. "There might be people out there who did have concerns about Masood but did not feel comfortable for whatever reason in passing those concerns to us."

ISIL claimed responsibility, saying the attacker was one of its “soldiers”.

The 52-year-old attacker was born in southeastern England and had most recently been living in the central city of Birmingham. Police said Mr Masood had been using “a number of aliases”.

Police have carried out more than dozen searches, seizing 2,700 items including “massive amounts of computer data” and were attempting to work out whether others had “encouraged, supported or directed” Mr hadMasood.

Mr Masood drove his car into crowds of people on Westminster Bridge on Wednesday afternoon before stabbing a police officer to death at the Houses of Parliament.

Rowley said two police officers targeted in the attack have significant injuries. Two other people also remain in critical condition, one with life-threatening injuries.

The latest victim, who died in the hospital on Thursday, was 75-year-old Leslie Rhodes from Streatham, south London.

* Associated Press