Names and faces of the London terror attack victims
MELISSA Cochran lay on the Westminster Bridge with blood pouring from her head. That was only the start of her horror - her husband was already dead.
LAYING on the floor of Westminster Bridge with blood pouring from her head, the image of Melissa Payne Cochran has become a symbol of the devastation that visited London on Wednesday.
But the American tourist’s ordeal is even more heartbreaking than first thought.
The 54-year-old was visiting London with her husband Kurt Cochran to celebrate the couple’s 25th wedding anniversary.
They were crossing the Westminster Bridge when the speeding four-wheel drive driven by terrorist Khalid Massood hit both husband and wife as they walked along the pedestrian path.
Melissa was knocked into a postcard stand and left lying on the bridge while a stranger comforted her.
Her husband was flung from the bridge onto pavement below and died at the scene.
Mr Cochran’s sister Shantell Payne broke the news on Facebook where she wrote that her brother “could not overcome” the injuries he received” in the deadly incident.
“With a heavy heart I must pass the sad news of our beautiful brother, father, husband, son and friend Kurt Cochran, he could not overcome the injuries he received in the London terror attacks,” she wrote.
“This pain is so heartwrenching and raw it has rocked our family and all that knew him to its core. We will miss Kurt beyond words. We love you Kurt. RIP. Melissa Payne Cochran is in the hospital with a broken leg, rib and a cut on her head but will recover from her injuries. Sending all the love to her for a quick recovery.”
She remains in hospital with serious injuries.
President Trump tweeted his condolences to a “great American”.
A great American, Kurt Cochran, was killed in the London terror attack. My prayers and condolences are with his family and friends.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2017
Spoke to U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May today to offer condolences on the terrorist attack in London. She is strong and doing very well.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2017
Others killed in the attack include 43-year-old mother Aysha Freda and PC Keith Palmer, 48, who had served the police for 15 years. Another 75-year-old victim had died in hospital after life support was switched off.
The terrorist was also shot by a personal security guard to UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, bringing the total death toll to five.
WOMAN WHO FELL FROM BRIDGE NAMED
UK Prime Minister Theresa May said those injured include 12 Britons, three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, one German, one Polish person, one Irish, one Chinese, one Italian, one American and two Greeks.
“This is an attack on free people everywhere,” she said.
The injured also include three police officers returning from an event in parliament to recognise their bravery.
The woman who plunged from Westminster Bridge during the London terror attack has been named as Romanian woman Andreea Cristea.
The architect, 29, was on holiday in London with her fiance Andrei Burnaz to celebrate his birthday when the pair were mown down during the terror attack which killed two people on the busy bridge.
It’s thought they were heading to the London Eye when the attacker struck around 2:40pm in the afternoon.
The Romanian Ambassador in London said she has “multiple fractures” with bleeding lungs.
“The young man is in a relatively OK because it only has a fracture in the foot,” he said according to local media reports.
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS NAMED
Two university students from the UK have been named as those injured in the attack while on a field trip to Houses of Parliament.
Politics students Travis Frain, 19, and Owen Lambert, 18 were taken to hospital as “walking wounded” after the event.
Travis’s mum Angela said her son was taken to hospital with a cracked rib and arm injuries.
Ms Frain, a teacher, said: “It was a very short phone call because obviously it had just happened.”
Edge Hill University said yesterday one student was still undergoing treatment in hospital and all would be offered counselling after their visit.
FRENCH CHILDREN INJURED
Three boys from St Joseph’s school in Concarneau, Brittany were seriously injured in the attack. They have been named locally as Victor, Yann and Thomas and were travelling to London as part of a school trip.
On Thursday, the city’s mayor Andre Fidelin said it was the second time the school had been touched by terror.
In November 2015 former student Estelle Rouat, 25, was killed in the Bataclan concerts in Paris.
“It’s terrible, because a psychosis is likely to set in at the school because it has already been affected by terrorism,” Mr Fidelin said.
“Our emotion is intense. Concarneau is again touched by terror and horror, and we cannot imagine the anguish and anxiety of the parents.”
MOTHER KILLED ON SCHOOL RUN
Earlier, Spanish teacher Aysha Frade, 43, and Metropolitan Police officer Keith Palmer, 48 were named as victims.
Ms Frade was on her way to pick up her primary school-aged children when she was hit by the suspected terrorist as his out-of-control vehicle sped through traffic.
Tributes for the 43-year-old have flooded social media.
“Wonderful lovely woman. We will all sadly miss you. RIP Aysha,” one friend wrote.
Another tribute said “there is a new angel in the sky ... one amazing, extraordinary angel ... going to miss you!!! RIP lovely and wonderful Aysha.”
GERMAN WOMAN LIVING IN AUSTRALIA INJURED
German woman Trish Neis-Beer, who was living in South Australia, is also among the victims injured in the London attacks.
AAP reports the Australian permanent resident was injured and taken to hospital after her foot was run over as chaotic scenes unfolded in central London.
Attorney General George Brandis told Senate question time that the woman was receiving treatment and consular staff were providing assistance.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told ABC reporter Leigh Sales the Australian had her foot run over and was recovering. It is believed she is originally from Germany.
“Australians should be reassured that our agencies are today as every day working relentlessly and tirelessly to keep our people safe,” Turnbull said in Parliament.
“We are very alert to the vulnerabilities of places of mass gathering and open spaces and the risk of relatively unsophisticated attacks, like that perpetrated in London.
“Keeping Australians safe is our highest priority. It is our most solemn, our supreme obligation.”
KEITH PALMER
The first to be identified was Metropolitan policeman Keith Palmer, 48, who was attacked with a kitchen knife by the terrorist,
MPs and fellow policeman paid tribute to PC Palmer on Thursday with a minute’s silence. MP James Cleverly requested he received a posthumous award for bravery in an emotional parliamentary speech.
Metropolitan Police counter terror commissioner Mark Rowley said Mr Palmer was a member of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command.
“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,” he said.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Nottinghamshire Police said Mr Palmer “died today protecting the public”.
“When many ran from danger, you went towards it,” they wrote. “Thank you for your service and your dedication.”
Friends and admirers have paid tribute to the “brave officer” online.
“A true hero, died doing what I’m sure you loved doing most, protecting others,” one wrote.
Who would have thought that when we all woke up this morning a serving officer would become a hero and an angel by the time the day had ended,” said another. “Though I don’t think for one moment his wife or children would ever be ready for a day like today, my thoughts are sad and mixed with anger as people tonight mourn for loved ones not coming home.”
Shortly after Mr Palmer was stabbed, surrounding police shot dead his attacker.
Briefing the media on the investigation into the attack, Scotland Yard officers said three police officers had been seriously injured in the attack. It remains unclear whether any were caught up in gunfire as officers moved to stop the attacker.
French prosecutors have launched their own investigation over the attack in which three French schoolchildren were injured.
The teenagers were hurt when the attacker ploughed through pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.
The students were from a private high school in Concarneau in northwestern France, local media has reported. At least two are said to be critical.
Witnesses told Le Telegramme newspaper one of the students has been collected by the speeding vehicle and was at one stage on the car bonnet.
Family members of the students are being transported to London be with them.
Reuters photographer Toby Melville recalled the moment he heard a man hit the pavement below Westminster Bridge after the car ploughed through the bridge.
“I heard a thud, turned round and there was a man lying about 10 yards away from me,” he told Reuters. “There was a lot of blood coming from his head. I thought this must be a domestic or horrible accident.”
Mr Melville had been taking photographs around parliament while on assignment covering Britain’s exit from the European Union. He said after he saw the man on the ground, he phoned emergency and headed towards a nearby hospital to alert doctors, and saw another injured woman.
“At which point I thought this looks like it’s more than someone’s fallen over the wall,” he said.
Mr Melville said “a dozen or so” people appeared to be unconscious on and around the bridge.
Charles to ‘stay out’ of Republic debate
The King has issued a surprising response to a question about Australia’s future ahead of his five-day tour to the country later this week.
Mass rape victim’s unthinkable, brave act
A woman who was allegedly raped by 50 men after being drugged unconscious by her husband made one extraordinarily brave request in court.
Major move after woman dies in ‘suicide pod’
The owners of a controversial suicide pod have made a major announcement as authorities investigate the death of the first person to use the device.