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Newcastle woman Jessica Reynolds works in the Westminster area and was first alerted to the events unfolding just around the corner when her office was put into lock down.
"We were locked in and the office was shut down,” she said.
“We didn't know what was going on. We found out about the attack on the news and watched it unfold.
"When I eventually left work the street was still shut off. The city-centre was empty, which is really strange for the middle of London."
The 27-year-old woman, who been living in London for almost five years, called her parents immediately to let them know she was safe.
"I called my parents and let them know I was okay,” she said.
“My thoughts are with all of the people and their families who were involved in the attack."
While the city remains in shock at the terrible events of the day, it won’t stop locals from getting on with their lives.
"It won't stop me from going into the city, or going about my day-to-day life. Londoners will just get on with it."
London terrorist attack: What we know and what we don't know
Police investigations are ongoing into an attack in London on Wednesday. Here's what we do and don't know at this stage.
What we know:
- A multi-pronged attack in London has claimed the lives of four people on Wednesday, including that of the suspected attacker.
- The attack began when a vehicle hit a number of people on the Westminster Bridge in central London just after 2.30pm.
- The car then crashed outside the parliament, and man got out of the vehicle and ran through the parliament gates, before stabbing a police officer.
- The assailant was shot by police and has since died from his injuries.
- Attempts were made to resuscitate the police offer by first responders and by Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, but he passed away. At least two other civilians have also died as a result of the attack.
- At least 20 people were injured in the attack, many on Westminster Bridge. One woman was pulled alive but suffering serious injuries from the River Thames. She is believed to have jumped or fallen into the water as the attack unfolded.
- Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that no Australians had been identified as being involved.
What we don't know
- The identity of the attacker is not yet known. Police also would not say if he was known to them already.
- The motive for the attack. While the attack has many of the hallmarks of an Islamic State-directed or inspired attack, there is no evidence yet as to what what motivated the assailant. Neither IS or other terror groups have claimed responsibility.
- Whether the assailant acted alone. Police assistant commissioner Mark Rowley said police were working on the presumption the man was the sole attacker, but investigations were continuing.
– with The Age