Messages of support, resilience flood social media in wake of U.K. Parliament attack

Londoners and foreigners alike flocked to social media Wednesday to share messages of support and spread hope for resilience in light of a deadly terror attack outside the U.K. Parliament.

READ MORE: At least 4 dead, 20 injured in terror attack outside U.K. Parliament

At least four people were killed, including a police officer, and 20 others injured in what police described as a “terrorist incident.” London’s Metropolitan Police said a vehicle struck a number of people walking on the Westminster Bridge, not too far from where a police officer was stabbed outside of the British parliament, around 2:40 p.m. local time.

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Deputy Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said at least 20 people were injured in the attack, which officers believe was carried out by just one attacker.

“We are satisfied at this stage that it looks like there was only one attacker. But it would be foolish to be overconfident early on,” Rowley said.

As information about the attack continued to develop, Twitter users began paying tribute to those affected by sharing messages of solidarity and strength. Some shared images of London’s famous underground signs reading, “We are not afraid” – others hand drawn images of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.

The hashtags #PrayForLondon and #Westminister quickly began trending on the social network as people from around the world reacted to news of the attack.

Citing a junior doctor at a local hospital, both the BBC and Sky News said one woman had died in the incident while others suffered “catastrophic injuries.” French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Twitter that French students were among the injured.

READ MORE: British MP gave CPR to stabbed police officer after terror incident outside U.K. Parliament

Tributes quickly poured in for the police officer who died after being stabbed by the attacker, including tributes from police departments around the world.

The attack on the U.K. Parliament comes on the first anniversary of attacks in Brussels, Belgium, which killed 32 people and injured countless other when bombs exploded in the airport and at a subway station.

READ MORE: Timeline of terror attacks in Britain

While there has was no immediate claim of responsibility for the London attack, many were shaken by the fact the attacks fell on the same day.

Britain’s terror alert level remains “severe” or “an attack is highly likely,” which was last updated in May of last year.

– With files from Global News reporter Adam Frisk and Reuters