A Tongan woman in London had received a text message from her husband warning her to stay inside a cathedral because a terror attack had hit nearby.
Falasima Tuʻifua Kautoke was attending a Mass at the Westminister Cathedral in which she said it took only eight minutes to walk from there to the scene of horror.
Five people have died and at least 40 were injured after the attacker drove a car along a pavement in Westminster, stabbed a policeman and was shot dead by police in the grounds of Parliament.
The dead officer has been named as PC Keith Palmer, 48, a husband and father.
Dressed in black, the UK Prime Minister condemned “the sick and depraved terrorist attack
on the streets of our capital this afternoon.”
She added: “We will all move forward together, never giving in to terror and never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart.”
Police believe that the attack was “inspired by international terrorism” and that they know the attacker’s identity, but did not give further details. Authorities are also looking at the suspect’s possible associates.
Falasima and her family were in London while her husband was working as Director of the Trade Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
She took to Facebook and wrote: “Terrorist attack in Westminister resulted in loss of lives and injured many pedestrians right at the heart of London.
“I was at Westminister Cathedral for Mass and Adoration (about 8mins walk from the site for (sic) the attack), totally unaware of the attack.
“It was after the Adoration at 4.45pm and was about to leave the Cathedral when my husband messaged me to remain in Church and informed me about the attack.
“Watching the evening news at home my heart went out to the innocent victims and their families and friends. May they rest in the love and peace of God”.
Her family members and friends on Facebook commented on her post and told her to “stay safe”.
“…thank God you’re safe and sorry for those who have lost their lives rip”, another commenter wrote.
“…he protects you from this terrorist attack coz you were at the right place….ofa atu and keep safe”, another commenter wrote.
Kuo ‘oatu ‘e ha kāinga Tonga he mītia fakasōsialé ha fakanonga mo ha fakalotolahi ki ha fefine Tonga ne fekau telefoni atu hono husepānití ke nofo pe i loto ʻi ha fale lotu he ne lolotonga fai ha ʻohofi fakatautoitoi ofi atu ʻi tuʻa he Fale Alea ʻo Pilitāniá.
Naʻe mate heni ha kakai ʻe toko nima pea lavelavea ha kakai ʻe toko 40 tupu hili ʻeni ha lele atu ʻa ha kā he lueʻanga ʻi tuʻa ʻo e Uesiminisitaá, tui heleʻi ai foki ha tangata polisi peá ne fanaʻi ai ʻo mate e fakaʻulí he kelekele ʻi tuʻa Fale Aleá.
Kuo fakahā ko e hingoa ʻo e polisi ne mate ko PC Keith Palmer taʻu 48 ko e husepāniti mo e tamai.
Ne tauangaʻa e ʻEiki Palēmia ʻo e fonuá mo ne mātuʻaki talakaaʻi e ʻohofi ko ʻeni ne faí mo ne pehē ko e ngāue ʻeni ʻa e kakai kovi ʻohua mo fakakovi ʻulu.
Ne ne toe meʻa ʻo pehē: “Te tau ngaʻunu fakataha ki muʻa, ʻe ʻikai ke tau tukulolo ki he tautoitoí pea ʻe ʻikai ke tau fakaʻatā e leʻo ʻo e taʻeʻofá ke ne vaetuʻua kitautolu”.
ʻOku mahaloʻi ʻe he kau maʻu mafai Pilitāniá ko e ngāue ʻeni ʻa e tautoitoí ka ʻoku teʻeki ha fakaikiiki ʻe tuku mai.
Kaekehe ne pehē ʻe Falasima Tuʻifua Kautoke ʻa ia okú na lolotonga ʻi Lonitoni mo hono husepānití Paulo Kautoke heʻene ngāue ko e Talēkita ia ʻo e Vaʻa Fakasekelitali ʻa e Kominiuelí, ne ne maʻu misa ia ʻi ha fale lotu fakaʻepikopō ʻoku miniti pe 8 e lue mei aí ki he meʻa ne hoko ai ʻa e ʻohofí.
Ne ne pehē ne ʻikai haʻane ʻilo ki ha meʻa ʻe taha tālunga mo e fekau ange ʻa hono hoá he telefoní ke nofo pe ʻi loto ʻoua ʻe hū mai ki tuʻa he ʻoku lolotonga hoko e ʻohofí.
Pehē foki heʻene fakamatalá ne ne toki foki ki ʻapi ʻo sio he televīsoné he meʻa ne hokó pea ne langa ai ʻene ʻofa kia kinautolu ne hoko ko e vikitima he ʻohofí ni.