Westminster attack: All suspects detained in terror investigation released with 'no further action' by Met Police

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

All suspects detained in connection with the Westminster attack have been released with “no further action”.

The Metropolitan Police said the final man in custody, a 30-year-old from Birmingham who was originally held on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, was freed on Saturday.

Eleven others arrested in connection with the investigation have previously been released, with Scotland Yard saying “inquiries continue”.

Investigators have been searching for potential accomplices who may have helped Khalid Masood plan or carry out his attack.

Suspicions over a potential wider extremist network intensified after it emerged he used WhatsApp just minutes before ploughing his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.

British mother Aysha Frade, pensioner Leslie Rhodes and American tourist Kurt Cochran died of injuries sustained during the rampage.

Masood then crashed into railings outside the Houses of Parliament and ran into an entrance where he stabbed PC Keith Palmer to death, before being shot dead by armed police.

Investigators believe Masood was inspired by Islamist terrorism and Isis has claimed responsibility for the massacre, although the extent of the group’s involvement is not yet known.

Scotland Yard’s acting deputy commissioner, Mark Rowley, said police were probing whether the father-of-three acted completely alone after being inspired by terrorist propaganda or was “encouraged, supported or directed” by others.

Deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu acknowledged that the method of attack, following Isis propaganda instructions on using cars and knives, “echoed Isis rhetoric” but said investigators had not yet found any evidence of a direct link.

“Whilst I have found no evidence of an association with Isis or al-Qaeda, there is clearly an interest in jihad,” he added.

Questions over whether Masood may have been radicalised in part by extremist material online have sparked renewed efforts to remove such content, seeing the Home Secretary meet with technology companies this week.

Investigators continue efforts to establish the motive of Masood, a 52-year-old Muslim convert who had a lengthy criminal history and lived in areas including Sussex, Birmingham and London.

Thousands of people joined hands in a vigil for the victims exactly a week after the attack on Wednesday, while further tributes have been paid across the country.