Birmingham Mail

The man believed to be responsible for Wednesday's terror attack in Westminster was dubbed "The Vampire" by locals because of his night-time activities, it was reported, external .  

Nicola Beckford
Reporter, BBC Midlands Today

British scientists have made a world-first breakthrough in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Researchers in Oxford and Birmingham say they can isolate different strains of the disease using a process called genome sequencing.

It means patients who may have waited months to get the right drugs can now be diagnosed in just a few days - so they have a greater chance of recovery.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the breakthrough "would save lives".

BBC News Channel

Birmingham Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood denied Birmingham had a "specific problem" with radicalisation, but said there was a "wider issue" that needed to be understood.

She highlighted recent academic research which suggested there had been 39 terror-related convicts from Birmingham, but stressed how few that was "in the context of the city's population".

She said there may be new lessons to be learnt from the case of Khalid Masood - as a 52-year-old man he may not conform to the model of a young man being radicalised online.

BBC News Channel

Birmingham Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood, in whose constituency the Hagley Road address raided by police yesterday lies, has told us residents are "distressed" at the local connection to the Westminster terror attack.

She said: "Nobody wants to wake up and find out there was a possible terrorist living next door or nearby."  

Scotland Yard's Mark Rowley also revealed Khalid Masood's birth name was Adrian Russell Ajao.

He directly appealed to the public for any information about recent places Masood had visited before Wednesday's atrocity on Westminster bridge.

On Thursday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed Masood, aged 52, had most recently been living in the West Midlands.

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

After some early cloud it should be a bright day with plenty of sunshine and highs of 13C (55F).

Don't forget you can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

Scotland Yard's top anti-terror officer Mark Rowley says there have been two more "significant arrests" in connection with the Westminster attack, in the West Midlands and North West.

Louise Hancock
Newsreader, BBC WM

More details have emerged about Khalid Masood, the 52-year-old terrorist who mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge on Wednesday before fatally stabbing a policeman guarding the Houses of Parliament.

Image source, PA

It is understood he was born in Dartford, Kent, under a different name - Adrian Elms - and is believed to have been living here in the West Midlands. 

Kayodi Campbell, of Quayside, in Winson Green, where police have been searching an address, believes she recognises the attacker from photos in the media.

Police are continuing to question five men and two women arrested at three separate addresses in Birmingham on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, along with a woman arrested in east London. 

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

We're back with more news, sport, travel and weather updates on Friday.

Comment on our stories or send us pictures you have taken of our region and want to share, by emailing us , tweeting us, external or visiting  our Facebook page, external .

How patients will get the right drugs quicker.

British scientists say they now isolate different strains and so diagnose sufferers within days.

Assya was given 24 hours to live when she was born, but she is now approaching her 30th birthday.

Researchers are using genome sequencing to make sure patients get the right drugs more quickly.

Tahir Alam has appealed after being barred from involvement in the management of schools.

Seven suspects were arrested in the city over the terror attack with an eighth detained in London.

Searches are under way across the city as it's revealed Khalid Masood lived in the West Midlands.

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

That's all from me today. Keep an eye out here for more updates this evening as police continue investigations in Birmingham in the wake of Wednesday's London attack.

The Metropolitan Police has released more details of people arrested in Birmingham in connection with the London terror attack.

In total, seven arrests have been made in the city:

• A 21-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man were arrested at an address in Birmingham
• A 26-year-old woman and three men aged 28, 27 and 26 years old were arrested at a separate address in Birmingham
• All six were arrested overnight on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts 
• A 58-year-old man was also arrested this morning at a separate address in Birmingham on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts

Alex Homer
BBC Local Live

The Birmingham Faith Leaders’ Group, which formed 15 years ago in the wake of 9/11 after retaliation attacks against local Muslims, has condemned the Westminster terror attack.

It said: "It has been disturbing today to learn of the apparent Birmingham connection to this atrocity. 

"We implore people to recognise that such actions are taken by individuals, not by whole communities. 

"We completely reject any attempt to see an opportunity to blame any particular community or faith, or any other community in this city, for the perverted actions of an individual. 

"Every day in Birmingham we see examples of creative, productive and supportive relations across the faiths. We should unite in our condemnation and strive to create better, stronger relations with fellow citizens, especially in trying times. 

"We are determined that the murderous actions of the very few will not prevail over the goodness which lies at the basis both of our local communities and the faiths we espouse."

Rob Mayor
Black Country Political Reporter, BBC WM

I am in The Quayside in Winson Green, at the property which is still being searched by police - we believe in connection with the Westminster terror attack.

Image source, Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Image source, Richard Vernalls/PA Wire

Cars are pulled up in the cul-de-sac but they have been vastly outnumbered by journalists.

It's a fairly quiet corner of Winson Green.

We're not sure if this property belonged to Khalid Masood, the man responsible for the terror attack that claimed three lives and left dozens injured.

But this address is just a few minutes drive away from the Enterprise rent-a-car branch from which we know he rented the car used in the attack.