The British police officer who was killed in an attack on Parliament was a identified Wednesday as 48-year-old husband and father named Keith Palmer.

Met police acting deputy commissioner Mark Rowley made the announcement at a news conference at Scotland Yard.

“He was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift,” Rowley said about the officer.

“And he had every right to expect that would happen.”

Member of Parliament James Cleverly said that he knew Palmer and expressed dismay at the officer’s passing.

“I’ve known Keith for 25 years,” Cleverly wrote on Twitter.

“We served together in the Royal Artillery before he became a copper. A lovely man, a friend. I’m heartbroken.”

Met police confirmed that a total of four people, including the attacker, died. At least 40 people were injured.

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