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LONDON

French school pupils hurt in London terror attack

French high school pupils were among those hurt in Wednesday's attack on Westminster Bridge in London, French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.

French school pupils hurt in London terror attack
Photo: AFP

“Solidarity with our British friends, horribly attacked, full support for the injured French pupils, their families and their friends,” he said in a tweet.

Foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said three injured pupils were from a high school in Concarneau, in the western Brittany region. Two are believed to be critically injured.

Local radio France Bleu said around a dozen students were on the bridge at the time of the attack, and that the three injured were taken to hospital.

A local newspaper, Le Telegramme, also said the students were on the bridge when they were hit by the car, quoting another student who said the force of the impact threw one of them onto the bonnet of the vehicle.

An official at their school in the town of Concarneau said families of the pupils, aged around 14, were in contact with the London hospital where they were being treated.

They were part of a group of 92 or 93 students, the school official said.

Police and the regional council said family members would be flown to London from the town of Lorient to be with the students.

French president François Hollande sent a message of support to London saying: “Terrorism affects us all. France knows the how the British people are suffering today.”

A woman and a British police officer died in the attack at the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge on Wednesday afternoon, while 20 others were left seriously injured.

Later on Wednesday police said the death toll had risen to four.

The assailant was shot dead by police.

TAXI

Fuelled by diesel bans and Brexit, London black cabs get set for German streets

The company behind the iconic black London cab have gone green, bringing out a new hybrid fleet. Amid Brexit uncertainty they’ve targeted Germany as their primary export market.

Fuelled by diesel bans and Brexit, London black cabs get set for German streets
Black cabs in London. Image: DPA

The black cab is to London what the yellow cab is to New York City. Even for those who have never set foot in either metropolis, the taxis are an icon representing the city around the globe. 

At a time when Britain appears to becoming more insular and isolated, LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) — the company responsible for the London black cab — have set their sights on Europe and have a focus on Germany. 

Aside from the Brexit uncertainty — which the company says could cut their business by 20 to 30 percent – Germany’s recent diesel bans have created an opportunity for the newly-green manufacturer.

SEE ALSO: Germany plans to extend transition period for Brits in case of no-deal

They’ve already sold 200 in Germany and expect orders to continue in the coming years. 

Taxi driver Jörg Röttjer with his London-style cab in Hanover in the 1960s. Image: DPA

Along with the Brexit uncertainty, Germany is an attractive market 

Although the German taxi market is relatively well established — and there are of course no shortages of local car manufacturers — environmental concerns have made the hybrid black cabs a more attractive option in Deutschland. 

With diesel bans coming into place in a number of German cities and emissions reduction targets still out of reach, the company expects demand to rise. 

SEE ALSO: Government calls upon diesel car manufacturers to up their game in 2019

LEVC chief Jörg Hofmann told the Süddeutsche Zeitung “Germany is our main market (outside of the UK)”. 

The black cabs won’t purely be limited to tax duties either. Rideshare companies like Hamburg’s Clevershuttle have incorporated the black cabs into their services, while Hofmann sees several different uses — such as delivery vans. 

“At my home every day, two or three delivery vans with running diesel engines are just around the corner, because we buy everything on the Internet and it must be delivered,” he said.

With delivery vehicles potentially being heavily hit by the bans, many companies will need to convert. 

A regeneration

Despite the iconic nature of the black cabs and their ubiquity on London streets, a few years back, their future was far from certain. The diesel-powered cabs had been identified by the British government as a cause of pollution, particularly in London. 

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Authorities changed the rules in January 2019 so that all new cabs hitting London streets would be electric-powered. As a result, the company shifted to a ‘hybrid’ model – running off a battery which is charged by petrol once it runs low. 

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