Four people were killed and at least 20 injured in London on Wednesday after a car ploughed into pedestrians and an attacker stabbed a policeman close to the British parliament, in what police called a terrorist incident.
The dead included the assailant and the policeman he stabbed, while the other two victims were among the pedestrians hit by the car as it tore along Westminster Bridge, which is right next to parliament.
“We’ve declared this as a terrorist incident and the counter-terrorism command are carrying out a full-scale investigation into the events today,” Mark Rowley, Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism officer, told reporters.
“The attack started when a car was driven over Westminster Bridge, hitting and injuring a number of members of the public, also including three police officers on their way back from a commendation ceremony.
“A car then crashed near to parliament and at least one man, armed with a knife continued the attack and tried to enter parliament.”
Reuters reporters who were inside parliament at the time heard loud bangs and shortly afterwards saw the knifeman and the stabbed policeman lying on the ground in a courtyard just outside, within the gated perimeter of the parliamentary estate.
A Reuters photographer said he saw at least a dozen people injured on the bridge. His photographs showed people lying on the ground, some of them bleeding heavily and one under a bus.
A woman was pulled alive, but with serious injuries, from the Thames, the Port of London Authority said. The circumstances of her fall into the river were unclear.
Three French schoolchildren aged 15 or 16 were among those injured in the attack, French officials said.
The attack took place on the first anniversary of attacks by Islamist militants that killed 32 people in Brussels.
PARLIAMENT SESSION SUSPENDED
“I just saw a car go out of control and just go into pedestrians on the bridge,” eyewitness Bernadette Kerrigan told Sky News. She was on a tour bus on the bridge at the time.
“As we were going across the bridge, we saw people lying on the floor, they were obviously injured. I saw about 10 people maybe. And then the emergency services started to arrive. Everyone was just running everywhere.”
The House of Commons, which was in session at the time, was immediately suspended and lawmakers were asked to stay inside.
Prime Minister Theresa May was safe after the incident, a spokesman for her office said. He declined to say where May was when the attack took place.
Journalist Quentin Letts of the Daily Mail newspaper told LBC radio that he had witnessed the stabbing of the policeman and the shooting of the assailant from his office in the parliament building.
“He (the assailant) ran in through the open gates … He set about one of the policemen with what looked like a stick,” Letts said.
“The policeman fell over on the ground and it was quite horrible to watch and then having done that, he disengaged and ran towards the House of Commons entrance used by MPs (members of parliament) and got about 20 yards or so when two plain-clothed guys with guns shot him.”
Britain is on its second-highest alert level of “severe” meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely.
In May 2013, two British Islamists stabbed to death soldier Lee Rigby on a street in southeast London.
In July 2005, four British Islamists killed 52 commuters and themselves in suicide bombings on the British capital’s transport system in what was London’s worst peacetime attack.
Police announcement
Police are asking people to avoid the following areas: Parliament Square; Whitehall; Westminster Bridge; Lambeth Bridge; Victoria Street up to the junction with Broadway and the Victoria Embankment up to Embankment tube.
This is to allow the emergency services to deal with the ongoing incident.
Police were called at approximately 14:40 hours to reports of an incident in Westminster Bridge, SW1. It is being treated as a firearms incident.
Officers – including firearms officers – remain on the scene and we are treating this as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise.
We thank the public for their assistance.
Police are appealing for any members of the public who may have images or footage of the incident to send them to this address:
http://www.ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk
At 17:50hrs on 22 March, Mark Rowley, the national lead for Counter Terrorism Policing and the Acting Deputy Commissioner, said:
“I want to make a statement and will cover three main areas:
= what we know about the incident;
= the ongoing operation; and
= what London can expect over the coming days.
“As you know we have declared this a terrorist incident and the Counter Terrorism Command are carrying out a full scale investigation into the events today.
“The attack started when a car was driven over Westminster Bridge, hitting and injuring a number of members of the public and three police officers who were on their way back from a commendation ceremony.
“The car then crashed near to Parliament and at least one man – armed with a knife – continued the attack, trying to enter Parliament.
“Sadly – I can now confirm that four people have died. That includes a policeman who was protecting Parliament from the attack and one man we believe to be the attacker who was shot by a police firearms officer.
“The officer’s family have been made aware.
“At least 20 people have been injured.
“As part of long established and well rehearsed plans, Parliament was locked down and the Met responded in line with our plans for a marauding terrorist attack.
“That response included uniformed and specialist trained firearms officers.
“We have an ongoing operation – and whilst we currently believe there was only one attacker – I am sure the public will understand us taking every precaution in locking down and searching the area as thoroughly as possible.
“I know that the officials working within Parliament and the public completely understand why we need to do this and I thank them for their patience and support.
“This investigation has the full weight and expertise of the Counter Terrorism Command behind it. If there are people who saw the events unfold but haven’t yet spoken to police please get in touch with us.
“A crime scene will remain in place in the affected areas in Westminster – it is vital that we carry out a painstaking investigation to recover all possible evidence.
“Looking forward, throughout the rest of the day including when people are commuting home and over the days that follow, the people of London will see extra police officers – both armed and unarmed – out on our streets.
“This includes our officers working longer hours and extra shifts and with our colleagues at British Transport Police and the City of London.
“We can call on the support of the military should we need to at a future point.
“We are also in the process of opening our specialist Casualty Bureau to help those people who are worried that friends or family may have been caught up in the attack.
“We are reaching out and engaging with all communities across London to help reassure them.
“Our strength as a city is our ability to stand together at such terrible times.
“If anyone sees anything suspicious or that causes them concern please do contact us – don’t hesitate.
“My thoughts are with all those who have been affected by today’s attack – and as a service we have lost one of our own as he acted to protect the public and his colleagues.
“This is a day that we had planned for – that we all hoped would never happen – but sadly it is now a reality.
“The Met Police will continue to do all we can to protect the people of London.”
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In a statement given today by Commander BJ Harrington at 17:45hrs on 22 March at New Scotland Yard, he said:
“Since 14:40hrs this afternoon (Wednesday, 22 March) the MPS has responded to an incident in the area of Parliament Square, and the Senior National Coordinator has declared this a terrorist incident.
“And although we remain open minded to the motive, a full counter terrorism investigation is already underway – this is led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
“At this stage I will confirm what we know has happened, but I will not speculate.
“We received a number of different reports – which included a person in the river, a car in collision with pedestrians and a man armed with a knife.
“Officers were already in the location as part of our routine policing operation. Immediately, additional officers were sent to the scene and that included firearms officers.
“We are working closely with the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade.
“I’d like to repeat our request for the public to avoid the following areas:
“Parliament Square; Whitehall; Westminster Bridge; Lambeth Bridge; Victoria Street up to the junction with Broadway and the Victoria Embankment up to Embankment tube.
“This is to allow emergency services to deal with this ongoing incident.
“There is an ongoing investigation being led by the Counter Terrorism Command and we would ask anybody who has images or film of the incident to pass those to police.
“We know that there are a number of causalities, including police officers, but at this stage we cannot confirm numbers or the nature of these injuries.
“Our response will be ongoing for some time as it is important that we gather all possible information and evidence.
“Public safety is our top priority and we are reviewing our policing stance across London and throughout the course of this afternoon there will be additional police and officers deployed across the Capital.
“I would like to ask the public to remain vigilant and let us know if they see anything suspicious that causes them concern and dial 999 immediately.
“The Acting Commissioner Craig Mackey is being treated as a significant witness as he was at the scene when the incident started. Whilst he is not injured, it would be inappropriate for him to talk about the incident at this stage. Ours and his thoughts are with all those involved and those responding to both incidents.
Anyone with information can also call 0800 789 321.”
