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As it happenedended

London attack: Four people dead and 20 injured in Westminster terror incident

Samuel Osborne
Wednesday 22 March 2017 19:00 GMT
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A body is covered by a sheet outside the Palace of Westminster, London, after a policeman was stabbed and his apparent attacker shot by officers in a major security incident at the Houses of Parliament
A body is covered by a sheet outside the Palace of Westminster, London, after a policeman was stabbed and his apparent attacker shot by officers in a major security incident at the Houses of Parliament (PA)

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Four people were killed in the Westminster terror attack, police have confirmed.

The number includes the police officer who was stabbed and his attacker, Scotland Yard's top anti-terror officer Mark Rowley said.

The other two victims are understood to have died on the bridge, he added.

He also said at least 20 people had been injured.

Parliament goes into lockdown after Westminster attack

Mr Rowley also said police believed there to have been only one suspect, although he said they were carrying out thorough checks.

The attacker, armed with two large knives, mowed down pedestrians with his car on Westminster Bridge, including schoolchildren, then rushed at the gates in front of the Houses of Parliament, stabbing a policeman before he was shot by armed officers.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of terror when gunfire rang out as the attacker approached a second officer within yards of the Houses of Parliament.

Mr Rowley told reporters outside New Scotland Yard: "This was a day we've planned for but hoped would never happen. Sadly it is now a reality."

Paramedics fought to save the officer's life and that of his attacker on the floor of the cobbled courtyard in front of Parliament, with Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood among those who rushed to help.

The police officer was wheeled away on a stretcher with his face covered.

Mr Ellwood, who lost his brother in the Bali bombing, could be seen pumping the officer's chest then standing above him, his hands and face smeared with blood.

Other armed officers, some in plain clothes and wearing balaclavas, swarmed around the yard just feet from where MPs had earlier attended Prime Minister's Questions.

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Not clear how many people are injured on Westminster Bridge: some reports are suggesting as many as a dozen, but for the moment it is clear only that multiple people are injured.

Andrew Griffin22 March 2017 15:33

Being told by Commons authorities to stay in offices until further notice - thoughts with those injured in the incident

Ashley Cowburn22 March 2017 15:33
Andrew Griffin22 March 2017 15:35

Met Police are now treating the incident as a "terrorist incident": news.met.police.uk/news/latest-on…

Ashley Cowburn22 March 2017 15:35
Andrew Griffin22 March 2017 15:36

Met police has announced that it is treating the attack as a terrorist incident. Here is the statement in full: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.

Andrew Griffin22 March 2017 15:37

Am in a pub in Westminster charging my phone - everyone is glued to the news in silence

Jon Stone22 March 2017 15:37

BREAKING, NEW: I am told by a staffer inside Portcullis House that police have concerns over a car currently parked on Westminster Bridge

Ross Kempsell22 March 2017 15:37

Donald Trump has spoken to reporters, according to NBC: According to US network NBC, President Donald Trump told reporters: "I was just getting an update on London. Some big news having to do with London just happened."

Andrew Griffin22 March 2017 15:40

Bradford Buck was on holiday from the US when the incident unfolded in front of him: 'It was terrifying' http://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7iIAo7WkAA0Qx6.jpg

Lizzie Dearden22 March 2017 15:40

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