London attack as it happened: Five dead and 40 injured after terror incident in Westminster
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
A police officer has been stabbed and an alleged assailant shot by armed police outside the Houses of Parliament.
Here's what we know so far:
- Police officer died after being stabbed outside Parliament
- Two people reported dead after a car ploughed into crowd on Westminster bridge causing multiple casualties
- Metropolitan police are treating this as a terrorist incident
- Eyewitness account of the stabbing incident outside Parliament gate
- Donald Trump has been briefed on the attack, Sean Spicer confirms
- Theresa May was '40 yards away' from scene of stabbing, was immediately evacuated and confirmed safe
- House of Commons session suspended and MPs evacuated
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
Commons Leader David Lidington has told MPs a "police officer has been stabbed" and the "alleged assailant was shot by armed police" following a "serious" incident within the parliamentary estate.
Minutes later, an emergency services helicopter landed in Parliament Square, as sirens were heard outside.
Iframe:
Air ambulance medics came from the helicopter to assist the casualties.
Two people lay on the ground in the yard. One of them appeared to have had clothes removed as emergency workers attempted to resuscitate the pair.
Parliament Square was closed to traffic.
That four includes the attacker, as well as the police officer who was stabbed, says Mark Rowley, national head of counter terrorism policing.
Police say that they are satisfied there was just one attacker. But the operation is going on and they will continue to be vigilant, says Mark Rowley.
Everyone should re-watch Ken Livingstone’s 7/7 speech on days like this youtube.com/watch?v=9HLaS2…
Martin Vickers, Tory MP for Cleethorpes, says that the "democratic process will not be thwarted" by terrorism and that the risk of such attacks are "one of the prices you pay for being in public life"."We were walking through the corridors, the cloisters, as we know it, in the old part of the palace having come through the tunnel from our office on this side (Whitehall) of the main road."We were heading towards the voting lobbies and what we now know was, I think it was, three shots rang out."I was sort of 50 or 60 yards behind my colleagues who were heading in the same direction."We heard what we now know were shots and colleagues in front of us turned and ran, presumably on the advice of the security services."We were told to get out of the building."
Met police statement http://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7itNkfXUAAM9xg.jpg
We can confirm that both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will sit tomorrow at their normal times.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd: "We do not yet know the full impact of this terrible incident. But I know the whole country will be thinking and praying for those affected, as I am."I want to thank the emergency services for the quick response and pay tribute to their bravery, their courage and their professionalism."I've been briefs by the Met Police and by the security services and the security minister has also been updated."This is an gongoing incident and the government will continue to be updated. The prime minister will chair Cobra today."The government's top priority is the security of its people and I urge eveyrone to remain clam but to be vigilent and if they see anything they are concerned about they should report it to the police."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.