London attack as it happened: Five dead and 40 injured after terror incident in Westminster

Westminster terror attack: Timeline of events

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

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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.

A woman was confirmed dead after a car ploughed into corwds on Westminster Bridge causing multiple casualties (Reuters)

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.

[22 March 2017 15:33 · Andrew Griffin]

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.

[22 March 2017 15:33 · Ashley Cowburn]

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

[22 March 2017 15:35 · Andrew Griffin]

Here's everything we know so far

[22 March 2017 15:35 · Ashley Cowburn]

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

[22 March 2017 15:36 · Andrew Griffin]

Here's David Lidington's statement to Parliament

[22 March 2017 15:37 · Andrew Griffin]

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.

[22 March 2017 15:37 · Jon Stone]

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

[22 March 2017 15:37 · Ross Kempsell]

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

[22 March 2017 15:40 · Andrew Griffin]

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."

[22 March 2017 15:40 · Lizzie Dearden]

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