22/03/2017 BBC News Special

ushered away to safety. Once the gunshots were heard. You're watching

a BBC News special. Reports of a shooting outside the Palace of

Westminster. Outside the House of Commons. A policeman has been

stabbed and his apparent attacker shot by police officers in what is

developing into a major security incident outside the Houses of

Parliament. These are live pictures of Westminster Bridge where

eyewitnesses say a car in the words of eyewitnesses "Mowed down several

people." Some reports suggesting as many as 12 people injured after a

car hit them and then was driven into the railings of the Palace of

Westminster. Many people being treated at the scene as you can see

from these pictures on Westminster Bridge. Confirmation in the last few

minutes that the Prime Minister, Theresa May, is safe after the

assailant was shot outside Parliament. She was seen getting

into a silver Jaguar car as the incident was developing outside. And

police and ambulances rushing to the scene. A scene called by the

Metropolitan Police at 2.40pm London time. Well, a short time ago, Simon

spoke to the Polish politician and journalist. He was on the scene when

the shooting happened and he gave us an eyewitness account of what he

saw. We have gathered today is a commitment to bringing down a global

force of evil. The Prime Minister is avenue after

that assailant was shot outside Parliament. Armed police called to

the scene and shot him after he stabbed at least one officer. We are

hearing reports that several people are lying injured on the ground

inside the grounds of the Palace of Westminster. We spoke earlier to the

journalist for The Daily Mail newspaper, Quentin Letts whose

office overlooks the scene where the man was apparently shot by the

police. He told us that the man had something in his hand, it looked

like a stick of some sort and that he was challenged by a couple of

policemen. One of the policemen fell down. And they could see the man in

black moving his arm in a way that suggested he was either stabbing or

striking the policemen and then one of them ran to get some help. The

attacker ran towards the entrance used by MPs into the House of

Commons. And as he was running, Quentin Letts thinks about 15 yards

or so, two plain clothed policemen with guns shouted at him what

sounded like a warning and he ignored it and they shot two or

three times and he fell. That was an account given to us earlier by the

journalist for The Daily Mail newspaper, Quentin Letts. Let's talk

to Richard who was visiting the Houses of Parliament. What did you

see? I came on the Westminster underground and it was clear

something dramatic had happened. I was ushered on to the bridge,

Westminster Bridge, where I saw looking up and down the length of

the whole bridge, at least eight figures lying on the ground on the

west pavement of the bridge and it appears that a car mounted the

pavement on the south side of the bridge and deliberately struck into

numerous individuals leaving them on the ground before crashing in at the

north end of the bridge. So, a significant number of people clearly

injured and shocked and obviously the emergency services came very

quickly to the scene including clearly people from special forces,

masked people with machine guns everywhere. So, a very serious, what

appears to be a terrorist incident. Richard, is there any way, did you

see any link between that incident on Westminster Bridge and what

clearly has happened afterwards is an incident within the confines of

the Palace of Westminster? I think one has to assume it is linked.

That's not a coincidence, but a car mounts a pavement and knocks at

least six, I couldn'ted probably eight, possibly ten people lying on

the ground and then you've got something terrible happening within

the Commons. Yes, it must all be linked. A number of people unknown,

but a very serious incident on the bridge as you can imagine which is

completely locked down and buses trapped on the bridge and paramedics

looking after the injured up and down the length of the bridge. We

are just looking at shots of that car in fact. It looks to be some

sort of SUV. You didn't see who was driving it? What happened to them? I

came out after that. I didn't see that. Again a number of stretchers.

A number of ambulance crews on the scene. You reckon you saw a number

of people seriously injured? I saw at least eight people lying on the

ground on the west pavement of the bridge, literally from the southern

end of it up to the other end. This is no accident. This is a very

deliberate desperate tragic event. This happened less than an hour ago.

It does seem remarkable how many police and how many security

personnel have got to the scene and how quickly it seems to have been

contained? Yes. That's right. I mean within, I don't know how many

minutes it happened before I came out of the Tube, but the quantity of

emergency personnel arriving was very dramatic and very significant

and in a way great credit to all the people involved. Richard, thank you

very much for joining us. That's an eyewitness there describing the

chaotic scenes. The picture that seems to be emerging is of a car

ploughing into a number of people on Westminster Bridge and then the

situation within the Palace of Westminster developing from there.

Let's go back to Carole Walker who has been following the developments

closely. Bring us up-to-date with what we know? Well, the picture

that's emerging is of two incidents which appear to have taken place

pretty much simultaneously. As you were hearing there from Richard,

talking about the car on Westminster Bridge which ploughed into a number

of people. Westminster Bridge is always busy with people working in

the area, but also large numbers of tourists. Richard described seeing

eight, at least, perhaps as many as ten people on the ground and

certainly we heard earlier from other eyewitnesses talking about a

number of people lying on the ground. It's not clear at this stage

how badly any of those casualties have been injured, but a number of

people hit by that car which then ended up ploughing into the side of

the fencing which surrounds the Palace of Westminster. At around the

same time it appears that what was described by Quentin Letts of the

Mail as a thick set man in black inside old palace yard. That's the

area where MPs, ministers, and indeed, the Prime Minister are

driven into Parliament. It is usually very heavily guarded. There

are a lot of security checks. There are security barriers all the way

around it. But it appears that he got into old palace yard. Was

confronted by two police officers in high vis jackets. One of those was

stabbed. We've had confirmation from the Leader of the Commons, David

Lidington, that one police officer has been stabbed and that that

assailant has been shot. We heard again from eyewitnesses describing

how there were plain clothed officers on the scene very quickly

indeed and there are always a number of armed police around Westminster.

It appears that they shouted a warning and that the assailant was

then shot. We know that an air ambulance has been summoned to the

scene. There is a major police operation now under way. Indeed, all

the streets around Westminster have now been cleared. It is eerily quiet

outside that security cordon because a number of streets all around

Westminster have been cleared, although there are, of course, still

vehicles inside that cordon who were trapped there when these incidents

unfolded. Still at an early stage. Still no clear word on the number of

casualties or how seriously injured anyone has been. But both chambers

of Parliament have been suspended. The whole area is in lockdown. MPs

and a number of others who were visiting the Commons were all

brought together into the Central Lobby of the Houses of

Parliamentment many of them are still being held there while police

assess the risk of them leaving or any other further risks which could

still be present. It is not known at the moment what happened for example

to the driver of the car. It is not known if there was anyone else with

the assailant who we believe was shot and has now been taken to

hospital. That is the picture that we have at the moment. Clearly, all

of this has just unfolded in the last hour and more information is

coming in moment by moment. More information coming in, and a

colleague of hours has just sent this information, crowds have been

moved out of Parliament Square and a policeman says there is a suspect

vehicle outside Parliament and the colleague can see a grey saloon car

surrounded by police vehicles. We don't know if this is going to

amount to anything but it shows the level of tension that there is in

the area right now. We have been speaking to a number of

eyewitnesses. Both incidents seem very likely to be linked, of course.

The number of pedestrians mown down in the words of eyewitnesses by the

Waco which has ended up in the ratings at the side of the Palace of

the incidents have not been linked to visually, but it would seem that

with the timescale that we have had described to us, the car went into

the railings and then someone ran into the Palace Yard, and now we can

go to our correspondent at Westminster -- have not been linked

officially. You have probably just seen another police car going

straight past me and I'm 200 metres away from the Palace of Westminster

and the rows between where I am now and the Palace are completely closed

off and there are police lines everywhere and I've seen a number of

police vehicles rushing past. You can see the situation, this is the

police called in, there are journalists trying to film and

trying to see as much as possible, but there is everyone else trying to

go about their day and nobody is being allowed anywhere near the

Palace of Westminster. More police going past me now. The traffic is

stacking up. This is the scene. People are trying to get down the

road. Many journalists on their phones. What we know officially,

there was a firearms incident on Westminster Bridge Road, that is a

very busy road between Portcullis House which is where many MPs have

their offices, and the actual Palace itself. There was a firearms

incident at about 240 this afternoon, and Downing Street are

saying that the Prime Minister is safe. They won't comment on whether

it she has been evacuated. I've spoken to an MP inside the House of

Commons and they have said there are a number of MPs who are locked

inside the chamber because the whole of Parliament has gone into

lockdown. There are MPs locked inside the chamber and those on the

outside in Central Lobby where many MPs will be waiting to find out what

is going on. The Metropolitan Police have been on Twitter and they are

thanking the public for their assistance and they are urging

people to be calm and to remain vigilant and aware. They are telling

people to avoid Parliament Square, Whitehall and Westminster and

Lambeth Bridge and they are treating this as a terrorist incident. They

are saying they are treating it like a terrorist incident until they know

otherwise. We can go to the deputy political editor of the Huffington

Post, what have you seen and heard? I heard a noise which I thought was

an explosion. Where the journalists sit in Parliament, it overlooks

Parliament Square and we are used to hearing many noises, like protests

outside, so you don't automatically think it is an incident, but we

heard this explosion and we looked up and then we heard the gunshots

and that is when we rant to the windows. Overlooking the yard I saw

one person, I saw the public fleeing across from the tube station"

running past, and then a couple of people tried to run into the yard

itself -- chip station end. That might have been a member of

staff, trying to get into safety. I saw a policeman wrestling them to

the ground. The police told us to stay where we work but we could see

the emergency services and the armed police -- where we were. I've been

told to come away from the window. That is basically what I could see.

The security around Westminster has been very tight in recent years. But

not as much in the precincts as it is to actually get into the Palace.

Yes, but we have constant reminders that this is a high risk security

target and this is a place at risk but even so when this happens it is

a surprise. The police and emergency services let into action very

quickly and we see them all the time with guns, patrolling the corridors,

they are very hot on security, checking the past. They are always

remind you to look at anyone who is acting suspicious. When you are

inside you feel safe, but you are instructed the quite vigilant and

most people are. Even though it feel safe there is the presence all the

time here. We are looking at pictures right now of people clearly

running away from the scene. Being told by police to move away from the

Palace of Westminster. It is presently in lockdown as we had. --

heard. I can see lots of police and sniffer dogs, going around, looking

for exposing devices, I would imagine, but it is safe to say that

people are trying to get information, that is our instinct as

a journalist, but everyone is pretty shocked. Everyone is trying to get

back to the job as quickly as they can. Thanks for joining us. We are

looking at Twitter from and St Thomas 's Hospital, which is on the

other side of the river from this incident and they say staff and

visitors are being advised to remain on site during the current security

incident -- from St Thomas 's Hospital. If you are just joining

us, and incident -- an incident at 240 this afternoon, reports that a

car collided with a number of people on Westminster Bridge in that car

went into the fencing at the side of the Palace of Westminster -- and

black car. A man then ran into the Palace of Westminster where it is

reported he was wielding a knife and attacked a police officer and then

the attacker himself was then shot by armed police and so a police

officer stabbed. The MPs were told in the House of Commons that the

building was in lockdown. We can speak to the

MP Grant Shapps. Many of the MPs are in Portcullis House, which is

where... In a I heard a commotion, and I heard

guns and the police were pointing towards the gates direction and then

I herb-4-macro shots. In quick succession. -- and then I heard four

quick shots. That was the moment when the assailants were shot and

then immediately there was a police officer, very quickly, saying, get

down, get down. Gait, get back. -- get back. We make our way back

inside to the high walls of the Palace, and then into the chamber.

That is the chain of events as I saw it. Grant Shapps, thanks. We can go

over to our colleague, political correspondent and presenter of The

Daily Politics, who is presently in the Central Lobby in the central

meeting area of the Palace of Westminster. What did you see and

what did you hear? IM in Central Lobby but when the shots were fired

I was in Portcullis House -- I'm in. That is the more modern part of

Westminster. I had left with to go back towards Central Lobby and to

the House of Commons, when we heard the gunshots and I did not realise

what they were immediately. When we saw dozens of armed police officers

rushing past us to get to the area outside Westminster Hall which is

the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster we knew there had been a

series incident and at that point we were rushed in with many other

people, visitors and parliamentarians and parliamentary

staff and told to go inside as quickly as possible, which we did.

Who we are between House of Lords and the House of Commons with at

least a few hundred other people, young, old, schoolchildren, MPs,

peers, visitors and we have been here for the best part of 45

minutes, maybe an hour. There is a lot of tension and we were all

worried. We did not know what had happened. Listening to some of the

programmes and piecing together what people had told us, we now

understand why those shots were fired, that there was a stabbing and

that there was a serious security risk. Are you presently locked into

that building? There has been a lockdown ever since I arrived and

suspended in terms of any Parliamentary business in the House

of Lords and the House of Commons, and MPs who were inside the chamber

were told to remain there. All the officials outside both chambers were

stopping people from going anywhere, so there was a total lockdown, armed

police everywhere in order to protect us and to make sure that no

one was able to get into the main part of the building and that we

couldn't leave. At the moment, and I've just seen David Blunkett, just

walk past, small numbers of people are now being moved to other parts

of the building because you get quite squashed in here, there are

many people and it is very hot. Some of the older members and visitors

are sitting down on the benches provided while we wait to hear

exactly what is going to happen next and when it will happen. But yes,

lockdown and suspension. Jo Coburn, thanks. To bring you more

information from the metabolic to bottom place, they are asking you to

-- we are hearing from the Metropolitan Police and they have

asked for a number of incidents to be

end of my being an eyewitness. Quentin Letts, the Daily Mail's

political sketch writer, could see the area from his office. I work in

an office which overlooks new Palace Yard and I have -- I heard a sound

which sounded like a car crash. Lots of members of the public were

running down the pavement. We saw a man in black clothes coming through

the gates where people would normally drive cars into New Palace

Yard, which is just below Big Ben. This man had something which looked

like a stick of some sort in his hand. He was challenged by a couple

of policeman in yellow jackets, one of the policeman in yellow jackets

fell down and we could see the man in black moving his arm in a way

that suggested he was stabbing or striking the policeman in the yellow

jacket. One of the policeman ran to get help, which was very, very quick

to come. As this attacker was running towards the entrance used

entrance used by MPs to go into the House of Commons, as he was running,

he ran about, I would say 15 yards, two plainclothes guys with guns

shouted at him, a warning, he ignored it, and they shot 2-3 times

and he fell. And that is what we saw. Your account has just been

corroborated by the Commons leader who has told MPs that a police

officer has been stabbed and the alleged assailant was shot by armed

police, following what he called a series incident within the

Parliamentary estate. That would seem to tally with what you have

just ascribed. Yes. The ambulances have now arrived and the helicopter

and ambience is have arrived. There is work being done -- the ambulances

have arrived. Especially on someone, which I think is the policeman.

This is when police first arrived on the scene after the incident had

been reported. You can see on the road in front of the palace, a man

being attended to by police. This is the scene live now, the area is

still in lockdown. Our colleague, presenter and former political

editor, is in Westminster, what are you hearing. I'm about 200 yards on

Big Ben, overlooking Westminster Bridge and I arrived just after the

incident, and when I did so I bumped into a group of extremely

traumatised French teenagers who were here on a trip for a week and

one of them described to me what had happened on the bridge. How he saw a

car drive into what he thought were 2-3 of the people with him. Many

people were too upset and crying too much to talk and son were in shock.

I passed one person lying on the pavement covered in one of those

metallic blankets that you see after the marathon, to warm someone up.

And do with the shock. He described not just seeing a car drive into

some of the party of French schoolchildren, he also described

some stabbing two people, he thought he had seen, and I can't corroborate

these details, and also the sound of shots and the police dealt with the

attackers. He did not see the attackers and could not describe

them, but there was a coachload of French young people who were deeply

traumatised and upset and concerned for the health and safety and

well-being of those they had come with. We are aware of one person

apparently bursting into the Palace Yard and being shot by armed police.

Is there a suggestion that there might still be someone else who they

are looking for? Let me stress, I arrived after the scene, I heard

some details, but I can only describe what I've been told, the

Zhang people were on Westminster Bridge, -- these young people were

on Westminster Bridge, and they were traumatised by what they had seen

and they described an attack on the bridge, in other words not the

incident in the Palace Yard, behind the fenced off area, but an incident

which happened on the bridge in which a car was driven, we assumed a

liberally, given into people on the bridge -- we assume deliberately,

driven into people on the bridge. Journalists are there and they have

all been pushed back. It is curiously frozen in time. Normally

one of the busiest bridges in London. We have the sound of the

police helicopter overhead and the sound of the police siren is in the

background. The site of many flashing blue lights.

We are talking in nature two very different crime scenes, a public

bridge used by French students, and the incident within the confines of

the Palace of Westminster, one of the most closely guarded buildings

in this country. Indeed. Both are serious in their own way, and let me

stress, I've just arrived and I can't, corroborate things and as is

the way with incidents like this, some of what I'd tell you will turn

out to be accurate and inevitably some bits will be corrected late in

time. But it looks as though there has been an incident on Westminster

Bridge, rather like what we heard about in Germany with the lorry

being driven into people and rather like we have heard in other cities,

as if the vehicle has been used as a weapon, deliberately targeting

people. Just stress, that has to be confirmed, and I can't see evidence

that from here. But a young man, barely able to compose himself, and

those who were within, that is what they described to me. -- with him.

That would be serious enough in itself in this capital city,

although not a huge surprise for people who have seen what has

happened in other cities, but what will surprise is that someone

managed to get through Westminster's enhanced security system carrying

any sort of weapon. Any visitor, people who go to that building as a

tourist or to see their member parliament, it goes to a airport

style security, one of those arches, to check for weapons, new might

indeed have a body search, as well. Pass holders, members of Parliament,

they do not need that kind of security check, and one of the first

questions that will be asked after this immediate crisis has been dealt

with, how did these individual make it through? Did he get through the

security system or was he able to bypass it by using a pass? When we

have our security incidents in the past in the Palace of Westminster,

much less serious, but you remember Tony Blair was hit by someone

throwing purple powder from a gallery at the House of Commons, and

in those cases it is almost always turned out that they had access to a

security pass, by lying about who they were and what they were up to.

Those questions are for another day, after the country comes to terms

with what seems to have been an extraordinary serious terrorist

attack. President Donald Trump has been briefed on this incident in the

White House, we understand. We have a statement from the London

Ambulance Service. The deputy director of operations says they

were called at 240 this afternoon to Westminster Bridge to reports of an

incident with the first crew arriving within six minutes and they

say that a number of resources have been sent to the scene including

ambulance crews and London's air ambulance and the hazardous area

response team and by working closely with other emergency services at the

scene and they have declared a major incident. They say as they are very

busy dealing with this incident, they would ask the public to only

call in a genuine emergency. We can go to our home affairs correspondent

who is near Westminster Bridge. What can you tell us? I'm as close as you

can get to Westminster Bridge on the embankment or stop effectively

overlooking the old county all. -- County Hall. The police line has

been pushed back a few metres and there are armed offices in front of

me. We have spoken to someone who was fairly close and he was fairly

shaken up by what he saw and he said he heard a lot of commotion and saw

a man running and then he heard shots, and in fairness to the young

man he was in a bit of shock. Some people don't know what is going on.

We saw a young lady having some sort of seizure which was unrelated to

what is going on on the bridge but it was clear that it was a kind of

panic attack, so clearly people are concerned. Everything is calm on

this side and the police have effectively taken control of this

area and they have created a cordon, from the Palace down, so I'm looking

back towards Portcullis House and the Palace and there is effectively

a sterile zone and at the top we can see unmarked police cars and the

other cars which have arrived, and that would indicate that they feel

they have a degree of control over the environment and they would not

send investigators in at this stage if it was effectively still alive

incident, although I'm just by collating I must stress Ash I'm just

speculating. We can see officers patrolling the bridge, near St

Thomas as hospital, and things are looking pretty calm from our

position. The Scotland Yard operations have locked down the

area, and once the incident has happened they have a plan to

effectively lock it down. It is very strange, the fact this has happened

within view of the new Scotland Yard headquarters right here on the

river. Thanks. We can go back to our political correspondent in

Westminster. I'm 200 metres away from the Palace and you can see the

edges of Westminster over my shoulder. We are being kept well

back from the palace itself and more police are arriving as I speak.

There are more police than I've ever seen down here before, such is the

nature of what is going on. I can speak to someone who saw what

happened. Steve. Take me through what you have seen. I was walking

across the bridge when suddenly a bus stopped and everybody started

screaming and people came off the bridge. They seemed very upset and

then I saw a trainer by the side of the road, and then there was a body

on the other side and when I looked further up there was another body.

And when I looked over the side of the bridge there was a body in the

water, as well. What did you do? I checked to see if people were

looking out for their people on the ground and then I tried to stop

people coming onto the bridge because people were still coming on

and at that point we did not know what was happening so we were trying

to push them back. Westminster Bridge is a way is busy with and

traffic. -- always busy. The police arrived quickly? Probably 5-10

minutes and when they did, they poured on. The first thing was a

medic motorbike who started treating one of the casualties and then after

that it was about 5- terminus and when they arrived they arrived in

force. -- 5-10 minutes. At that point we were trying to get people

off the bridge and stop them coming on. What time was this? I was here

to see my daughter who works in London, and I came out and she is

still at work. I came up, we are going to show tonight. I was walking

around and having a look at Westminster and doing tourist

things. There are always police in Westminster. How different has it

been today? I've never seen anything like it, it is a sea of blue lights.

They were very close to -- they were very quick to close off the bridge

will stop they just arrived in force, and we now have helicopters

overhead and all sorts of things. But it was a very confusing scene.

No one really knew what was going on. We are standing behind about 200

metres away from the Palace, how did you manage to get here yourself? I

guess because I was wearing happened, I'm sort of moving away

from it rather than trying to move towards -- because I was where it

happened. I just came to the next available bridge which is Lambeth

Bridge. Thank you very much for speaking to us. That was Steve who

saw what happened earlier. Since I've been in this spot which is 300

metres away from the Palace, close to Lambeth Bridge, there has been

police car after police car going past, ambulance, fire engine, and so

more police then we have ever seen in Westminster. Which is used to

this kind of activity in terms of attention but nothing on this scale.

We are trying to see what is going on down there, and if we can swing

the camera around, we have journalists who are trying to report

on fixed cameras, and on their phones, we have an ambulance and

also another police car, but there have been children who have been

finishing school trying to leave for the day and the traffic is building

up, as well. We've got helicopters over top too.

I'm going to look and see what the latest is that we know. The Prime

Minister is now in Downing Street, we are told. She was brought back

from the House of Commons in Westminster. She is in her office

being briefed on what is going on. So, really we're just watching

everything happen minute by minute here, 300 meters or so away from the

House of Commons. Another police car going past. I'm going to step to the

side, but yes, we know that Theresa May is now in Downing Street. The

police have confirmed that there was an incident on Westminster Bridge

before 3pm, about 2.40pm. We heard from the London Ambulance Service

who have said that they got their first crew to that incident, that

firearms incident within six minutes, they said. They got a

number of resources at the scene including ambulances, the air

ambulance and they're working closely with the emergency services

at the scene. They say their priority is to ensure patients get

the medical help they need as quickly as possible and they have

declared a major incident. I've spoken to MPs who are inside

Parliament. One told me that MPs have been locked inside the House of

Commons, inside the chamber and they therefore, weren't allowed to get

into the chamber. We know that Parliament has been suspended both

in the House of Commons and the House of Lords and that Westminster

is currently on loch Down, but this isn't just affecting the politicians

in Westminster, this is affecting people who work in offices near

here, people trying to get home after school, and obviously anyone

else who is going to be coming into the centre of London and Westminster

is one of the busiest spots in London in terms of tourists who are

always on Westminster Bridge, taking photos of each other and we have got

another series of white vans with blue lights on them coming past.

They're going down Horseferry Road, it is another road that runs

parallel to the Westminster estate. There is a grid of roads around

Westminster and in the minutes after the incident happened, the cordon

has been getting wider and wider. So we have been pushed back to Lambeth

Bridge. It is the next bridge along from Westminster Bridge where we are

reporting from with other camera crews here as well and onlookers and

the police who are trying to keep everything under control at this

site. Eleanor Garnier, thank you very much. We're hearing that

proceedings in Holyrood have been suspended. The second day of the

debate on the Scottish independence referendum. That debate has been

halted. A suspension of work at Holyrood this afternoon.

A statement put out by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, via

Twitter saying, "My thoughts are with everyone in and around

Westminster caught up in this incident and the brave emergency

services." A statement from Jeremy Corbyn saying that the reports

suggest the incident this afternoon is extremely serious. Our thoughts,

he says, are with the victims of this horrific attack, families and

friends. He praises the action taken by the police and security staff. He

says they've taken swift action to ensure the safety of the public of

MPs and of staff and that we are grateful to them.

You're watching a special report from BBC News on the attack in

Westminster this afternoon. A police officer has been stabbed within the

confines of the Houses of Parliament in what police are treating as a

terrorist incident. The Commons leader, David Lidington, told MPs

that the alleged assailant was shot by armed police. Also this following

reports that as many as five people, possibly more, were mowed down on

Westminster Bridge. Our colleague Nick Robinson saying a party of

French schoolchildren were among those involved in that incident. A

car driven into the side of the gates at the Palace of Westminster.

That shortly before the terror attack on the Palace of Westminster.

A man thought to be armed with a knife, attacking a police officer.

He was then shot himself. Let's talk to Martin Pierce who is an

eyewitness. Martin, what did you see? Well, I was down at Lambeth

Bridge and all of a sudden I could hear the ambulance and police going

towards that way and I was like well, something has happened so I'll

go and have a look. As I was walking up to the bridge where it happened,

there was a gentleman, he jumped over the side to avoid this person,

but he was being looked after by like an ambulance crew and as I

walked up the bridge on to the bridge where it happened, there was

a lady in a pool of her own blood just against some postcards. There

was another lady next to her who was injured and as I looked towards Big

Ben there was a lady in the road. There was about three people sitting

up against the bridge being looked after and you know, it's something

you just don't expect to see in London. It's quite shocking

actually. Can you describe the reaction to it by the Security

Services, the police, how quickly were they there? Well, it took me

five minutes to walk down from when it started and there was some police

around, but as soon as, you know, as soon as there was more of them

there, they got everyone back as quickly as possible, but it was just

surprising how, you know, you could have just walked on to the bridge

and see all that. You will forgive me for saying, you still sound quite

shaky. This was just a normal day? Yes. I'm sorry. You don't expect to

see that. I come down to London to see a show tonight and yeah, it's

kind of shocking. You see it, I know it's bad, you see it happen abroad

all the time, but you don't expect to see it in London in such a

prominent position and luckily, you know, staff from St Thomas Hospital

were running on to the bridge to help the injured.

Let's go over to the MP, David Davis. Mr Davis, tell us where you

are and what you saw. Well, we're in a safe area at the moment in the

estate. I believe everyone has been moved into this area. The police are

doing a fantastic job. I believe one has been badly hurt today. You,

along with other MPs, who are within the Parliamentary estate, are you

still locked in? Yes. We have been moved into a different area. I'm not

going to say where it is, but there is a good security operation that's

been put in place here. There is no panic. People know exactly what

they're doing. The police are doing a brilliant job. I was in the area

where the incident happened. We heard gunshots very nearby and

dropped to the floor and then people ran for shelter and safety and so

that's about all I do know really. You probably know more than I do

because we were then told and go and lock doors and wait for the

instructions which is why we are all gathered in one particular area. I

suspect we will be here for quite a while now while the area gets

secured. There are inevitably at times like this, conflicting reports

of what happened and what continues to happen. Have you heard any

suggestion that there was more than one assailant in this incident, this

these two incidents? To be honest with you, all I can say, the only

bit that I saw for myself, I was wacking with Grant Shapps MP. We

were in New Palace Yard. We heard shouting. I thought it was a

protestor, but it sounded a bit different actually. You don't really

think. I looked around and the next thing there was at least one shot. I

think I looked around and thought, "That can't be for real, is it?" And

then more shots. I can't remember if I shouted get down or everyone got

down on the floor. People started moving backwards. I waited for the

shots to stop. I was behind a pillar. I took a chance and ran back

towards Portcullis House. I didn't know what was going on, but somebody

was in the area with a gun and I wasn't in a very good place. I'm

hearing that maybe it was a police officer that fired. David Davis you

still sound quite shaken by what happened. Thank you very much for

sharing that with us. There are children in the House of Commons

today and lots of people wouldn't have expected this. And obviously

police officers, maybe one of them is fatally injured. I hope he is or

she is OK. Thank you for your time. OK.

From the Press Association, a junior doctor at St Thomas' Hospital says

one woman has died and a number of others have been hurt including some

with catastrophic injuries on in the incident on Westminster Bridge. This

is the incident you're looking at now, following reports that a car

had driven into a group. Nick Robinson saying it was a group of

French schoolchildren, but according to the latest from St Thomas'

Hospital, that junior doctor, one woman has died and a number of

others are seriously hurt. You're watching BBC News. It is just after

4.10pm in London. Let's remind you of what we know so far. A man has

been shot by armed police after he stabbed a police officer inside the

gates of the Houses of Parliament. Eyewitnesses say that the man drove

his car across Westminster Bridge where he hit pedestrians and a

number of people have been injured and as Simon mentioned there, we've

had confirmation from a junior doctor at St Thomas' Hospital that a

woman has died and several others have suffer what has been called

catastrophic injury. A car swerved into the gates of the Houses of

Parliament. A man got out of car and he was waving a knife. He stabbed a

police officer and was then shot by armed police. That's the situation

as we know it. Let's go to Eleanor Garnier who is in Westminster. Just

yards from where this has happened, Eleanor. Yes, I'm about 300 meters

from the Palace of Westminster. This is where the police cordon is at the

moment. Just minutes after the incident happened, we were trying to

see what was going on and the police were putting a cordon up and we have

been pushed further and further away from Parliament. You can probably

see over my shoulder, lots of flashing blue lights, since I have

been here in the last 45 minutes there have been more and more police

cars going past us. In the last few minutes a couple of ambulances have

left the scene, blue lights flashing, sirens going and they've

left the scene to take, we assume, patients away. I'm joined by

somebody who saw what was going on. You are a tourist. You're visiting

London. Yes. What were you doing and what did you see? I was walking

through Whitehall and we heard shots from the Parliament. Before I heard

two shots from the Parliament. We went to there and saw a crash by

Parliament. And a person on the floor beside the car. Did you see

anybody inside the car? Was it just people outside the car? No, I

couldn't see anyone inside the car. Just that person and the person on

the floor and without movement and without no reaction. So you heard a

number of shots? Three. You heard three shots. Three shots. And then

separately the car crashing into the side. And then what happened? I

don't know what happened. I just saw a person, no blood. And that was a

member of the public maybe. Did you get moved by the police? How did you

end up where you are? The policemen came quickly and separated the

public from there and we need to wait there. I saw the crash by

Parliament and the person on the floor near the car and the policemen

near. And how, having seen that happen, and obviously you can see

the police around us and the ambulances too, how are you feeling

about everything? Just something is wrong, what happened there. Just

that. Thank you very much. Thank you for

joining us. Simon, there are police cars going past us and there are

sirens going. Westminster is always busy. It's a central place for

tourists to come and take photos, but because of Parliament being

here, MPs and Lords, security is always tight here, but the level of

police activity is something that we have never seen before. There are

helicopters overhead. Sirens every few seconds or so. We know that

inside Westminster MPs are basically being told to stay where they

arement we know that the chamber has been locked so nobody can leave the

chamber and nobody can go into the chamber either. We've been hearing

that police are doing a great job, we're told, inside Westminster. We

have seen two ambulances leave the scene. They went past about five

minutes ago, coming away from the palace, away from what has been

going on, about 300 meters behind us. If you look over my shoulder

actually, you can see police cars moving down there. Some blue lights

flashing too. It all started just before 3pm this afternoon. We think

around 2.40pm this afternoon when there were reports that people

inside the Parliamentary estate had heard shots and a number of people

told me they heard three shots being fired and separately, a car had

cashed into the railings on Westminster Bridge Road and just to

give you a sense of where that is in terms of where MPs are. There is

Westminster Bridge Road is a really busy road and it goes in between a

building called Portcullis House. That's where most MPs have their

offices. So it is a really central part of the Westminster estate. So

lots of MPs are based in that building. MPs can actually go from

Portcullis into the Palace of Westminster underground. There is a

way that they can get down underground. We use that route all

the time as journalists to go from meeting MPs into the Palace of

Westminster. But if you go overground so across the road, you

go straight across to a place called Old Palace Yard, that's where cars

go in and out of Westminster. It is always heavily policed. There are

bollards in the payments there as cars try and go in and out of the

area, they are checked and it is around that area that this incident

happened. In between Portcullis where the MPs offices are and Old

Palace Yard, so the area that's behind a big fence, it is high

fences around that area, that is exactly where the ins didn't

happened and the police have been pushing the cordon further and

further back. We're now, as I say, 300 meters away from the palace. And

close to Lambeth Bridge. That's the next bridge along from Westminster

Bridge and of course, St Thomas' Hospital is on the south side of the

bridge. We have heard from the London Ambulance Service that they

were called to the incident and that they had a crew on site within six

minutes. They are working closely with the emergency services too and

they say they have declared a major incident. So, that's the situation

where we are now and it's not just obviously journalists around here

too, I can try and swing the camera round for you and we will be able to

see some of the journalist, but also you're going to see members of the

public who are also trying to find out what's going on. You've got

people who stopped on their bicycles. I have seen school groups,

groups of school kids who have finished for the day and they have

been trying to get home and wondering what is going on too.

There is a police car parked at the roundabout too and obviously the

traffic has been stacking up. There are sat trucks so the broadcasters

can do live reports like this one to you and let people know what is

going on. We have just had a statement from Jeremy Corbyn too on

what is going on. He says his thoughts are with the victims, their

friends and families. He says reports suggest the ongoing incident

in Westminster this afternoon is extremely serious. He says, "Our

thoughts are with the victims of this horrific attack, their families

and friends. The police and security staff have taken swift action to

ensure the safety of the public. MPs and staff and we are grateful to

them." I did speak to somebody who works for an MP straightaway, after

we heard reports that had been an incident. He said he heard three

shots being fired. He had seen a body on a pavement on Westminster

Bridge and that's been repeated by a number of eyewitnesses. And we know

that the police were called shortly after 2.40pm to what seems to be at

least two incidents. So first of all, the shots being fired, but also

that car crashing into the railings which cordon off Old Palace Yard.

That's a really central part of Westminster. It is where the Prime

Minister, when she is visiting the House of Commons, she and her car go

in that route. So, that is the situation as we understand it at the

moment here in Westminster. Eleanor, thank you very much.

Eleanor Garnier in Westminster. I want to show you some viewers'

pictures of the incident after a man had broken into Palace Yard. This

shot from a balcony, a window overlooking the scene. And one

person, apparently wielding a knife and then being shot by armed

officers. A woman has died and others suffering what have been

described as catastrophic injuries by a junior doctor at St Thomas'

Hospital. A number of stretchers, we have been seeing being taken. This

is at back at Palace Yard. This would appear to be one of those

involved getting treatment. Let's go back to our political

editor, Laura Kuenssberg who is in Westminster for us. Laura, what more

can you tell us? I'm inside the Parliamentary lockdown. I have been

here with several hundred people. At about 2.50pm I heard shouting at the

front of Portcullis House. Policemen appeared to be bundling members of

the public and some other people including myself to move back, back

away from the security door. I then saw dozens of members of the public

rushing along the river side. So there have been since then, several

hundred people in various different parts of the Parliamentary estate

which is a warren of old buildings and new buildings, but we are now in

a building called Norman Shaw South. We have been moved from Portcullis

House into the safest part of Parliament. We have been told to

keep away from the windows and people have been told to go to their

offices and stay there. I can't emphasise how much Westminster feels

it is under such close guard. A dozen times a day I would walk past

armed police. It is an extremely, extremely secure, probably one of

the secure parts of the capital. And therefore, it is deeply shocking for

people to have witnessed what they have this afternoon. I have been

speaking to MPs who were on their way to vote in the Commons Chamber

who told me they heard three or four gunshots and one said there was that

moment, 30 seconds or so when you think is that really what I heard?

And then they realised, it was and they ran. Laura, we are seeing live

pictures of the exterior of the Palace of Westminster. Earlier, we

were looking at pictures that we were bringing to you for the first

time of the incident when it happened. And of the police

surrounding a figure that was lying on the ground and that will have

been the scene that you heard, that you were describing earlier. Do you

get any sense that this is an ongoing situation? The incidents as

reported by the authorities happened at 2.40pm. And yet, you are still in

lockdown. Do you get the impression that that means anything in terms of

security? There have been suggestions among some people that

there maybe suspicions around a suspicious vehicle which the

Security Services are still looking at. There are suggestions that

Government departments have been locked down and also St Thomas'

Hospital, I cannot confirm any of those reports, but one senior MP

contacted me to say from their office was, they can see two bodies

on the ground in Old Palace Yard. They told me a short while ago that

they saw members of what seemed to be the military, rather than the

police, rushing into palace Yard with shields. So you may well hear

some shouting in the background. It is a very, very tense atmosphere in

here. People have been told they can't leave, as it is considered a

dangerous situation and there is really, very little information for

the few hundred people who are inside the Parliamentary estate.

We are seeing pictures of the other incident, the aftermath of the other

incident which happened on Westminster Bridge which will have

happened prior to the one that you heard of a vehicle ramming

deliberately into a group of people and we know from a junior doctor at

St Thomas' Hospital that one woman has been killed in that incident and

a number of others have suffered what have been described as

catastrophic injuries. Yes, I saw the police pushing

members of the public into Portcullis House and others rushing

along the riverside away from Westminster Bridge. That stacks up

with that timing that the attack just outside Portcullis, that

happened a short while before there was any gunshots and we had a series

of events which can't be categorically clear about the

sequencing of them, let's be upfront about that. We are piecing together

what has been a fast moving situation and we are still in a

tense security situation, but that does seem to be the sequence of

events and piecing together what I have been told was MPs rushing up to

Portcullis House from their underground walkway having heard

gunshots and members of the public being bundled into Portcullis House,

people like myself being moved back rapidly by police and then dozens of

members of the public, I saw rushing along the riverside, outside the

building, that does seem to suggest that sequence of events and that

chronology, but this is a very confusing, a situation that's very

dangerous and we can't be categoric about that sequence of events at

this stage. Let's talk to Charlie Cooper. Charlie, an attack on the

heart of Westminster. Yes, I mean, absolutely. We work here in the

Parliamentary press gallery which is in the Palace of Westminster itself

and about 2.30pm, 2.45pm we heard a bang. We went to the window because

after that bang we heard screaming. We saw people running from the

direction of Westminster Bridge. So I presume that was connected to the

events that happened on Westminster Bridge, but after that, we saw an

individual who appeared to be forcing his way into the

Parliamentary estate. Past the gate which is guarded by police officers.

We saw what looked like a struggle and this individual began to attack

a police officer. He advanced further into the Parliamentary

estate and then we saw armed officers advance and shout a

warning. The individual did not stop and he was then shot by the armed

officers. Charlie, can we clarify, it was the one person who went into

Palace Yard, was it? Just the one person we saw from our vantage point

which is below Big Ben. What impression did you have as to the

seriousness of the injuries to the police officer and indeed, to the

assailant? It is hard to tell from this distance. But I would be

surprised if they weren't very serious injuries. I just want to say

the police officers who stand by that gate, they are there every day

and they are armed and they are there to look after us and I want to

pay tribute to their bravery because this brings back home, it is

extremely sad. Charlie, thank you very much. A difficult time for you,

I know. Charlie Cooper there. Well, let's bring you up-to-date

with what we know so far. A very tense scene still at Westminster as

you can imagine. Two incidents appear to have happened. A man

driving a vehicle on Westminster Bridge ploughing deliberately into a

group of people. We know from a doctor at St Thomas' Hospital that a

woman has died and several others have suffered what has been

described as catastrophic injuries. That vehicle appears to have rammed

into railings near the Palace of Westminster. An individual ran

towards the building at New Palace Gate. Attacked a police officer, but

then himself was shot by armed police. Let's go to Wyre Davies who

is near the scene. What's happening at the moment? Well, I'm just south

of Westminster Bridge. That's the Palace of Westminster. The bridge

where the first incident happened is there. St Thomas' Hospital is less

than 200 meters. Any casualties, many have been taken to the

hospital. To my left, we've got the London Eye. The London Eye has

stopped working. There are visitors inside the pods of the London Eye

and they are being held there. There is a complete police lockdown. There

are dozens of police vehicles. Armed police to my right. There are

specialist teams that we have seen, a man being suited up in what looked

like to be a bomb disposal kit. There is some forensic work

happening on the bridge as well. There are police officers going

around here asking for eyewitnesses also to what happened. So this is,

you know, a matter of over an hour after the firstence dent happened

and as we can see plenty of ambulances and plenty of police

vehicles still on Westminster Bridge.

You were talking about St Thomas' Hospital being so close, but already

knew that this has turned into a fatal attack and a number of people

seriously injured. Indeed. St Thomas' Hospital appears to have

been emptied of nonurgent cases and many people were leaving there when

we walked past the hospital and we were not allowed onto the hospital

grounds because the doctors and nurses are dealing with this serious

incident but the whole area, office buildings, Waterloo station, nobody

is being allowed from those places towards the river, and the police

are moving people further and further back as we speak. There are

helicopters overhead. Thank you. This is the scene, we are

overlooking Westminster, Parliament Square, with Palace Yard the scene

of the second part of this incident. Just to the right of the screen. An

area which is cordoned off, huge police presence, and Parliament is

still in lockdown with MPs and journalists who spend their days in

the building being capped out of the way -- kept. An incident which

started at 240 this afternoon, and we can now bring you the account

from one eyewitness who was on Westminster Bridge.

Driving along here, and then the armed police evacuated these

buildings. And they were running up here. As we poured onto Westminster

Bridge we see people laying on the bridge and then the SWAT team turned

up with paramedics and they asked us to abandon our vehicle and walk

away. Hanley people were lying down? There was a lady on the pavement on

the entrance to the bridge -- how many people. And five more people

laying on the pavement further up the bridge. Did anyone see what

happened that you spoke to? The cab driver in front said that he thought

the car had come down and knocked these people over. And after that?

It carried on? I assume so, yes. The Metropolitan Police are going to

make a statement in about 15 minutes. There should be more

information from them and we will bring you that as soon as we have

it. In the meantime we can speak to Brian paddock, former senior officer

in the Metropolitan Police -- Brian paddock. You are locked in there?

Yes, the police are making sure that it is absolutely safe outside before

they evacuate the Palace of Westminster. Did you hear anything,

did you see anything? I was in a meeting in one of the committee

rooms and we heard shouting and what sounded like gunfire. But that is

all I know about the incident itself. Clearly it is a tragedy that

someone has lost their life and there are many people injured. But

it is a great credit to the police that I believe no one inside

Parliament was in any danger at any time. As a former senior officer in

the Metropolitan Police, what you read into the fact that Parliament

is still in lockdown? My understanding is, there was a

suspect package attached to a vehicle outside Parliament. So

whilst armed officers searched the whole of the Parliamentary estate to

make sure there were no suspects outstanding. It has taken a bit

longer because they had the suspect package to deal with. At a time like

this all sorts of rumours and suggestions are flying around and

there have been some questioning as to whether the assailant was alone

or whether there was someone else, have you heard anything? The trouble

is, I was involved in the 7th of July bombings in 2005, and of course

there is an element of confusion to begin with and it takes a while

before the picture becomes clear, we are not sure whether there was one

incident or 2-mac. -- two. Or whether it was all part of the same

incident. These details will emerge, but we know the police have said

they are treating this as a terrorist incident and Jill they

know otherwise. -- on till they know otherwise. That is a sensible

approach to take, both in terms of the security measures that they are

taking to make sure it is completely safe before allowing... There are

many members of the public who have been in Parliament, at meetings and

so forth, as well as MPs and Lords. But also in terms of making sure

that the scene of the crime is preserved and that the necessary

evidence is gathered, so a very sensible approach to treat it as a

terrorist incident until proven otherwise. What is the atmosphere

like where you are? What do people feel? People are calm. They are

being provided with water and there are toilets nearby, and at the

present time it is reasonably relaxed. OK. Brian Padwick, thanks.

We can update you. People are joining all the time, as happens

when events like this take place. I car has crashed into the perimeter

at Parliament on Westminster Bridge Road -- a car. Police are not

confirming if the vehicle was involved with the late incident but

they have said they are treating it as a terrorist incident until they

know otherwise. We're waiting for news conference from Scotland Yard.

House of Lords and the House of Commons have been suspended until

further notice. We have a still taken within the New Palace Yard.

This was taken moments after somebody reportedly armed with a

knife ran into Palace Yard and this is the scene shortly afterwards.

Clearly injured and receiving medical attention. A police officer

also injured in this incident and we have no more information as to the

condition of either or any of those involved, but this taken... And

police in attendance as the man is taken to an ambulance. This happened

after the events on Westminster Bridge, but just a few moments after

a car reportedly ploughed into a group, hearing from Nick Robinson, a

group of French schoolchildren, we have heard from a junior topped at

St Thomas' Hospital, one woman has died as a result of that with many

others reportedly suffering catastrophic injuries -- junior

doctor. But this was the incident at Palace Yard. The Labour MP Mary

Creagh arrived at the scene and she has been telling us about what she

saw. When we were on our way to vote there were armed police officers

standing at the end of the escalator is, there was an escalator which

links Portcullis House and a tidal through to the Palace of Westminster

which is where the votes take place -- tunnel. We saw armed guards at

the base of that and I could see that there was a lot of activity and

some anxiety. But we have a lot of armed police around at all times,

but as I got off the escalator I saw people running towards me and I was

kind of like, why are they coming this way? Penny mordant said shots

have been fired and we need to get out of this place now. The

escalators were on the down and we couldn't get back out and we had no

choice but to go out of the revolving doors one at a time and

that is when I shouted to the security guard, you've got to open

these doors and we've got to get out of the building now. He opened the

doors and we ran out, and I found myself in Westminster station and I

thought to myself, the one thing we don't want is to have a load of

tourists walking up with their children into this situation, so I

went to the control room and I told the controller that there had been

what we thought was a terror attack on the Palace of Westminster and I

said you need to do is -- you need to shut the station right now. Did

you need to convince them? I did not have my badge on, I just happy for a

tea that sheer panic gives you and they took me very seriously -- I

just had the authority that sheer panic gives you. He put the radio

alert to his staff and I could see them giving up with their high

visibility jacket, and then we came outside and we had no idea there had

been a rampaging attack on the bridge and we were trying to work

out where we could go. We took a decision, I said, New Scotland Yard

is down the road, we will see what the police know and work out what is

going on and then regrouped and let our loved ones know that we are

safe. The picture of the attack is not known, in full, but do you think

that the measures which are in place to keep you safe appeared to work

reasonably smoothly? Apart from the issue with the down escalator. There

was an issue about our awareness that something bad had happened. The

police in the building knew that something bad had happened outside,

but what none of us knew was that they were on their way to try and

get inside the building. Too many occasions between the outside and

inside of the building will need to be looked at -- communications

between. So you think you could have been told earlier? That there was

something going on outside and you need to not go out? I was the first

person to tell my staff to tell them we were on lockdown. I walked out of

a meeting with civil servants and committee quirks and my first

thought was for my staff -- emitted clerks. I told them to stay in the

building and turn on the television and not go anywhere. They were

nonplussed, because they had no idea that it was going on even five - ten

minutes before. What else have recovered? -- haven't we cover? The

police. Yes, we understand a policeman was taken down. My

thoughts are with the policeman who was taken down in the line of duty

today. They are incredibly brave and they help ministers get in and out

my thoughts are with him and his family and all of those who have

been caught up in these very events. These are things which we plan for

and which we hope will never come, but clearly those security

procedures have been tested today. That was the Labour MP Mary Creagh.

We can bring you some amateur video now. Of the incident within the

Parliamentary estate. You can see there is a person on the ground and

many others running towards him. There is a closer shot which we

showed you a couple of minutes ago of a man clearly injured and being

tended to but we don't know what is the condition of this person. We are

going to go to New Scotland Yard where the police are going to hold a

news conference. Here they come. Since 240 this afternoon we have

responded to an incident in Parliament Square and we have deemed

this a terrorist and incident. -- terrorist incident. 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 colliding with pedestrians and a man armed with a knife. Officers

were already in the area as part of routine policing. We are working

closely with the London and Berlin service and the Fire Brigade. I

would like to repeat our request for the public to avoid the following

areas, Parliament is great, Whitehawk Westminster Bridge,

Lambeth Bridge, Victoria Street to the junction with Broadway --

Whitehall. And awards in bagman chip station, this is to allow emergency

services today with incident -- and towards embankment station. We would

ask anybody who has images or film at the incident to pass close to the

police. We know there are a number of categories including police

offices at this stage we cannot confirm numbers or the nature of

these injuries. -- a number of injuries. We have got to gather all

important information and evidence, and public safety is our top

priority and we are reviewing our policing stance across London and

throughout the capital this afternoon. There will be additional

officers on duty and deployed across the capital. I would like to ask the

public to remain vigilant and let us know if they see anything suspicious

which causes them concern and if they do to dial 999 immediately. The

Acting Commissioner 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 be here to talk about the incident

at this stage. Our thoughts and his thoughts are with all of those

involved and responding to the instant this evening and I would

stress that if anyone has information about today's incident

by our urge to call oh 8007893 to one and I would stress that if the

public have any information or have seen anything suspicious to dial 999

immediately. Is the incident either? I will not speculate. -- over. It is

our priority ticket London safe and people will see additional officers

when they are going home -- to keep London safe. I've told you what

information I have and we will continue to keep you updated as we

find things out for the I'm not prepared to speculate. Ladies and

gentlemen, thanks for your time this evening. I would stress to the

public that our number-1 piracy, working with partners, is to keep

London safe -- number-1 priority. Most importantly, if people see

anything suspicious, dial 999 if they think it is an emergency. Thank

you very much. Ongoing incident, terrorist incident, and a number of

casualties including police officers. The Deputy Commissioner of

the Metropolitan Police was at the scene and in self is being

questioned. -- himself. Daniel, no numbers, but the number of

casualties, he says, including police. Yes, there are a few very

interesting things to come out of that press conference, even though

it was brief. They are considering it as a terrorist incident at this

stage and secondly the Acting Commissioner of the Metropolitan

Police, the man in charge of the Metropolitan Police between the two

commissioners was present at the scene at the time of the incident

and clearly that is very useful for the police in terms of giving

information but it makes it rather difficult for the Acting

Commissioner to talk to us because he will be an important witness when

the case comes to court and that there are a number of casualties

including police officers, and at this stage the police have said to

us, off the record, they don't want to get into the numbers of people

injured and if there are any that talent is at this stage, that is not

something they want to do whilst they are still trying to work out

exactly what happened. We have spoken to eyewitnesses who say they

have seen at least eight people injured on Westminster Bridge and

the vehicle seems to have travelled over the bridge knocking people

down. The commander there spoke about reports of someone being in

the water and we also have a report of the vehicle smashing into the

gates at Westminster and someone being tackled inside palace chart

and there is the video of someone being tackled by police -- Palace

Yard. Still sketchy details, but what we have seen is what the police

consider at this stage to be a terrorist incident at the very very

heart of the political establishment here in London. Thank U. A woman was

pulled alive from the river, we have had confirmation. Nicky Morgan is in

Portcullis House. You are presumably locked into the building and have

been for some time? Yes, I've been watching, like Mary Creagh, all the

MPs were going to vote when the incident happened. It sounds like I

was a bit further ahead of her on the way to the old Palace to vote,

when the gunshots rang out, and it takes a moment to think about that

is not a car backfiring, and then there was a lot of, get down on the

floor, get back in the building. That is what we all did. Since then

we have been kept safe in various locations as the building is in

lockdown. It must have been a frightening moment? Yes, and I think

afterwards you probably realise what was going on and how close you were

to something, and of course the Palace of Westminster, although

there is a lot of security and they do an amazing job keeping us said,

many people come and go all the time so there would have been people who

will not have been very far away from this incident and folding. --

and folding. When it happens your brain takes a few seconds to catch

up and that is not something normal, and then when you see officers

starting to react and yelling, you know that something very serious is

happening. We hear that there will be an emergency Cobra meeting

tonight. Chaired by Theresa May. You have been a cabinet minister and you

will not have attended one of these meetings necessary, but what kind of

thing will they be wanting to discuss? I have not been in the Home

Office, I have attended a Cobra meeting in the past, and I think at

the time it is a lot of information gathering. As to what has happened.

The police are very careful not to speculate, it is about understanding

what has happened. And what needs to happen in terms of providing

security and safety for members of the public going forward and then

there will be more information that comes and that is found out later on

in the process. At this time it is right that the secured his services

and the police are doing their job -- the security services. The

emergency services are looking after those who have been injured and we

sadly know about one death. The people on the bridge, many of us

feel terrible that members of the public have been caught up in this

incident. We have pictures of a stream of people being let out of

the Palace of Westminster. They will have been in lockdown now for over

two hours and we know that these incidents happened at roughly 240

this afternoon. Clearly the lockdown has been lifted and people no doubt

relieved at being allowed back out into the open air. There will be a

lot of discussion now about the security arrangements at

Westminster. There will. There has been a lot of work done and I was

first elected seven years ago and security has been tightened all the

time. MPs elected for much longer will say the security has changed

the face of Westminster, but there is a balance. Because there are many

people who need to come to this building every day, not just MPs and

members of the House of Lords, there are thousands of members of staff

who look after us and also members of the public. Today I had college

students from my constituency who were visiting and it is very

important that they are able to come and see the Palace and to go on

these tours which they really enjoy and value and we have many tourists,

as well. You have got to get the balance right between public access

and the ability of people to meet their MPs and also keeping people

safe and the police knowing exactly who is on the estate and what people

are bringing in. The London Ambulance Service said they have

treated at least ten people on Westminster Bridge, so that was the

incident which happened prior to the attack in the Palace of Westminster

precinct, of a vehicle ploughing seemingly deliberately into a group

of people, and the London Ambulance Service have said they have treated

at least ten people, with the possibility of more, of course. And

we know that a woman has died from her injuries in that incident. And

others have sustained what have been called catastrophic injuries. That

goes to reinforce your point, Nicky Morgan, to a certain extent London

is an open city and there is a limit to how much you can lockdown areas.

You can impose security on the Palace of Westminster but the areas

around it are extremely busy, as well. Absolutely. The Palace of

Westminster is one of the UNESCO world Heritage sites and it is

always full of tourists, no matter the time of year, or the time of

day, it is always very important that people can visit and we want

that to continue, and I suspect there will be many people watching

and listening to have been to the Palace and have walked over

Westminster Bridge. And have walked along the embankment and they will

know these places very well and will be absolutely stunned to see what

has happened today. I think that today is a time for gathering

information and understanding what has happened, but it is important

that we keep that public element. What you don't want is for

parliamentarians to be even more removed from outside, it is

important that we are able to meet members of the public and for them

to visit this place which is the mother of all parliaments. Indeed.

For any people just joining us, we are seeing a flood of people here

being let out of the Palace of Westminster, they have been held

there in lockdown for over two hours now, after two incidence which the

Metropolitan Police are describing as, they say they are treating them

as terrorist incidents, after they happened at about 240 this

afternoon. People no doubt relieved to be allowed out of the building,

and what was the atmosphere like, Nicky Morgan, when this was going on

inside? First of were stunned that something like this had happened,

and then curiosity over what happened -- first of all people were

stunned. What is remarkable about where I was in Portcullis House, was

that there were MPs, members of the public, many journalists, members of

staff who were there, a real mixture of people. And people not

complaining, we were being kept safe and very grateful for all of the

support and safety we have had from the police officers and security

personnel today. Afterwards there will be a time for reflection, but

people were quite shaky. It was a shock to people, and although you

hear of incidents happening like this, you never think it will happen

to you, in your workplace, and very tragically it has. Nicky Morgan,

many thanks. We can bring you up to date with what we know so far. We

have a statement from the Mayor of London who says he would like to

express his thanks to the police and emergency services and he says he

has spoken to the Acting Commissioner who was involved as a

witness to the incident. The Metropolitan Police services dealing

with the incident and he says his are with those affected and their

families. Terror on the streets of London in the heart of Westminster,

eyewitnesses describing scenes of terror as an attacker is shot

several times as he approached a police officer within yards of the

houses of Parliament. Paramedics fighting to save his life. On the

floor of the cobbled courtyard at the fond of Parliament. Along those

giving aid, a minister at the pious award. -- Tobias Ellwood. There was

a vehicle before that which ploughed apparently deliberately into a group

of people on Westminster Bridge, and one of our colleagues Nick Robinson

said it appeared to be a group of French students. We know one woman

has died in that instant and several others have sustained catastrophic

injuries. -- incident. Parliament was evacuated and MPs have been in

not down and they are now being asked to, but an ongoing scene --

lockdown. Continuous coverage here on BBC News.

Terrorism in the heart of Westminster. A vehicle and knife

attack has left at least one woman dead and others with catastrophic

injuries. Police are treating this as a terrorist incident. This is

thought to be the attacker as he was apprehended. Eyewitnesses say a car

mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before crashing

into railings outside Parliament. Some people have been seriously

injured, a number of bodies were seen on the ground. It's believed a

short time after that, the attacker stabbed a police officer outside

Parliament before being shot by police. This man, who appears to be

the attacker, was treated inside the Palace of Westminster shortly after.

The Prime Minister was in Parliament at the time, but is now back in

Downing Street. There will be an emergency Cobra meeting tonight.

I'll be reporting live from the edge of the police cordoned in

Westminster which is tonight in lockdown.

Welcome to this BBC News special programme. A woman has died and a

number of other people, including police officers, have been injured

in what police are treating as a terrorist incident in the heart of

London. Some of the injured are said to have suffered catastrophic

injuries. A large part of Westminster is in lockdown this

evening, after a car drove along Westminster Bridge, apparently

mowing down pedestrians. The London Ambulance Service say it is in

lockdown this evening, after a car drove along Westminster Bridge,

apparently mowing down pedestrians. The London Ambulance Service say

it's treated at least ten people there. Shortly afterwards, a man

stabbed a to hospital. Parliamentary business has been suspended. The

Prime Minister was inside at the time of the attack but is now back

in Downing Street. Let's take you through what we know so far.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing a vehicle driving into a number of

people on Westminster Bridge, before crashing into railings. That

happened at 2:40pm. One woman died and a number of others were injured,

some of them have sustained serious injuries. Shortly after that, it is

understood a police officer was stabbed inside the grounds of

Parliament, that attacker was then shot by armed police. My colleague

Ben Brown is at the scene this evening in Westminster. The very

latest we are hearing is that a woman has been pulled alive from the

River Thames, just to my left at Westminster. Alive but with serious

injuries. We're just at the edge of the police cordoned at Westminster.

I'll show you the scene, a lot of people are gathering to see what's

going on. Police in huge numbers here, a lot of police cars and

Sirens, helicopters overhead. Still an enormous amount of police

activity. The police are saying they are putting extra officers onto the

streets of the capital this evening as a result of what they are

describing as a terrorist incident. A Cobra meeting led by the Prime

Minister Theresa May is getting underway this evening. Let's get

this report on the day's events. SIRENS

At 2:40pm this afternoon, police responded to an attack on

parliament. It's been described as a terrorist incident. People fled from

the area in panic. With the air ambulance arriving, it was clear

there had been casualties. SIRENS On Westminster Bridge, very close to

Parliament, this car had smashed into the railings. On its way, it

had apparently ploughed into pedestrians who'd been walking along

the pavement. Up and down the length of the bridge, at least eight

figures lying on the ground on the pavement of the bridge. It appears a

car mounted the pavement on the south side of the bridge and

deliberately struck numerous individuals, leaving them on the

ground, before crashing at the North end of the bridge. As I walked up

the bridge, there was a lady in a pool of her own blood. There was

another lady next to her who was injured. As I looked towards Big

Ben, there was a lady in the roads. There were about three people

sitting up against the bridge being looked after. It's something you

just don't expect to see in London. It's quite shocking, actually. And

inside the perimeter of the parliament grounds, more casualties.

A policeman had apparently been stabbed by a man who'd managed to

get through the entrance. I saw a man forcing his way through. He

attacked one of the police officers. Then another police officer came to

his aid. The assailant got up with his arm outstretched. He had

something in his hand, I'm guessing a knife. I heard the sound of

gunfire and that was obviously when I realised something very serious

was happening. The man who allegedly carried out the attack had been shot

dead. Inside the chamber of the House of Commons, MPs had been

gathering to vote and were told not to move as the incident unfolded. At

the moment the very clear advice from the police and the director of

security in the house is that we should remain under suspension, and

that the chamber should remain in lockdown until we receive advice

that it is safe to go back to normal procedures. Doctors are saying at

least one person has been killed in this attack, and several others have

been injured. We know there are a number of casualties including

police officers. At this stage we cannot confirm numbers or the nature

of these injuries. Our response will be ongoing for some time, and it is

important we gather all possible information and evidence. Public

safety is our top priority, and we are reviewing our policing stance

across London. There will be additional officers on duty and

deployed across the capital. This evening, the whole area remains

sealed off, as a counterterrorism investigation gets underway. SIRENS

Here at Westminster, you can probably hear some of the Sirens, an

ambulance going past right now. A lot of police vehicles around where

we are, just at the edge of the police cordoned. Down the road at

the Palace of Westminster we are hearing that MPs and peers have been

leaving the Palace of Westminster. It's been in lockdown since the

incident began after lunch, it's been in lockdown and people were

told to stay where they were, including MPs and peers. In the last

few minutes they've been moved away from the Palace of Westminster, to

Westminster Abbey. The Prime Minister was also moved from

parliament back to Downing Street. You saw some of the Metropolitan

Police commander talking in that report. Let's hear in full that

statement from the Metropolitan Police and their commander BJ

Harrington. Since 2:40pm, the MPS has responded to an incident in the

area of Parliament Square. The senior national coordinator has

declared this is a terrorist incident. Although we remain

open-minded, a full counterterror investigation is 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 reports including 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 routine policing

but immediately, additional officers were sent to the scene, including

firearms officers. We are working closely with the Ambulance Service

and fire brigade. I would 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 in bank Tube

station. 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 there are a

number of casualties including police officers, but at this stage

we cannot confirm numbers or the nature of the injuries. Our response

will be ongoing for some time, it is important 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

capital this afternoon. There will be additional officers on duty and

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

concern. If they do, 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 isn't injured, it would be

inappropriate for him to be here to talk about the incident at this

stage. Our thoughts and his thoughts are with all of those involved and

responding to the incident this evening. If anyone has information

about today's incident they are urged to call 0800 789 321. I would

stress, if the public have any information or see anything

suspicious, dial 999 immediately. Does the incident seemed to be over?

I'm not going to speculate, you'll see the response, officers are

responding. I want to stress it is our priority to keep London safe.

People going home will see additional officers deployed across

London in order to achieve that aim. INAUDIBLE I've told you what

information I have and I will continue to keep you updated. I'm

not prepared to speculate. BJ Harrington of New Scotland Yard

giving the latest press briefing to reporters. Let's go straight to our

home affairs correspondent at Scotland Yard. What are you hearing

about events today? We are starting to get a picture of what may have

happened. From talking to eyewitnesses here at Scotland Yard,

which is only 100 metres from the heart of the incident, it sounds as

if a vehicle drove over Westminster Bridge at high speed, knocking

people down. We've had eyewitnesses describing possibly eight people

lying on Westminster Bridge. Somebody somehow ended up in the

River Thames, possibly as part of the incident. A vehicle seems to

have run itself up against the Palace of Westminster. We are

hearing reports of two different possible assailants. One has been

described to me by eyewitnesses as a white person, possibly with bald

hair carrying two large knives. A second person, which seems to be the

man being arrested in old Palace Yard, appears to be a black man with

a goatee beard. Talking to police officers around here, there does

seem to be a feeling that there may have been two people in the vehicle.

A possible, and I stress a possible picture of a vehicle with two people

in it, one black, one white, mowing people down on Westminster Bridge

and then the people inside trying to get inside the Palace of Westminster

itself. I've also heard powerful accounts from an MP who was in the

Palace of Westminster at the time, trying to get to vote, Mary Creagh

then describing how she couldn't go to vote and not really understanding

what was going on, and finding herself in a position where she

couldn't go back to her office. Then going out through a turnstile into

the tube station and persuading the staff in the tube station to shut

the station down, which they then did at her request, in order to stop

more passengers going out into the scene where this carnage was

happening. The police, as you saw, didn't confirm the number of deaths,

but we have had the suggestion that at least one person has been killed.

Of course, always very heavy security around the Palace of

Westminster, police responded to this attack very quickly and we know

just over the weekend there was a big training exercise, counterterror

training exercise on the River Thames. The police always wear

something like this is a possibility. Yes, a number of

interesting things about the police response. First of all, this is the

place where there were the most number of armed officers deployed on

the streets at any one time in London. There are a lot of armed

officers on duty here. I have heard reports of people seeing police

officers in grey uniforms of the counterterrorism specialist firearms

officers, a new unit launched last year. It seems as if they were

deployed. There are some suggestions that military units have also been

deployed, which is part of the organised, prearranged response to

an attack like this on the capital. That has been quite efficient,

clearly the incident was incredibly fast and it's not prevented a lot of

people getting injured. I've also, being here at Scotland Yard since

the incident happened, I've seen Mark Rowley the national coordinator

for counterterrorism leaving the building, going across to Downing

Street and into the Cabinet Office so he can go to the Cobra meeting

this afternoon, and then returning half an hour later. I think we will

get more detail from Scotland Yard as the evening goes on but they will

be cautious about releasing details, they like to make sure that when

they released details they are accurate. Thank you. Daniel

Sandford, our home affairs correspondent at Scotland Yard. I

want to show you some video filmed by my BBC colleague Evan Davis from

Newsnight shortly after this incident. It's around the Palace of

Westminster. Injured people, casualties being treated on the

ground. So that was filmed by my colleague Evan Davis from Newsnight

just after it happened. Let's go to St Thomas' Hospital just across the

River Thames, that is where some of the injured, some of the casualties

are being treated right now. Very close to where it all happens. Let's

get our correspondent there, what can you tell us? I'm at the south

end of Westminster Bridge where the first incident happened, right next

door to St Thomas' Hospital, less than 100 meters away. At least many

of those injured were able to be brought it to be treated. We know

there were at least ten injuries on the bridge in that first incident,

some people have been treated at St Thomas' Hospital, others were taken

to Kings College Hospital. Doctor reportedly told one of the news