An area around the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge in central London has been locked down Wednesday as the city’s Metropolitan Police deal with what they are treating as a terrorist incident.
Here’s what you need to know:
• At least three people, including a police officer protecting Parliament, have been killed, and at least 20 injured, Met Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Rowley tells reporters. He said the attacker – who had a knife – was also killed but gave no further details about him.
• The attack started when a car was driven over Westminster Bridge toward the Houses of Parliament, hitting and injuring a number of members of the public and three police officers on their way back from a commendation ceremony, Rowley said. The car then crashed near Parliament and at least one man, armed with a knife, continued the attack by trying to enter Parliament. The suspected attacker was shot by a police firearms officer. Police currently believe there is only one attacker, but are continuing to search the area, Rowley said. The slain officer’s family has been informed, he said. Rowley added that he believed the other two victims died on the bridge.
• London Ambulance Service said at least 10 people were treated on Westminster Bridge, where the attack started. One woman was pulled alive from the Thames but with injuries, Port of London Authority spokesman Martin Garside told CNN.
• A “full counter terrorism investigation is underway,” although police remain open-minded on the motive, said Met Police Commander B.J. Harrington. He described how the confusing chain of events – witnessed by many tourists, lawmakers and Londoners going about their business – unfolded. “We received a number of calls, which included a person in the river, a car in a collision with pedestrians and a man that was armed with a knife,” he said.
• As the alarm was raised, a sitting of the House of Commons was suspended and lawmakers were placed in lockdown. David Lidington, the Leader of the House of Commons, told members of Parliament the alleged assailant had been shot by police and an air ambulance was at the scene to remove the casualties. Police later began evacuating lawmakers and tourists from Parliament to nearby Westminster Abbey, Britain’s Press Association news agency reported. Despite the turmoil, Both the House of Commons and House of Lords will sit Thursday at their normal times, the UK Parliament posted on its Twitter account.
• Theresa May is to chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee to discuss the immediate response to the Westminster incident, Downing Street said.
• Security is being stepped up across London as people travel home from work and in the coming days, Harrington said, with more armed and unarmed officers on patrol.
CNN’s Schams Elwazer, David Wilkinson and James Masters contributed to this report.