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London terror attack – what happened at Westminster and how many people have died? Here’s what we know

10:45, Thursday, 23 March, 2017
London terror attack – what happened at Westminster and how many people have died? Here’s what we know

A MAJOR incident in Central London has left at least five dead and many injured after a man driving a 4×4 vehicle mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.

The driver was subsequently shot outside Parliament after attacking police officers with a knife, leaving with one officer reported dead. Here’s what we know so far…What happened at Westminster and was it a terror attack?

Police are treating the attacks outside Parliament in Westminster as a terrorist incident.

According to witnesses at the scene, a man driving a 4×4 vehicle mowed down a number of people on the pavements on Westminster Bridge, before crashing into the gates outside the Houses of Parliament.

The driver then ran into the Parliament compound, carrying an ‘eight inch knife, where he fatally stabbed a police officer.

The assailant was shot by police and taken into custody, but later died, according to the Metropolitan Police.Police issued a list of no-go areas and ordered Transport for London to close Westminster Underground station, but this has since reopened.

The police officer who died has been named as PC Keith Palmer, aged 48 and a husband and father.At least five people have died, including a policeman and the attacker, it is believed there are over 40 people injured.

Numerous others are “catastrophically” injured after a 4×4 mowed down a dozen pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.

There is no official estimate of the number injured in the terrorist incident directly outside Parliament.

MP Tobias Ellwood - whose brother was killed in the Bali bombings - gave mouth-to-mouth to dying police officer PC Keith Palmer.

What have Police said about the incident?

The Metropolitan Police have issued a statement, which reads:

“We currently believe there was only one attacker we are taking every precaution in locking down and searching the area.

“Full weight of the counter terrorism if there are people that saw the events we urge them to get in touch crime scene will remain in place.

“It is vital we carry out a painstaking investigation to recover all possible evidence for the rest of the day and in the days that follow.

“We have lost one of our own as he acted to protect the public.

“This is a day we planned for but hoped would never happen. Sadly it is now a reality.”

Following the attack a Met police spokesman warned Londoners to be wary of copycat attacks, saying it would be "foolish" to dismiss the event as "over".

Where was Prime Minister Theresa May when the shooting took place?

Theresa May was seen in the voting lobby at the time of the attack.

She was bundled into a car 40 yards from the gates outside Parliament where shots were fired minutes after the incident occurred.

The PM was ushered out by at least eight armed undercover officers to her silver Jaguar in Speaker’s Court.

The car then sped out of the Parliamentary estate to an undisclosed location away from Downing Street.

The sitting in the House of Commons has been suspended while police officers sealed off the area around the incident.

No 10 has since said the prime minister is safe but Downing Street was put in lockdown

UK Parliament’s official Twitter feed announced that the House of Commons and the House of Lords will sit tomorrow at their normal times.On the evening of the attack, Theresa May said: "The terrorist chose to strike at the heart of our capital city.

“The values our parliament represents - democracy, freedom, human rights, the rule of law - command the admiration and respect of free people everywhere.

“That is why it is a target for those who reject those values.”

She added: "Tomorrow morning, Parliament will meet as normal. We will come together as normal.And Londoners - and others from around the world who have come here to visit this great City - will get up and go about their day as normal.

"They will board their trains, they will leave their hotels, they will walk these streets, they will live their lives. And we will all move forward together."Never giving in to terror. And never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart."

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