FOUR peoole are reported to have died after a knifeman brought terror to the heart of Westminster.

The victims of today's horror events include a police officer and a pedestrian. Another person is said to have died a short time after the initial attack.

Bradford MPs attending sittings in the House of Commons were forced into a lockdown.

They sent their condolences to the victim's families.

Shipley MP Philip Davies said MPs were in the middle of a vote when the incident happened and watched scenes unfold outdoors from a TV in the voting lobby.

“My heart goes out to the victims and families of this evil and awful attack, especially the family of the police officer who died courageously protecting others.

“Parliament has remained in lockdown ever since and I cannot thank enough the police and security services for everything they have done to keep us safe.

“Although we have always known that a terrorist attack is inevitable, it still doesn’t prepare anyone for the shock when it actually happens, and it makes me think back to the London bombings on 7/7 shortly after I first became an MP.

“We will continue to face a terrorist threat, but anyone who thinks these attacks will affect the resolve of the British people clearly do not know the British people.”

Bradford West MP Mr Hussain posted a number of social media messages as his office said he was “deep inside the chambers and was difficult to reach”.

Mr Hussain’s messages read: “Thoughts and prayers are with family and friends of the police officer who has died in the line of duty. Deepest thanks to all emergency services. We must remember to keep the friends and family of victims in our thoughts."

He added: “Everybody is just a little bit shocked, if I’m honest. Nobody really knows the extent of what’s happened at the moment and we’re all just sitting in the chamber.

“It’s deeply tragic but the full facts will emerge as time goes on.”

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said: "My thoughts are with the families of those who died, including the incredibly brave and professional police officer who lost his life trying to defend us.

“I also want to convey my very best wishes to those who were injured, together with my hope that they are able to make full recoveries.

“I pay tribute to the police officers, door keepers and staff of the House who looked after everyone so well during the lockdown.

“The Palace of Westminster is the heartbeat of our democracy and an attack on it is an assault on our nation. 

“But those who hate us and want to damage us will never win.  I look forward to being back in Parliament again tomorrow morning when both Houses will meet as scheduled.”

Bradford West MP Naz Shah was not in Westminster but sent a Tweet expressing her prayers for the victims and praise for the security services. She posted a emoji with a sad face and the word “praying”.

Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin posted on Twitter: “My head goes out to the police officer who’s been stabbed, those hit by the car on the bridge and their families.”

Earlier today Bradford South MP Judith Cummins had said everyone was being calm.

“It’s very calm here, it’s very calm. People are having to let their loved ones know they’re fine, and let their staff know.

“That’s your immediate concern – your loved ones and your staff," she said.

“I’m very grateful for people showing their concern. We all know what some people think of MPs but at times like this, people are really kind.

“People are even ringing from abroad to check we’re ok.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the families of today's victims and a special thanks to our police and security services.

"We see the police every day we come to Westmister so we will know the officer who has died. That is heartbreaking to think about."

Mrs Cummins said they had “already had Jo Cox’s murder on our minds”, as the House of Commons was marking the start of the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness.

She said many people were wearing badges emblazoned with the phrase ‘Happy to chat’ as part of the campaign.

She added: “We feel very safe and protected. It’s a credit to our fantastic police service.”

Spen MP Tracy Brabin posted on Twitter: “My heart goes out to the police officer who’s been stabbed, those hit by the car on the bridge and their families.”

Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew is also believed to be in London.

Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered flags to be lowered to half-mast over Downing Street as a mark of respect to the innocent people who lost their lives. 

The announcement came as she chaired a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee.

The man suspected of carrying out the attack is said to have been shot and killed by armed police.

The attacker, armed with two large knives, mowed down pedestrians with his car on Westminster Bridge, including schoolchildren, then rushed at the gates in front of the Houses of Parliament, stabbing a policeman before he was shot.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of terror when gunfire rang out as the attacker approached a second officer within yards of the Houses of Parliament.

Paramedics fought to save his life and that of his police victim on the floor of the cobbled courtyard in front of Parliament, with Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood among those who rushed to help.

The police officer was wheeled away on a stretcher with his face covered and sources later confirmed he had died.

  • One woman hit by the attacker's car before he reached Parliament was confirmed dead by a doctor at St Thomas' Hospital.
  • Another victim has since died, it has been reported.
  • Others on the bridge suffered 'catastrophic injuries'.
  • Another woman who apparently fell into the Thames was rescued and given urgent medical treatment on a nearby pier.
  • London Ambulance Service said paramedics had treated at least 10 patients on Westminster Bridge.
  • A party of French schoolchildren were among those targeted on the bridge, with three injured.
  •  
  • Commander BJ Harrington of the Metropolitan Police said there were "a number of casualties" in the attack "including police officers". He urged Londoners to be vigilant, said more officers would be on patrol and that anti-terrorism measures were being reviewed.

The knifeman drove a grey Hyundai i40 across Westminster Bridge before crashing it into railings then running through the gates of the Palace of Westminster.

His attack left a trail of destruction as paramedics tended to victims on the bridge and at the gate.

Mrs May was seen being ushered into a silver Jaguar in the grounds of the palace as what sounded like gunfire rang out at around 2.45pm.

Eyewitness Rick Longley described the attack.

"We were just walking up to the station and there was a loud bang and a guy, someone, crashed a car and took some pedestrians out.

"They were just laying there and then the whole crowd just surged around the corner by the gates just opposite Big Ben.

"A guy came past my right shoulder with a big knife and just started plunging it into the policeman.

"I have never seen anything like that. I just can't believe what I just saw."

Around three shots rang out as the attacker ran through the gates into the front yard of the parliamentary compound.

Two people - thought to be the knifeman and the officer - were then seen being treated on the ground in New Palace Yard amid shouts and screams.

An air ambulance landed in Parliament Square and a regular ambulance came in through the front gates as medics rushed to help the injured people.

Armed police cleared the area around the incident and Parliament Square was closed to traffic while Parliament went into lockdown.

As the sitting in the House of Commons was suspended, Commons Leader David Lidington told MPs: "What I am able to say to the House is there has been a serious incident within the estate.

"It seems that a police officer has been stabbed, that the alleged assailant was shot by armed police.

"An air ambulance is currently attending the scene to remove the casualties."

Witnesses described seeing a middle-aged man carrying a knife and running.

Jayne Wilkinson said: "We were taking photos of Big Ben and we saw all the people running towards us, and then there was an Asian guy in about his 40s carrying a knife about seven or eight inches long.

"And then there were three shots fired, and then we crossed the road and looked over. The man was on the floor with blood.

"He had a lightweight jacket on, dark trousers and a shirt.

"He was running through those gates, towards Parliament, and the police were chasing him."

Her partner David Turner added: "There was a stampede of people running out.

"You saw the people and you thought 'what the hell is going on'."

A witness, who did not want to be named, saw Mrs May and her undercover police detail near the area of Parliament where ministerial cars are parked.

He said there were undercover officers in a 4x4 vehicle in the car park.

"We just heard gunshots inside Parliament," he said.

"It looked like they are taking her away."

Another witness, from South Africa and living in Ireland, said she and two friends went towards the palace gates and saw a man lying on the floor inside.

She said: "I saw a body, they were working on the floor. They were just inside the gates.

"He had one gunshot wound to the right side of his chest. I don't know if he was dead or alive, but people were working on him.

"I saw that needed medical attention and I asked if I could help because I am a doctor, but they said they were fine.

"Then the police moved us back."

Daily Mail political editor Jason Groves witnessed the incident from his office window.

He said: "I heard a bang coming from Westminster Tube station, looked out the window, there's a commotion, armed cops were running, the crowd of people outside were running as if for their lives.

"A guy comes through the vehicle entrance wielding something, towards a copper, the copper tumbles.

"The man's running towards Westminster Hall, and then you've got a plain clothes copper comes running out.

"Not from the gate, but from the inside, shoots him once from maybe 10 or 15 yards away with a handgun, and then gets closer to him and shoots him again from over him and he doesn't get up."

London Ambulance Service "declared a major incident" in a statement, saying: "We were called at 2.40pm to Westminster Bridge to reports of an incident, with the first crew arriving within six minutes.

"We have sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, London's Air Ambulance and our Hazardous Area Response Team.

"We are working closely with other members of the emergency services at the scene, with our priority being to ensure patients receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.

"We have declared a major incident and our priority is to assess patients and ensure that they are treated and taken to hospital as soon as possible.

"As we are very busy dealing with this incident, we would ask the public to only call us in a genuine emergency."

Kathy Casatelli, 58, saw a car rammed into the front gates of the palace and a man being treated on the floor.

She said: "We were coming up from the Tube and we walked out and there were officers there with their guns drawn.

"I saw this car that was smashed into the gate. It was a grey BMW, it looked like a nice car. The whole windshield was smashed.

"There was a man on the ground, it looked like he was moving. I don't know if he was the driver."

Ms Casatelli, from Syracuse in the US and on holiday in London since Saturday, said she heard that someone had been wielding a knife.

She said: "One of the officers was trying to him.

"He wasn't moving very much, I thought I saw him moving.

"I don't know if he was riding a bike and got hit. There was somebody with him and he was there with his hands on his head.

"I don't know if they were walking or biking and it hit them."

Police extended the cordon back up Broad Sanctuary beyond Westminster Abbey to the junction with Victoria Street.

Four police vans arrived at the scene at 3.40pm, as the air ambulance took off.

Mrs May's official spokesman said: "The Prime Minister was brought back to Number 10 from Parliament. She is currently monitoring the situation."

The office of the Serjeant at Arms, who handles security in the House of Commons, said: "We are aware that there has been an incident that has taken place.

"At this early stage, we cannot comment further."

An announcement made in Parliament said there was a suspicious package in a vehicle and the bomb squad had been called which halted a planned evacuation.

More to follow.

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