Westminster attack: Police officer killed by knifeman in major terror incident

A police officer has died after being stabbed by a knifeman in a terror attack outside the Houses of Parliament that has Westminster on lockdown

Another woman was killed when the attacker ploughed his car into pedestrians on the pavement of Westminster Bridge by the parliament buildings before launching his assault on the police officers.

A number of people were being treated in London hospitals after suffering "catastrophic" injuries in the attack.

Witnesses described hearing people screaming and seeing bodies scatter as the car is understood to have mounted the pavement just in front of the Houses of Parliament.

Another witness said they had seen a person in the River Thames - a woman was later rescued from the water.

The car then smashed into railings surrounding the Palace of Westminster, close to Big Ben in Parliament Square, where the attacker got out and stabbed a policeman.

As he approached a second officer, he was shot by armed police. A video has emerged showing two officers pulling up outside the Houses of Parliament and then the sounds of three shots rings out.

Three police officers are said to be among those injured in the attack and the French prime minister had confirmed that three French teenage students had also been hurt in the incident.

Foreign Office minister and former army office Tobias Ellwood gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to one of the police officers injured in the knife attack in New Palace Yard, the cobbled courtyard in front of Parliament.

Parliament was immediately shut down and the Prime Minister bundled into a car as officers searched the building, evacuating floors one by one.

However, the evacuation was delayed after a suspicious package was found in a vehicle and the bomb squad were called in to deal with it.

Staff in other buildings around Westminster were being asked by police to stay inside their offices and Parliament was suspended for the day. Sightseers on the London Eye were being held inside the viewing pods.

Scotland Yard said the attack was being treated "as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise".

An air ambulance landed in Parliament Square and medics were treating a number of people who had been injured in the incident, including the man who had been shot by police.

Pictures showed a number of people lying in the road on the bridge, another image showed a man lying bleeding at the foot of stairs next to the Parliament building.

At least 10 people were treated on Westminster Bridge and a number of London hospitals had been put on alert, London Ambulance Service said.

Witnesses described seeing an "Asian guy in his 40s" carrying a knife and running across the bridge and towards the Houses of Parliament.

Alan Parry, of Sky Sports News, was at Westminster for a meeting when he heard "an almighty crash" just outside the underground station .

He said he could see a vehicle on the other side of the road which had crashed into some railings.

He said: "There was smoke coming this vehicle. I walked on a few paces further and saw what I assumed to be either a pedestrian or a cyclist who had clearly been hit and wasn't moving, although he did then gently move.

"The guy who I assumed was the driver of this 4x4 got out of the car and suddenly sprinted away from the scene - that was followed by four of what sounded much like gunshots.

"All of a sudden all hell was let loose. Police descended everywhere and the whole area was locked down."

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."

One of the key witnesses to the attack was the Acting Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. He was unable to make a statement because he was giving vital evidence to officers.

Metropolitan Police Commander BJ Harrison said a "terrorist incident" had been declared and a "full counter terrorism operation" was under way.

He said that officers had received a number of different reports which "included a person in the river, a car in collision with pedestrians and a man armed with a knife".

He added: "We know there are a number of casualties including police officers but at this stage we cannot confirm numbers or the nature of these injuries."

The Government has said it will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee later today.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment about its security arrangements but it was clear some precautions had been taken as the gates, patrolled by armed police, had been closed.

MSPs have delayed a vote on a possible second independence referendum in light of the attack.