4 dead and police officer stabbed in suspected terror attacks in Westminster

Four dead, including a police officer, after suspected terrorist attack in Westminster, London. A lone suspect shot by police after fatally stabbing police officer inside the grounds of the Houses of Parliament. A car drove into at least a dozen people on nearby Westminster Bridge. Emergency services were at the scene treating “catastrophic injuries.” Parliament and central London are on lockdown. WARNING: Some of the images below are graphic.

LONDON – Four people, including a police officer, have died and 20 were injured in what is being treated as a terror attack in Westminster, London, on Wednesday afternoon.

A lone assailant mowed down dozens of pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in a 4X4 car, before killing a police officer with a knife in the grounds of Parliament just after 2.30 p.m. local time. He was shot dead by police.

In a statement at 6 p.m. GMT, Met Police assistant commissioner for specialist operations Mark Rowley confirmed that two others died on Westminster Bridge, while a further 20 were injured.

“We are satisfied that there was only one attacker,” Rowley told reporters, but stressed it would be “foolish” to rule out the possibility of more. He advised the public to be vigilant and confirmed additional officers will patrol the capital tonight and Thursday.

Rowley said: “Our strength as the city depends on our ability to stand together at such a terrible time.”

Police shot the attacker outside the gates of Parliament, where the officer was fatally stabbed. Two other police officers were treated for injuries.

Reports have suggested that the below Press Association photo is the first image of the suspect. The alleged intruder was treated by medics and loaded into an ambulance.

The man seemed to be carrying a “long kitchen knife” prior to being shot, Press Association political editor Andrew Woodcock told the BBC.

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood attempted to give mouth-to-mouth to the stabbed police officer before he died. Acting Commissioner Craig Mackey was at the scene and is being treated as a significant witness.

Three of the injured are French students, French media is reporting. A woman who jumped into the River Thames during the incident was pulled out alive soon after the attack.

Journalist Quentin Letts gave an account of what he saw at Parliament to MSNBC.

“I saw a fairly thick-set man wearing black clothes running through the open gates, the security gates where people drive their cars,” Letts said. “He seemed to have something in his hand, maybe a knife, maybe a stick.”

Letts continued: “He started beating a policeman who had fallen over on the ground. The policeman managed to shake him off and the attacker then ran towards the entrance of the House of Commons, which is used by our members of Parliament and he got about 15 yards before the authorities responded.”

A witness close to Westminster Bridge told Business Insider that there were “lots of sirens” and “people running” at the scene.

All government and civil servants were kept inside Westminster Hall hours after the incident. Westminster tube station and nearby buildings including St Thomas’ Hospital and the Gherkin building were also on lockdown. Armed officers are currently patrolling the area.

Facebook activated the safety check feature to allow those in London to let people know they’re safe.

No terrorist group has so far accepted responsibility for the attack. New York Times terrorism correspondent Rukmini Callimachi noted on Twitter, however, that pro-ISIS channels on the chat app Telegram are talking about the attack.

“Numerous ISIS-linked channels are sharing blow-by-blow updates on events in London,” Callimachi said, noting that this pattern follows that of other recent terror attacks.

“We saw this post-Paris, post-Nice, post-Orlando etc,” she said. “The mode of attack, according to reporters at the scene, includes stabbing and car-ramming, both ISIS signatures.”

Wednesday marks the first anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in Belgium’s history, in which 32 people were killed and hundreds were wounded in a bombing at the airport in Brussels. Callimachi, the Times terrorism reporter, noted that “ISIS, like al-Qaeda, loves anniversaries.”

Prime Minister Theresa May was in Parliament at the time of the attack but is safe, a spokesperson confirmed. She was ushered into a car and driven away from the scene.

Scottish Parliament suspended the second day of a debate on an independence referendum motion. US President Donald Trump was briefed on the situation, his spokesperson Sean Spicer confirmed.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has thanked London police and emergency services for their “tremendous bravery in exceptionally difficult circumstances.”

In a statement, Khan said:

“There has been a serious incident near to Parliament Square this afternoon which is being treated as a terrorist attack until the police know otherwise.

“I have spoken to the Acting Commissioner. The Metropolitan Police Service is dealing with the incident and an urgent investigation is underway. My thoughts are with those affected and their families.

“I would like to express my thanks to the police and emergency services who work so hard to keep us safe and show tremendous bravery in exceptionally difficult circumstances. For the latest information please visit news.met.police.uk.”

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “Reports suggest the ongoing incident in Westminster this afternoon is extremely serious. 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.”

Some victims were hit near the London Eye end of the bridge (below) while others were injured nearer Parliament:

These images show the aftermath of the attack in Westminster:

Pedestrians make their way across Westminster Bridge after the attack:

Bystanders try to help the wounded:

Armed police were on the scene in minutes to escort people out of the area:

Westminster Bridge is incredibly crowded at all times. It is heavily used by tourists, Westminster workers and other commuters:

The vehicle appears to have struck several people along the length of the bridge as it headed toward Parliament:

The area around Big Ben, the House of Commons, and the London Eye was brought to a standstill:

Debris littered the bridge:

Here was the scene at Parliament after a car drove into the gate:

Here was the scene on Westminster Bridge earlier today:

This witness saw five people hit by the car:

MPs inside the Houses of Parliament.

This is the moment Parliamentwas suspended as “sounds similar to gunfire” were heardoutside pic.twitter.com/to6PPxkNqL

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 22,2017

This is the moment Parliamentwas suspended as “sounds similar to gunfire” were heardoutside pic.twitter.com/to6PPxkNqL

pic.twitter.com/to6PPxkNqLMarch 22,2017

This is a developing story…