As it happenedended

London attack suspect: Pictures emerge of man believed to be Westminster terror suspect

Wednesday 22 March 2017 18:04 GMT

Emergency services at the scene outside the Palace of Westminster, London, after policeman has been stabbed and his apparent attacker shot by officers in a major security incident at the Houses of Parliament. (PA)

Pictures have emerged of the man believed to be the suspect in a terror attack on the Houses of Parliament.

He allegedly rammed a car into members of the public on Westminster Bridge before entering the grounds of the Houses of Parliament and stabbing a police officer 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.

Pictures show two knives lying on the floor near the man, who appears to be dressed in black.

Two knives, circled in red, lay on the floor near the suspect (PA wire)

Armed officers are also seen standing nearby as he is treated by paramedics.

A counter-terrorism investigation is already under way, police said.

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

Video shows terrifying moment police open fire outside parliament

Giving a statement outside Scotland Yard, police spokesman Commander BJ Harrington said: "A senior national coordinator has declared this a terrorist incident.

"Although we remain open-minded to the motive, a counter-terrorism investigation is already under way led by the Met counter-terrorism command.

"We received a number of different reports which included a body in the river, a car in collision with pedestrians and a man armed with a knife."

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

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Press Association reporter Laura Harding, who was in Westminster at the time of the incident, said: "Everyone has been evacuated into Central Lobby, including a group of schoolchildren and kitchen staff.

"Around 15 schoolchildren aged around 10, with armed police coming through the lobby now.

"The children are really calm, the teachers are comforting them.

"Everyone is standing around on their phones.

"There are also a bunch of young people from the Hammersmith Boxing Club in their tracksuits and the British Lionhearts boxing group."

Samuel Osborne22 March 2017 15:07

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Dennis Burns, who was just entering Parliament for a meeting when the security alert happened, told the Press Association: "As I was coming through the doors at Portcullis House, a policeman grabbed someone who was coming in and threw him out.

"As we were coming though the glass doors I was told by one security guard to get out while another one told me to get in.

"As I walked in I heard a security guard get a radio message saying 'a policeman has been stabbed'.

"Then I walked in as police officers and security start rushing out of the front doors on to the street.

"When I got inside I was wondering what the hell was going on and I saw dozens of panicked people running down the street. The first stream was around 30 people and the second stream was 70 people.

"It looked like they were running for their lives."

Samuel Osborne22 March 2017 15:08

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