London terror incident: House of Commons session suspended after car and knife attack

House of Commons suspend session after security incident

Proceedings at the House of Commons have been suspended after a man was shot outside Parliament.

Staff inside the building were told to stay in their offices. MPs that were in the chamber when sitting was suspended were told to stay inside the House of Commons.

Commons Leader David Lidington has told MPs a "police officer has been stabbed" and the "alleged assailant was shot by armed police" following a "serious" incident within the parliamentary estate.

Parliament will be in shutdown until further notice, the Speaker said.

Officials made the announcement in the chamber as parliamentary activity was going on.

London police said they were called to a firearms incident on Westminster Bridge near the British parliament on Wednesday.

"We were called at approx 2:40 pm to reports of an incident at Westminster Bridge. Being treated as a firearms incident - police on scene," the Metropolitan police said on Twitter.

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."

Commons leader David Lidington said the House of Commons would "remain in lockdown" until further notice.

He said: "I shall endeavour to do the very best I can, both at the despatch box and by communicating with my opposite numbers in other political parties, to ensure that Members are kept aware of what is happening but at the moment the very clear advice from the police and the director of security in the House is that we should remain under suspension and that the chamber should remain in lockdown until we receive advice that it is safe to go back to normal procedures."

Shadow leader of the House Valerie Vaz said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the police officer and to thank the police and all the security services and all the staff for looking after us so well."

Mr Lidington, in a later statement to MPs, confirmed the House of Commons would adjourn for the day.

He said: "There have been conversations through the usual channels.

"I hope the House would agree that in the current circumstances it would not be right to continue with today's business."

MPs shouted in favour of a motion to adjourn the sitting.

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[22 March 2017 14:52 · Samuel Osborne]

[22 March 2017 14:57 · Samuel Osborne]

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The Independent's deputy political editor Rob Merrick said: "Two men have been shot - one, presumably the assailant looked like he could be dead.

"The second, a police officer, was wounded but moving. I saw at least one man running towards the exit of New Palace Yard, underneath Big Ben.

"Police were shouting at him, presumably to stop and/or drop his weapon. I think I heard two shots.

"A police officer fell to the ground clutching his arm or shoulder.

[22 March 2017 15:00 · Samuel Osborne]

[22 March 2017 15:00 · Samuel Osborne]

[22 March 2017 15:01 · Samuel Osborne]

Two people were seen lying within Old Palace Yard, immediately outside Westminster Hall.

[22 March 2017 15:01 · Samuel Osborne]

Minutes after the incident, an emergency services helicopter landed in Parliament Square, as sirens were heard outside.

Air ambulance medics came from the helicopter to assist the casualties.

[22 March 2017 15:02 · Samuel Osborne]

[22 March 2017 15:02 · Samuel Osborne]

Witness Don Brind told the Press Association he heard shots being fired and saw two people apparently injured on the ground.

Mr Brind, a researcher for MPs, said: "I heard some shouting and saw some running out of the corner of my eye and then a short time after that there was a shot. I looked and I saw a civilian on the ground, with somebody standing over him with what I assumed to be a gun.

"Then I looked and about 10 yards away, there was a yellow jacketed person on the ground, who appeared to be alive and talking."

He said he assumed the person in the high-visibility jacket was a police officer.

[22 March 2017 15:06 · Samuel Osborne]

To clarify earlier reports: A police officer been stabbed and an alleged assailant shot by armed police.