On Wednesday, police responded to shots fired at the Westminster Bridge and an incident put the United Kingdom's Parliament on lockdown. Reports of the incident are still emerging and are conflicting, but the most recent reports from the The Guardian show two serious events taking place. A police officer was stabbed in the Houses of Parliament and the assailant was shot by police. The second incident being reported is that a car drove into a number of people on Westminster Bridge and then drove into the railing at the Palace of Westminster, home of the Houses of Parliament. But, crucially, many details surrounding the car incident have not been confirmed, though photos of the scene have begun to appear on social media.
Westminster underground station has been shut down and Westminster is on lockdown. As far as the number of people injured, reports show that up to 12 people are being treated in relations to the car incident on Westminster Bridge. An update from The Press Association reports that a junior doctor at St Thomas' Hospital said that one woman has died and others have "catastrophic" injuries. So far there is not concrete information on the status of the police officer and assailant from the stabbing incident.
The bridge, with its position next to Parliament and views of the Southbank and the London eye, is a popular spot for tourists and photo opportunities, as well as a part of many Londoners daily commute — meaning it is often very crowded.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that they are treating the incident as a terrorist attack until they have reason to think otherwise.
The situation is still chaotic and information about the incidents and photos of the scene continue to emerge, but it has been confirmed that the Prime Minister, Theresa May, was safely escorted out of the vicinity.
More to come...
