Four dead in “terrorist attack” close to Houses of Parliament

A police officer and a woman are among four people who have been killed in what has been described as a terrorist attack, close to the Houses of Parliament.The woman was among several people hit as a man drove his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, while the police officer was stabbed after the attacker

 then drove to Parliament Square and tried to enter the Palace of Westminster. A number of other pedestrians are said to have suffered “catastrophic” injuries.

The attacker, said to be an Asian man in his forties, was shot “several times” by police and was among the dead.

A major security operation is now under way.

Early reports said two people were said to be lying in Old Palace Yard, the open space between the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey.

Photos from the scene show dozens of people injured on Westminster Bridge, with passersby trying to comfort them.

Tom Peck, political editor of The Independent, tweeted: “There was a loud bang. Screams. Commotion. Then the sound of gunshots. Armed police everywhere.”

The Met Police said they were called to a firearms incident on Westminster Bridge near parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

“We were called at approx 2.40pm to reports of an incident at Westminster Bridge. Being treated as a firearms incident – police on scene.”

Scotland Yard said in a statement: “Police are asking people to avoid the following areas: Parliament Square; Whitehall; Westminster Bridge; Lambeth Bridge; Victoria Street up to the junction with Broadway and Victoria Embankment up to Embankment Tube.”