One dead, "catastrophic" injuries after British parliament "terror" attack
LONDON: A policeman was stabbed, an assailant shot and several people injured on Wednesday close to Britain's Houses of Parliament in what police said they were treating as a terrorist incident.
One woman has died and other people are being treated for "catastrophic" injuries after the attack, British news agency Press Association reported, citing a junior doctor at a central London hospital.
Reuters reporters inside the building heard loud bangs and shortly afterwards a Reuters photographer said he saw at least a dozen people injured on Westminster Bridge, next to parliament.
"Officers - including firearms officers - remain on the scene and we are treating this as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
The House of Commons, which was in session at the time, was immediately suspended and lawmakers were asked to stay inside.
Prime Minister Theresa May was safe after the incident, a spokesman for her office said. He declined to say where May was when the attack took place.
Also Read: Closely monitoring 'concerning situation' in London, says US
The leader of the House, David Lidington, said in the chamber that an assailant who stabbed a policeman had been shot by police.
An ambulance helicopter landed on Parliament Square, just outside the building.
The BBC said police believed there was a suspect vehicle outside parliament but police did not immediately confirm that report.
Amid confusing scenes, it appeared the incident may have unfolded in several locations, including on the busy Westminster bridge where tourists take pictures of Big Ben and other attractions.
Reuters reporters inside parliament said a large number of armed police, some carrying shields, were pouring into the building.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House he had been briefed on events in London but gave no details.
The incident took place on the first anniversary of attacks on Brussels in Belgium.
Britain is on its second-highest alert level of "severe" meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely.
In May 2013, two British Islamists stabbed to death soldier Lee Rigby on a street in southeast London.
In July 2005, four British Islamists killed 52 commuters and themselves in suicide bombings on the British capital's transport system in what was London's worst peacetime attack.
One woman has died and other people are being treated for "catastrophic" injuries after the attack, British news agency Press Association reported, citing a junior doctor at a central London hospital.
Reuters reporters inside the building heard loud bangs and shortly afterwards a Reuters photographer said he saw at least a dozen people injured on Westminster Bridge, next to parliament.
His photographs showed people lying on the ground, some of them bleeding heavily and one apparently under a bus. The number of casualties was unclear.#BREAKING UK parliament incident treated as 'terrorist': police
— AFP news agency (@AFP) March 22, 2017
"Officers - including firearms officers - remain on the scene and we are treating this as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
Police say attack at UK Parliament being treated as "terrorist incident until we know otherwise" https://t.co/WG8yXWpPVV pic.twitter.com/gaUKNRFJwN
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 22, 2017
The House of Commons, which was in session at the time, was immediately suspended and lawmakers were asked to stay inside.
Prime Minister Theresa May was safe after the incident, a spokesman for her office said. He declined to say where May was when the attack took place.
Also Read: Closely monitoring 'concerning situation' in London, says US
The leader of the House, David Lidington, said in the chamber that an assailant who stabbed a policeman had been shot by police.
An ambulance helicopter landed on Parliament Square, just outside the building.
The BBC said police believed there was a suspect vehicle outside parliament but police did not immediately confirm that report.
Amid confusing scenes, it appeared the incident may have unfolded in several locations, including on the busy Westminster bridge where tourists take pictures of Big Ben and other attractions.
Reuters reporters inside parliament said a large number of armed police, some carrying shields, were pouring into the building.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House he had been briefed on events in London but gave no details.
The incident took place on the first anniversary of attacks on Brussels in Belgium.
Britain is on its second-highest alert level of "severe" meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely.
In May 2013, two British Islamists stabbed to death soldier Lee Rigby on a street in southeast London.
In July 2005, four British Islamists killed 52 commuters and themselves in suicide bombings on the British capital's transport system in what was London's worst peacetime attack.
