Four killed in ‘terrorist’ attack near UK parliament (updated)

Four people, including a policeman, have been killed in an attack on Westminster Bridge in central London.

According to BBC, a police officer was also stabbed in the nearby houses of parliament by an attacker, who was shot by police.

The attacker struck several pedestrians as he drove a car across the bridge, before crashing it into railings.

The agency quoted a doctor as saying a number of other people were hurt – some with “catastrophic” injuries.

Prime Minister Theresa May was ushered into a silver Jaguar car as what sounded like gunfire rang out at parliament during the incident.

Members of parliament reporters said they had heard three or four gunshots and staff inside parliament were told to stay inside their offices.

“I heard shouts and screams from outside and looked out, and there was a group of maybe 40 or 50 people running round the corner from Bridge Street into Parliament Square,” a witness said.

“They appeared to be running away from something.

“As the group arrived at the Carriage Gates, where policemen are posted at the security entrance, a man suddenly ran out of the crowd and into the yard.

“He seemed to be holding up a long kitchen knife.

“I heard what sounded like shots – I think about three of them – and then the next thing I knew there were two people lying on the ground and others running to help them.

“Armed police were quickly on the scene and I heard them shouting to people to get out of the yard.”

Another witness said the attacker was shot several times as he approached a second officer within yards of the houses of parliament.

Tobias Ellwood, foreign office minister, among those who rushed to help.

The attack left a trail of destruction as paramedics tended to victims on the bridge and at the gate.

Parliament has been suspended.

“We saw him fall to the ground. It all happened very, very quickly, We saw the officer fall to the ground and officers rush to help him,” a witness said.

“There was a lot of screams and shouting and people rushing into the cafe. There was a lot of schoolchildren here, on school trips.

“They were very good, they were very calm. The teachers made sure the children were calm. They were very young children.”