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London attack: What we know so far London attack: What we know so far
(about 2 hours later)
Four people have died and 20 people have been injured after what police are treating as terrorist attacks in Westminster, earlier on Wednesday. Here is what we know so far. Four people have died and 20 people have been injured in a terror attack near the Houses of Parliament. Here is what we know so far.
At 14.40 (GMT) the Metropolitan Police were called to an incident around Parliament Square in central London. What happened?
Reports made to the police included a person in the river, a car hitting pedestrians and a man armed with a knife. At 14.40 GMT a single attacker drove a car over Westminster Bridge, near the Houses of Parliament in central London, killing two pedestrians and injuring many more.
Witnesses saw a car drive across Westminster Bridge and hit a number of pedestrians walking on the pavement.
These included three police officers who were walking across the bridge on their way back from a commendation ceremony.
Four university students from Edge Hill University, in Ormskirk, Lancashire, who were on a two-day educational trip to the Houses of Parliament, were also injured in the attack.
The university's vice chancellor, Dr John Cater, told BBC North West Tonight that two were sent to hospital as "walking wounded", whilst two others had minor injuries.
A group of French schoolchildren were also on the bridge and three were injured in the incident.
French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve tweeted his support to the British as well as to "the French students wounded, their families and their schoolmates".
The car then crashed into railings outside the Houses of Parliament.The car then crashed into railings outside the Houses of Parliament.
Acting Deputy Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Mark Rowley said two people had died after the incident on the bridge and 20 people had been injured. The attacker, armed with a knife, ran to Parliament where he was confronted by the police. One officer - who was not armed - was stabbed and killed.
The attacker was shot dead by armed officers.
Latest updates from the scene in Westminster
What was the scene like?
Witnesses have described pandemonium and panic.
One, Richard Tice, said he was coming out of Westminster tube station at about 14:45 and was ushered by police onto Westminster Bridge.
He saw people lying on the bridge being tended to. He was told that a car had mounted the pavement and driven the whole way, from south to north, across the bridge, knocking people over.
"I counted eight people the length of the bridge, from south to north - at least eight."
Who were the victims?
Most of their identities are not yet known.
The four who died included the attacker, the police officer and two people who were on the bridge.
The injured included three police officers who were walking across the bridge on their way back from a commendation ceremony.
A group of French schoolchildren were also on the bridge and three were injured in the incident.
Four university students from Edge Hill University, in Lancashire, were also injured in the attack. Two were sent to hospital as "walking wounded", whilst two others had minor injuries.
London Ambulance Service said it had treated 12 people with serious injuries, who were all taken to hospital. They also treated eight people with less serious injuries at the scene.London Ambulance Service said it had treated 12 people with serious injuries, who were all taken to hospital. They also treated eight people with less serious injuries at the scene.
Assistant medical director of King's College Hospital, Dr Chris Palin, said eight patients were being treated there - six men and two women. Two are critically injured and six are stable. Kings College Hospital says eight patients were being treated there - six male, and two female. Two were described as critical and two stable
A spokesperson from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust said they was treating two patients - a man and a woman - and both were in a stable condition. St Thomas' Hospital said two patients had been admitted - both were stable.
Shortly after the incident on the bridge, a police officer was stabbed in the grounds of the Houses of Parliament. The attacker was then shot. Just after 17:00 GMT, a woman was pulled alive from the River Thames alive, but with injuries.
The BBC has been told that an MP gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for 15 minutes "but sadly the officer died". Who was the attacker? Was there only one?
Acting Deputy Commissioner Rowley confirmed the armed officer had died, as well as a man they believed to be the attacker. The attacker has not yet been identified. The prime minister said on Wednesday evening that there was a "single attacker".
He told a press conference he believed there to be only one attacker, but searches were ongoing. What security has been put in place?
Parliament has been suspended for the rest of the day and politicians, journalists and visitors to the buildings were locked in for about five hours. Parliament was suspended and politicians, journalists and visitors to the buildings were locked in for about five hours.
Just after 17:00 GMT, a woman was pulled from the River Thames alive, but with injuries. Hundreds of people were evacuated from Parliament to Westminster Abbey for safety.
Commander BJ Harrington of the Metropolitan Police, the senior national co-ordinator at the Met, has declared the events as terrorist incidents.
Prime Minister Theresa May is to chair a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee later.
Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will sit tomorrow at their normal times.Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will sit tomorrow at their normal times.
Police and the London mayor said there would be more unarmed and armed police officers on the streets in following days.
The UK's threat level has been set at "severe" - meaning an attack is highly likely - for some time and this would not change, the prime minister said.
What about travel in the area?
Westminster underground station has been closed and is open for interchange only.
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 the Victoria Embankment up to Embankment tube.