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Parliament crash: man arrested on suspicion of terrorism Parliament crash: man arrested on suspicion of terrorism
(35 minutes later)
A man has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after a car crashed into a number of cyclists and pedestrians before hitting security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament in London, police have said.A man has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after a car crashed into a number of cyclists and pedestrians before hitting security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament in London, police have said.
Armed police swooped on the scene in marked cars moments after the silver Ford Fiesta collided with the barriers at about 7.40am on Tuesday, pointing their weapons at the vehicle before a driver emerged and was placed in handcuffs.Armed police swooped on the scene in marked cars moments after the silver Ford Fiesta collided with the barriers at about 7.40am on Tuesday, pointing their weapons at the vehicle before a driver emerged and was placed in handcuffs.
The man, in his late 20s, was arrested at the scene and taken to a police station in south London where he remains in police custody. He was the only person in the vehicle, which remains at the scene and is being searched. No weapons have been recovered at this stage. The man, in his late 20s, was arrested at the scene and taken to a police station in south London where he remains in police custody. He was the only person in the vehicle, which remains at the scene and is being searched. No weapons were recovered, according to police.
Two people were taken to hospital, the London ambulance service said, although their injuries are not thought to be serious. Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, Neil Basu, the head of counter-terrorism policing in the UK, said officers were working to get more information on the suspect but he was not cooperating. The man was not known to the security services, he said.
“Given that this appears to be a deliberate attack, the method and this being an iconic site, we are treating it as a terrorist incident,” said Basu.
The government said it would hold a meeting of its emergency Cobra committee at 2pm on Tuesday.
Three people were treated at the scene after the incident, two of whom were taken to hospital, the London ambulance service said, although their injuries were not thought to be serious. St Thomas’ hospital confirmed it was treating one patient whose injuries were not life-threatening.
The dramatic scenes have echoes of the Westminster Bridge attack in March 2017, which prompted the extension of steel and concrete security barriers around the Houses of Parliament. Khalid Masood ploughed a car into crowds on Westminster Bridge, killing four people, before stabbing and killing unarmed PC Keith Palmer.The dramatic scenes have echoes of the Westminster Bridge attack in March 2017, which prompted the extension of steel and concrete security barriers around the Houses of Parliament. Khalid Masood ploughed a car into crowds on Westminster Bridge, killing four people, before stabbing and killing unarmed PC Keith Palmer.
A witness, Ewalina Ochab, said: “I think it looked intentional – the car drove at speed and towards the barriers. I was walking on the other side [of the road]. I heard some noise and someone screamed.” A witness, Ewalina Ochab, said: “The car drove at speed and towards the barriers. I was walking on the other side [of the road]. I heard some noise and someone screamed.”
The car did not appear to have a front registration plate when it crashed, she said. “I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement. The person driving did not go out of the vehicle.”The car did not appear to have a front registration plate when it crashed, she said. “I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement. The person driving did not go out of the vehicle.”
Another witness, the local businessman Jason Williams, said he saw a large dark car traveling at about 40mph crash into the barriers outside parliament. “It looked like a deliberate attack,” he said. “I was shocked. I was told to move and I started to run.”
Melanie Spindler, a tourist from Germany, was in the area with her husband, and their two children.Melanie Spindler, a tourist from Germany, was in the area with her husband, and their two children.
She said: “We tried to go to Westminster pier for a trip down the Thames. We arrived just now and realised the area was closed. This [potential terror incidents] is the reality now. We are not concerned at this stage.”She said: “We tried to go to Westminster pier for a trip down the Thames. We arrived just now and realised the area was closed. This [potential terror incidents] is the reality now. We are not concerned at this stage.”
Sam Goodman, who works for the Labour party at parliament, was leaving the evacuated area. He said: “It’s business as usual, we’ve been here before. It’s a bit tense but there’s not a huge amount of knowledge about what has happened. There was a very quick response from the police.”Sam Goodman, who works for the Labour party at parliament, was leaving the evacuated area. He said: “It’s business as usual, we’ve been here before. It’s a bit tense but there’s not a huge amount of knowledge about what has happened. There was a very quick response from the police.”
The decision to treat the incident as terrorist was made for several reasons, including CCTV recovered by police showing the vehicle driving at pedestrians and civilians, outside an iconic site, which is seen as a high-profile target for terrorist attacks.The decision to treat the incident as terrorist was made for several reasons, including CCTV recovered by police showing the vehicle driving at pedestrians and civilians, outside an iconic site, which is seen as a high-profile target for terrorist attacks.
Streets around Parliament Square, Millbank and Victoria Tower Gardens were cordoned off. The length of Whitehall was completely shut off to traffic, with the cordon extended up to where the road meets Trafalgar Square.Streets around Parliament Square, Millbank and Victoria Tower Gardens were cordoned off. The length of Whitehall was completely shut off to traffic, with the cordon extended up to where the road meets Trafalgar Square.
Transport for London said though Westminster station was closed, it was open for interchange points.Transport for London said though Westminster station was closed, it was open for interchange points.
The home Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “Huge thanks to our emergency services for their rapid reaction to incident in Westminster this morning. My thoughts are with those injured.”The home Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “Huge thanks to our emergency services for their rapid reaction to incident in Westminster this morning. My thoughts are with those injured.”
It is understood Theresa May, who is on holiday abroad, was informed of the incident at 8am and has been given regular updates by officials.It is understood Theresa May, who is on holiday abroad, was informed of the incident at 8am and has been given regular updates by officials.
She tweeted: “My thoughts are with those injured in the incident in Westminster and my thanks to the emergency services for their immediate and courageous response.”
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, said: “My thoughts are with those hurt and injured outside parliament this morning in what is being treated as a terrorist incident. Our thanks go to our emergency services who responded immediately. Their bravery keeps us safe day in, day out.”
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