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Westminster car crash: What we know so far | Westminster car crash: What we know so far |
(35 minutes later) | |
What happened? | What happened? |
At 07:37 BST a silver Ford Fiesta hatchback crashed into barriers outside Parliament in central London. | At 07:37 BST a silver Ford Fiesta hatchback crashed into barriers outside Parliament in central London. |
Three people were injured and the driver of the car was detained by officers at the scene. | |
Eyewitnesses have said the car appeared to deliberately hit members of the public. | Eyewitnesses have said the car appeared to deliberately hit members of the public. |
What happened to the driver? | What happened to the driver? |
The driver, a man in his late 20s, has been arrested on suspicion of terrorist offences and is being held at a south London police station. | The driver, a man in his late 20s, has been arrested on suspicion of terrorist offences and is being held at a south London police station. |
There was nobody else in the vehicle and no weapons have so far been found. | There was nobody else in the vehicle and no weapons have so far been found. |
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said the suspect was not co-operating with police and had not yet been formally identified. | Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said the suspect was not co-operating with police and had not yet been formally identified. |
He added: "We don't believe this person is known to either MI5 or counter-terrorism police." | He added: "We don't believe this person is known to either MI5 or counter-terrorism police." |
Is anybody hurt? | Is anybody hurt? |
Two people were taken to hospital. A woman is being treated for serious but not life-threatening injuries, while a man has since been discharged. | |
A third patient was treated for minor injuries at the scene. | A third patient was treated for minor injuries at the scene. |
Where did it happen? | Where did it happen? |
The crash occurred in central London outside the Palace of Westminster. Parliament is not currently sitting. | The crash occurred in central London outside the Palace of Westminster. Parliament is not currently sitting. |
An eyewitness said the vehicle was travelling westbound when it swerved into eastbound traffic. | An eyewitness said the vehicle was travelling westbound when it swerved into eastbound traffic. |
What action have the police taken? | What action have the police taken? |
Police are treating the situation as a terrorist incident and the Met's Counter-Terrorism Command is leading the investigation. | Police are treating the situation as a terrorist incident and the Met's Counter-Terrorism Command is leading the investigation. |
Millbank, Parliament Square, Victoria Tower Gardens and the length of Whitehall have been cordoned off. Westminster Tube station has been closed for exit and entry. | Millbank, Parliament Square, Victoria Tower Gardens and the length of Whitehall have been cordoned off. Westminster Tube station has been closed for exit and entry. |
Westminster Bridge is also closed and a long wait is expected before the roads reopen. | Westminster Bridge is also closed and a long wait is expected before the roads reopen. |
The cordon has been widened twice and sniffer dogs have been seen in the area. | The cordon has been widened twice and sniffer dogs have been seen in the area. |
Police called on the public to be vigilant and to dial 999 if they see anything suspicious that causes concern. | Police called on the public to be vigilant and to dial 999 if they see anything suspicious that causes concern. |
Neil Basu said there was "no intelligence at this time of further danger" to London or the UK as a whole connected to this incident. | |
British Transport Police said extra officers, including firearms officers, would be on patrol in England, Scotland and Wales following the attack. | British Transport Police said extra officers, including firearms officers, would be on patrol in England, Scotland and Wales following the attack. |
What did eyewitnesses see? | What did eyewitnesses see? |
Barry Williams, a BBC staff member based at Millbank, said the car drove onto the wrong side of the road and "ploughed" into cyclists waiting at the lights. | Barry Williams, a BBC staff member based at Millbank, said the car drove onto the wrong side of the road and "ploughed" into cyclists waiting at the lights. |
"Then it swerved back across the road and accelerated as fast as possible, and hit the barrier at full pelt," he said. | "Then it swerved back across the road and accelerated as fast as possible, and hit the barrier at full pelt," he said. |
Jason Williams told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme the driver had "driven at speed - more than 40 mph". | Jason Williams told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme the driver had "driven at speed - more than 40 mph". |
He said: "I saw at least 10 people lying down. I was told basically to move away, to run." | He said: "I saw at least 10 people lying down. I was told basically to move away, to run." |
"It looked deliberate... it didn't look like an accident," he added. | "It looked deliberate... it didn't look like an accident," he added. |
Ewalina Ochab, who also saw the crash, said: "It looked intentional - the car drove at speed and towards the barriers." | Ewalina Ochab, who also saw the crash, said: "It looked intentional - the car drove at speed and towards the barriers." |
She said: "I was walking on the other side of the road. I heard some noise and someone screamed. I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement." | She said: "I was walking on the other side of the road. I heard some noise and someone screamed. I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement." |
The vehicle did not appear to have a front registration plate when it crashed, she added. | The vehicle did not appear to have a front registration plate when it crashed, she added. |
How have politicians responded? | How have politicians responded? |
A meeting of the government's emergency committee, Cobra, will be held on Tuesday afternoon. No cabinet ministers are expected to attend. | A meeting of the government's emergency committee, Cobra, will be held on Tuesday afternoon. No cabinet ministers are expected to attend. |
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan thanked those who responded first at the scene and said he was in close contact with the Met Police. | Mayor of London Sadiq Khan thanked those who responded first at the scene and said he was in close contact with the Met Police. |
Prime Minister Theresa May described the emergency services' response as "immediate and courageous". | Prime Minister Theresa May described the emergency services' response as "immediate and courageous". |
She said her thoughts were with those injured in the crash. | She said her thoughts were with those injured in the crash. |
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his thoughts were with those hurt. Praising the emergency services, he said: "Their bravery keeps us safe day in, day out." | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his thoughts were with those hurt. Praising the emergency services, he said: "Their bravery keeps us safe day in, day out." |
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." | 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." |
What happens next? | What happens next? |
BBC News home affairs correspondent June Kelly said: "The police will be looking at this man's background, his identity. | BBC News home affairs correspondent June Kelly said: "The police will be looking at this man's background, his identity. |
"They will be looking at his beliefs, his associates, also his mental state." | "They will be looking at his beliefs, his associates, also his mental state." |