Westminster terror attack: As it happened

Read: London terror attack live day 2: Eight arrests as more victims named.

Mark Rowley said that the attacker was known to police and was believed to be inspired by international terrorism. He said that a police presence would be stepped up across the country.

The assistant deputy commissioner Mark Rowley has named the police officer who died as Keith Palmer, and the death toll has now risen to five.

There has been a big response from world leaders in condemning the attack.

US president, Donald Trump, offered his condolences during a call to the prime minister, Theresa May and pledged the "full cooperation and support of the United States government in responding to the attack and bringing those responsible to justice".

Meanwhile, the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, also condemned the attack, saying in a statement: "I was shocked and saddened to learn of the innocent people who were killed and injured as a result of this cowardly attack.

"Canada and the UK are the closest of friends and allies. Our friendship is based on shared values and history – indeed, Canada's parliament is a descendant of the chamber targeted this morning.

"Today's attack on the UK parliament is an attack on democracies around the world."

British prime minister Theresa May has described the attack as "appalling" and "sick" in a press conference outside Downing Street.

"The United Kingdom's threat level has been set at 'severe' for some time and this will not change. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected.

"Let me make it clear today... any attempt to defeat those values through violence is doomed to failure.

"Parliament will come together as normal... and Londoners will get up and go about their day as normal... they will walk these streets, they will live their lives... never giving into terror and never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart."

In a show of solidarity, lights on the Eiffel Tower will be turned off at midnight CET (11pm GMT) after the Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said that the cities "share a common love of freedom and an attachment to democracy".

In Israel, the Tel Aviv city hall is lit up in the colours of the Union flag.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has described the attack as more than simply an "attack on democracy", the BBC reported.

"Actually it was an attack on a hard-working copper doing his best to keep us safe - and I know up to a dozen utterly innocent people who were just going about their business."

London mayor Sadiq Khan has issued a video message of support to Londoners.

London Ambulance Service deputy director of operations, Pauline Cranmer said 12 patients have been treated for serious injuries, who were all taken to hospital. Eight further patients were treated for less serious injuries at the scene.

"We have been working closely with other members of the emergency services at the scene, with our priority being to ensure patients received the medical help they needed as quickly as possible," she said, in a statement.

The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has issued a statement, saying: "Today's horrific attack in Westminster has shocked the whole country. All our thoughts are with the victims of this outrage, their loved ones, families and friends.

"Those victims include civilians and police officers, Londoners and visitors, subjected to a brutal and indiscriminate assault. Our thanks and gratitude go to the police and emergency services who responded so bravely, and to those – including the MP Tobias Ellwood – who went to the aid of the injured and dying.

"This was not only an attack on innocent people. It was also an attack on our democracy. But I know that Londoners and people across the country will stand together in defence of our values and diversity."

After several hours, the lock down of Westminster seems to be over.

There were around 1000 people in Westminster Abbey, including parliament workers and MPs. They were interviewed by police to see if they had any information that could help the inquiry.

The Metropolitan police head of counter-terrorism and acting deputy commissioner, Mark Rowley has said in a statement: "We have an ongoing operation - and whilst we currently believe there was only one attacker - I am sure the public will understand us taking every precaution in locking down and searching the area as thoroughly as possible.

"I know that the officials working within Parliament and the public completely understand why we need to do this and I thank them for their patience and support."

After the death of the police officer, the Metropolitan Police are flying their flag at half-mast.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd is on her way back to London from Lahore and she said that the attack on Britain's "shared values" will "never be destroyed".

In a a statement, she said: "The British people will be united in working together to defeat those who would harm our shared values. Values of democracy, tolerance and the rule of law. Values symbolised by the Houses of Parliament. Values that will never be destroyed."

Downing Street has issued a statement, saying: "The thoughts of the PM and the government are with those killed and injured in this appalling incident, and with their families.

"The PM is being kept updated and will shortly chair COBR".

Donald Trump Jr has caused a Twitter row after sharing a six-month old interview by London's mayor with the Independent, headlined: Sadiq Khan: 'London mayor says terror attacks 'part and parcel' of living in a major city.'

It was interpreted by many as goading the London mayor, during an ongoing crisis.

IBTimes UK has produced a video of what we know so far.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron spoke with journalists in Westminster, including IBTimes UK reporter Ian Silvera.

Police confirm that four people have died, including the suspected attacker.

A police officer and two people who were on Westminster Bridge when ploughed through pedestrians are also confirmed to have died.

A further 20 people have been injured after being hit by a vehicle on Westminster Bridge, including three officers.

Police do not think they is anyone else involved in the attack at this time.

Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of State, has issued a statement on the London attack.
President Donald Trump has also been informed and has spoken to Theresa May.

The BBC is reporting the stabbed police officer who MP Tobias Ellwood was previously seen attempting to resuscitate outside Parliament has since died from his injuries.

If confirmed, the policeman will be the second person to have been killed in the attack.

The French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said a number of French students are among the casualties injured outside Parliament.

According to local media, the injured are students from the lycée Saint-Joseph de Concarneau school.

The announcement comes as world leaders have reacted to the attack in the capital this afternoon.

Tory MP Tobias Ellwood has been hailed as a hero after he tried to save the life of a policeman who was stabbed in Houses of Parliament.

He was seen attempting to give the police officer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and stem the blood flow by applying pressure to his wounds, according to The Telegraph.

Elwood – a former soldier – lost his brother Jon in the Bali terror attack in 2002 that killed 202 people, including 27 Britons. He has been an MP for Bournemouth South since 2005 and most recently worked as parliamentary under-secretary at the Foreign Office.

Facebook has now launched the Safety Check feature to allow people to let their friends and family know they have not been hurt in the Westminster attack.

The Port of London Authority said a woman has been pulled alive from the River Thames after the attack on Westminster Bridge and has been left with serious injuries.

10 Downing Street have confirmed Prime Minister Theresa May will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee later today following the attack in Westminster.

The full statement from Scotland Yard:

Since 2:40pm this afternoon the MPS has responded to an incident in the area of Parliament Square and the senior national coordinator has declared this a terrorist incident.

Although we remain open-minded to the motive, a full counter-terrorism investigation is already underway. This is led by the Met counter terrorism command.

At this stage I will confirm what we know has happened but I will not speculate. We received a number of different reports which included a person in the river, a car in collision with pedestrians and a man armed with a knife. Officers were already in that location as part of routine policing but immediately additional officers were sent to the scene and that included firearms officers. We are working closely with the London ambulance service and the London fire brigade.

I'd like to repeat our request for the public 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 station. This is to allow emergency service to deal with this ongoing incident. There is an ongoing investigation being led by the counter-terrorism command and we would ask anybody who has images or film of the incident to pass those to the police.

We know there are a number of casualties, including police officers, but at this stage we cannot confirm numbers or the nature of these injuries.

Our response will be ongoing for some time and it is important that we gather all information and evidence. Public safety is our top priority and we are reviewing our policing stance across London and throughout the capital this afternoon.

There will be additional officers on duty and deployed across the capital. I would like to ask the public to remain vigilant and let us know if they see anything suspicious that causes them concern and, if they do, to dial 999 immediately.

The acting commissioner, Craig Mackey, is being treated as a significant witness as he was at the scene when the incident started. Whilst he is not injured, it would be inappropriate for him to be here to talk about this incident at this stage.

Our thoughts and his thoughts are with all those involved and responding to that incident this evening. I would stress that if anyone has information about today's incident they are urged to call 0800789321 and I want to stress that if the public have any information or see anything suspicious to dial 999 immediately."

Police have just issued an update in which they confirm thos was a terrorist incident that has left many casualties, including police officers.

No confirmation of the number of injured is being released by police at this moment and they are still telling people to avoid the areas surrounding Westminster.

Full statement to follow.

Elsewhere, famous tourist landmark The London Eye has confirmed it is being placed on hold with people still inside the pods due to the attack.

Images have emerged of people being kept inside the pods in mid-air.

Video of another witnesses, Tawhid Tanim, who tells IBTimes UK of the aftermath of the incident.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has just released a statement on the Westminster incident.

The Scottish Parliament, which was discussing whether or not to have a second independence referendum, eventually decided to suspend itself, although several MPs were critical of how long it took to make the decision.

George Wheatley, a student who was in Westminster at the time, tells IBTimes UK:

"I came out of Westminster underground to see an Audi car smashed up into the fence of Parliament. I could see two people lying on the floor unconscious, one with a bloodied face, police ran from the building and the underground rushing in from all angles, as they saw the attack before any ambulances got there. I was told to move along quickly by police."

St Thomas Hospital has now confirmed at least one woman has died and a number of people have been left with "catastrophic injuries" following the incident on Westminster Bridge.

From our earlier Facebook Live video, Chris Law SNP MP described the scene inside Parliament.

He said: "We heard one of two bangs from outside, police were quick to say you need to move this way.

"We came out through the tunnel at the side with[Lib Dem leader] Tim Farron, eight MPs in total shaken, shocked. Although we've prepared for this for a long time, nothing quite prepares you for the shock."

We are starting to get some pictures through from the incidents at Westminster. The exact number of injured is still unknown at this stage.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has issued a response to the incident. Prime Minister Theresa May has already been confirmed safe and is understood to be back in Downing Street.

The London Ambulance Service have issued a further statement on the "major incident".

Deputy Director of Operations Pauline Cranmer said:

An eyewitness said he saw a man "plunging" a knife into a policeman.

Rick Longley told the Press Association: "We were just walking up to the station and there was a loud bang and a guy, someone, crashed a car and took some pedestrians out.

"They were just laying there and then the whole crowd just surged around the corner by the gates just opposite Big Ben.

"A guy came past my right shoulder with a big knife and just started plunging it into the policeman.

"I have never seen anything like that. I just can't believe what I just saw."

A tweet from the Kingston Police force says: "Thoughts are with our colleague who has been injured in this incident."

The attack comes a year to the day of the 2016 Brussels bombings, where three suicide attacks saw a total of 35 die in Belgium's capital. There is no suggestion that the two incidents are related.

Police have also issued this statement, advising people to avoid the area and confirming it is being treated as a terrorist incident.

"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.

"This is to allow the emergency services to deal with the ongoing incident.

"Police were called at approximately 14:40 hours to reports of an incident in Westminster Bridge, SW1. It is being treated as a firearms incident.

"Officers - including firearms officers - remain on the scene and we are treating this as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise.

"We thank the public for their assistance."

Police have confirmed they will be treating the incident as terrorism "until we we know otherwise".

The London Ambulance Service have also confirmed they are dealing with an incident but have yet to provide a further update on the number of injured.

Deputy director of operations Pauline Cranmer said:

We were called at 2.40pm to Westminster Bridge to reports of an incident.

We have sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, London's Air Ambulance and our Hazardous Area Response Team.

We will issue more information when we have it.

Our reporter Ian Silvera is currently doing a Facebook Live from the scene.

Here's what David Lidington, the leader of the House of Commons, told MPs as the incident broke out.

Transport for London have said the Westminster tube station has been closed due to the ongoing police investigation.

Buses in Westminster are currently diverted/terminate early and LU is accepting bus tickets in zone 1

Here is the official line from Met Police so far:

"We are aware of reports of an incident at Westminster. We will put more information out as soon as we can.

"We were called at approx 2:40pm to reports of an incident at Westminster Bridge. Being treated as a firearms incident - police on scene."

The leader of House of Commons is claiming a policeman was stabbed inside the House, with dozens of armed officers now inside Parliament.

The attack occurs just days after 200 armed police undertook a huge anti-terror exercise in London.

Some tweets and videos taken the scene have started to emerge.