UK Parliament attack: 4 dead including attacker, at least 20 injured

At least three people were killed and several injured as terror struck the British capital when a man mowed down pedestrians on a bridge and stabbed a police officer outside parliament complex before being shot dead by Scotland Yard officers. The head of counterterrorism at London's Metropolitan Police, Mark Rowley said the dead policeman was among the armed officers who guard Parliament while the other victims died on Westminster Bridge after the attacker mowed down pedestrians in a car, leaving at least 20 people injured.

At least three other police officers were also injured in the attack. A search is underway to make certain no other attackers are in the area though police believe there was only one attacker.

"We are satisfied at this stage that it looks like there was only one attacker. But it would be foolish to be overconfident early on," he said. "We are carrying out a full investigation into the events. Our strength as a city is our ability to stand together. We will do all we can to protect the people of London," he added. Scotland Yard had earlier called on the public to remain vigilant and said a review of policing strategy across the city was underway, with additional police officers being deployed across London.

The Indian High Commission in London has set up a special Public Response Unit for any Indians caught up in today s terror attack. The incident unfolded on Wednesday afternoon as a man tried to gain entry into the British Parliament via the main entrance and stabbed a police officer. Plainclothes armed officers shouted warnings at him before shooting a number of rounds.

He was later seen being covered by blankets, presumed dead.UK Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to the stabbed police officer but said he died at the scene. In an incident just minutes earlier, a speeding grey Hyundai i40 mowed down several pedestrians on Westminster Bridge nearby before ramming into the iron railings of the side of the House of Commons building.

The driver from this vehicle is believed to be the lone knife-man who then ran out of the vehicle to try and enter the Parliament building, where he attacked the police officer and was eventually shot dead.  Witnesses said the attacker was shot by police as he approached a second officer clutching his knife during the incident.

British Prime Minister Theresa May, who had just completed her weekly Prime Minister s Questions, was seen being ushered into a car as gunfire rang out at Parliament during the incident.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister was "safe" as an emergency services helicopter was seen landing in Parliament Square, which has been cordoned off and closed to traffic.

"The Prime Minister was brought back to Number 10 from Parliament. She is currently monitoring the situation," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

May is chairing a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee at Downing Street. MPs and peers were in lockdown inside the Parliament building for an extended period before being walked down across the road to Westminster Abbey. Workers and members of public in buildings in surrounding areas are also held up behind the cordoned off area. A number of schoolchildren are also held back until the police cordon is lifted.

Tourists on the famous London Eye attraction were among those trapped in the pods as part of the lockdown. Dozens of injured people were rushed to hospital from the scene. Junior doctor Colleen Anderson from a hospital here said a number of people were hurt some with "catastrophic" injuries. "There were people across the bridge. There were some with minor injuries, some catastrophic. Some had injuries they could walk away from or who have life-changing injuries. There were maybe a dozen [injured]," she said.

"We are working closely with other members of the emergency services at the scene, with our priority being to ensure patients receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible. We have declared a major incident and our priority is to assess patients and ensure that they are treated and taken to hospital as soon as possible," London Ambulance said in a statement.

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said French school pupils are among the injured and offered "solidarity with our British friends, and full support" for the wounded students and their families.US President Donald Trump spoke to May after the attack and pledged full cooperation and support of the US Government in responding to the attack.

There was chaos in the area as crowds of people were seen running and being pushed back by Scotland Yard officers. Helicopters can be heard monitoring the entire central London area since the incident took place at around 1440 GMT.

In a statement, Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Reports suggest the ongoing incident in Westminster this afternoon is extremely serious.

"Our thoughts are with the victims of this horrific attack, (their) families and friends. The police and security staff have taken swift action to ensure the safety of the public, MPs and staff, and we are grateful to them." London mayor Sadiq Khan said his thoughts were with those affected and expressed his gratitude to the city s police and emergency services who work so hard to keep us safe and show tremendous bravery in exceptionally difficult circumstances".