Two dead, others with ‘catastrophic’ wounds after attack at U.K. Parliament

Araweelo News Network

Des policiers et des ambulanciers devant l’entrée du Parlement britannique, le 22 mars 2017
Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS (AFP)

London(ANN)-Two people are reported dead and several others wounded, including some with “catastrophic” injuries, in a suspected car ramming and stabbing attack at the British Parliament in London.According to British media reports, a vehicle mounted the pavement on London’s Westminster Bridge and mowed down several pedestrians before crashing into a railing outside Parliament. The driver then apparently exited the vehicle armed with a knife or machete and stabbed an officer at the entrance of the parliamentary compound before being shot by police.BBC News reported that a second assailant is believed to have been involved in the attack, however, this has not been confirmed by police.Scotland Yard said that the attack is being treated as a “terrorist incident until we know otherwise.”

A photo from the twitter account of James West shows a car stopped in front of the palace of Westminster not far from the British Parliament, March 22, 2017 in London
James WEST (Handout/AFP)

The Parliament building was put immediately on lockdown and lawmakers instructed to remain either inside the House of Commons or in their offices.Prime Minister Theresa May was safely evacuated from the building, a statement from her Downing Street office said. She is expected to hold an emergency meeting regarding the attack.As many as a dozen people were reported injured in the attack. A junior doctor at London’s St. Thomas hospital told reporters that one woman has died, while others suffered “catastrophic injuries.”Sky News reported that second person had died, and a seriously injured women was pulled alive from the Thames River, which is traversed by Westminster Bridge.

British police said in a press briefing that the could not confirm the number of casualties or the nature of injuries at this stage.During the response, police began clearing crowds from the vicinity of Parliament square after reports of a second suspicious vehicle in the area. Police also closed the Westminster underground train station as a precaution.David Lidington, the leader of the House of Commons said that Parliament security shot a suspect, describing it as a “serious incident”.

“What I am able to say to the house is there has been a serious incident,” he said.”It seems that a police officer has been stabbed, that the alleged assailant was shot by armed police.””There are also reports of further violent incidents in the vicinity of the Palace of Westminster,” he added.