Westminster Attack Eyewitnesses Describe Scene Following Parliament 'Terror' Incident

'People running like crazy.'
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Eyewitnesses including tourists, reporters and MPs have spoken of their horror during what is now being treated as a terror attack in Westminster.

One woman has been confirmed dead and a number of people injured in the incident.

Commander BJ Harrington of the Metropolitan Police said there were “a number of casualties” in the Westminster attack “including police officers”, according to the Press Association.

One video from the scene showed chaos as people fled the scene:

People running out of parliament pic.twitter.com/eV0UpJ5RfH

— David Scullion (@DavidScullion) March 22, 2017

Watch the terrifying moment police opened fire outside of #Parliament in this eyewitness video captured by Taiwanese tourist Aaron Tsang pic.twitter.com/WrCVhWPrFK

— Yahoo UK News (@YahooNewsUK) March 22, 2017

A car on Westminster Bridge has just mowed down at least 5 people. pic.twitter.com/tdCR9I0NgJ

— Radosław Sikorski (@sikorskiradek) March 22, 2017

Video also emerged of staff in the Houses of Parliament during the lockdown:

Footage shows the House of Commons in lockdown after gunshots heard outside in Westminster pic.twitter.com/HGvrzwmTu2

— Press Association (@PA) March 22, 2017

Gunfire was heard just before 3pm in central London, with a government minister confirming a police officer was stabbed and the assailant shot by armed police.

On nearby Westminster Bridge witnesses said a vehicle struck several people on the bridge, and photos showed a car ploughed into railings.

There were reports that a woman was pulled alive from the river after apparently falling from the bridge during the attack:

Port of London Authority confirms woman pulled alive from Thames after apparently falling from Westminster Bridge during attack

— Stewart Maclean (@stewartmaclean) March 22, 2017

Eyewitnesses, many of them journalists, shared their experiences of the incident on social media...

Just seen police shoot a man outside parliament, appeared to be wielding a knife

— Charlie Cooper (@CharlieCooper8) March 22, 2017

Was on Whitehall heading to Westminster bridge when news broke; now crossed river. Panic of sirens & worried faces. pic.twitter.com/9Xhze5quXg

— Luke Walton (@luke_walton) March 22, 2017

I'm at Westminster - witnesses have described seeing a man running with a 7/8 inch knife towards parliament & then hearing three shots pic.twitter.com/zvZKONYN22

— Jemma Crew (@jemmacrew) March 22, 2017

Man receiving medical attention outside Westminster Hall. I heard loud explosion on Westminster bridge. Public running away

— Christopher Hope (@christopherhope) March 22, 2017

Air ambulance just landed at Parliament Square, Westminster, dozens of police cars pic.twitter.com/TZVTO6IzDR

— Peter Yeung (@ptr_yeung) March 22, 2017

Shots in Parliament Square. People running like crazy.

— Sheila Noakes (@1SVN) March 22, 2017

Injured being treated in New Palace Yard after shooting incident pic.twitter.com/svRO3quBRS

— Libby Wiener (@LibbyWienerITV) March 22, 2017

Scene outside #Parliament now. pic.twitter.com/O2DTEL2duI

— Tom Boadle (@TomBoadle) March 22, 2017

Just heard three gunshots as i w walked past house of commons

— Simon Redfern (@Sim0nRedfern) March 22, 2017

A number of eyewitnesses gave interviews describing what they saw...

Bradford Buck, a tourist, tells BuzzFeed what he saw of the incident outside parliament. pic.twitter.com/bxqYPNhA2g

— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) March 22, 2017

Witness Rick Longley told the Press Association that he saw a man stab a policeman outside Parliament.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

MPs inside the House of Commons also shared their experiences...

Scene inside suspended House of Commons where MPs are locked in Chamber as part of major security operation at palace pic.twitter.com/iGqFEc0LZL

— Steve McCabe (@steve_mccabe) March 22, 2017

pic.twitter.com/6cHc93ZPBc

— Hilary Benn (@hilarybennmp) March 22, 2017

Heavily armed guards sweeping through the building, feel sorry for families with kids in public gallery, lockdown continues

— Steve Reed (@SteveReedMP) March 22, 2017

pic.twitter.com/HUUlNEux9r

— Barry Sheerman (@BarrySheerman) March 22, 2017

Scotland Yard said the attack in Westminster was being treated “as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise”.

The Metropolitan Police added in a statement that the incident is ongoing and are urging people to stay away from the area.

Hannah Mckay / Reuters
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