The image of foreign minister Tobias Ellwood, face bloodied, fighting to save the life of murdered policeman Keith Palmer will come to define the moment terror struck at the heart of London.

Even as officers shouted for people to stay back in the immediate aftermath of the terror attack, Mr Ellwood rushed forward to try to help the fallen police officer.

The 51-year-old former Army officer fought to resuscitate PC Palmer, giving him mouth-to-mouth as he lay bleeding on the cobbled courtyard at the foot of the Houses of Parliament.

But his fight was in vain.

"I tried to stem the flow of blood and give mouth-to-mouth while waiting for the medics to arrive but I think he had lost too much blood," he told The Sun newspaper.


Image: Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood pictured with blood on his face

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Mr Ellwood lost his own brother to terrorism: Jonathan, a teacher, was among the 200 people killed in the Bali bombings in 2002.

Now the Bournemouth East MP's brief at the Foreign Office includes counter-terrorism, the Middle East and Africa.

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The former captain in the Royal Green Jackets, who served in Kuwait, was hailed a hero for his actions.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday morning, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Mr Ellwood's actions.

She said: "Yesterday we saw the worst of humanity but we will remember the best."

PM's tribute to the minister who tried to save PC

Mr Ellwood, who was in the chamber, bowed his head.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "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."

Conservative MP Ben Howlett tweeted: "Tobias Ellwood is an absolute hero for what he did to help the policeman this afternoon!"

Image: The minister has been MP for Bournemouth East since 2005

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "Today, Tobias gave MPs a good name.

"He was utterly heroic, pure and simple. He went above and beyond and did all he could to save a police officer."

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In an act of defiance today MPs and peers returned to their duties in the Houses of Parliament.

Speaking after the attack the Prime Minister said: "Any attempt to defeat those values through violence and terror is doomed to failure.

"(Thursday) morning, Parliament will meet as normal. We will come together as normal."

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As they returned to work MPs, many of whom were held inside Parliament after the attack on Wednesday, tweeted their tributes to PC Palmer and the police officers who protect them.

Labour's Pat McFadden wrote: "Thinking today of Keith Palmer, the brave police officer killed yesterday protecting parliament, the public and our democracy."