
Police have named the officer who was killed by a knifeman terrorist in London and revealed the death toll in the attack has risen to five.

Keith Palmer, 48, was stabbed to death outside Parliament by the attacker who brought carnage to London yesterday, mowing down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing three and injuring around 40 more.

A Hyundai 4x4 drove along the pavement on the crowded bridge, knocking down the public before crashing into a fence below Big Ben.

The killer, described by witnesses as 'middle-aged and Asian', then managed to break into the grounds of Parliament, where he fatally stabbed Mr Palmer - who had 15 years service with the police - with two knives.

The attacker - who was shot at least twice by armed officers guarding the building - died after he was taken to hospital while married husband and father Mr Palmer - a former soldier in the Royal Artillery - died at the scene.

Speaking after the attack, Prime Minister Theresa May vowed Britain would 'never give in to terror' and 'defeat hate and evil' after she blasted the 'sick and depraved' attack in Westminster.

She added the 'forces of evil would never drive Britain apart' and praised police and security staff who 'ran towards danger even as they encouraged others to move away'.

Three other police officers were injured, two of whom were last night in a 'serious condition'.

Prime Minister Theresa May was bundled into her car by a plain-clothes police officer and driven quickly from the scene as the attack unfolded. She chaired a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra Committee tonight.

Scotland Yard said the attack, which came a year to the day after the atrocities in Brussels, was being treated 'as an Islamic-related terrorism'.

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Police officer Keith Palmer was killed by a knifeman before the attacker was shot by other officers outside Parliament. Emergency services desperately tried to save him, pictured, but he succumbed to his wounds

Mr Palmer, 48, pictured, was a husband and father and said to have served with the Met Police for 15 years

MP James Cleverly said he had known PC Palmer for 25 years after previously serving in the Royal Artillery with him, describing him as a 'lovely man and friend'

The suspected terrorist, pictured on a stretcher, is also dead, along with three pedestrians killed when the attacker drove a 4x4 across Westminster Bridge, ploughing down and seriously injuring at least 20. He had two knives (ringed)

The attacker was put on a stretcher and wheeled into an ambulance inside the grounds of Parliament. He later died

This was the scene as the attacker was taken away to hospital following the attack. He killed four people

Two knives lay on the cobbles in front of Parliament after the attacker was shot by armed police protecting the building

PC Palmer was a member of the Parliamentary Diplomatic Protection Command and had served on the force for 15 years.

Paying tribute to the officer tonight, Scotland Yard's top anti-terror officer Mark Rowley said: 'He [PC Palmer] was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift, and he had every right to expect that would happen.'

More tributes have poured in via social media for the police officer, with many describing him as a 'hero'.

Others have sent their best wishes and condolences to his family and praised PC Palmer for his dedication to keeping the public safe.

One Twitter user said: 'RIP Keith Palmer. We have the best police in the world the paddlers of hate will not divide us. My heart goes out to Mr Palmer's family'.

Another added: 'PC Keith Palmer, a husband, a father, a fallen hero RIP x.'

Others said they would launch a petition to have the police office posthumously awarded the George Medal, a civilian honour given out for bravery.

Police forces around the country also paid tribute to the officer.

A statement by Nottinghamshire Police said: 'RIP Metropolitan Police officer - PC Keith Palmer. Father, husband, police officer of 15-years, who died today protecting the public. When many ran from danger, you went towards it.'

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan added: 'Tonight we have learned that the courageous police officer who was killed while protecting our city was PC Keith Palmer. He was 48 and a husband and father.

'Keith Palmer was killed while bravely doing his duty - protecting our city and the heart of our democracy from those who want to destroy our way of life.

'My heart goes out to his family, friends and colleagues.'

People on social media were quick to pay tribute to PC Palmer tonight, praising his bravery and service to the public

Others called the officer - who is a father and husband - a 'fallen hero' and vowed London was 'not afraid' of terrorism

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said PC Palmer was killed 'protecting our city and our democracy from those who want to destroy our way of life'

Conservative MP James Cleverly, who served alongside Keith Palmer in the army, said he was ‘heartbroken’ and paid tribute to his friend.

He tweeted: ‘I’ve known Keith for 25 years. We served together in the Royal Artillery before he became a copper.

‘A lovely man, a friend. I’m heartbroken.

‘My thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of PC Keith Palmer. A brave man.’

Acting Deputy Commissioner Rowley confirmed three members of the public had been killed in the incident, with liaison officers contacting their families.

He added: 'We think we know who the attacker is, we believe they were inspired by international terrorism. Islamist related terrorism.

'We have hundreds of officers working on this investigation, and they are focusing on the suspect's motivation, preparation and his associates.

'We are forensically examining a complicated crime scene that covers a wide area and as with all investigations of this nature, it will take us some time to work through the painstaking work necessary to gather all the relevant evidence. Only then will the full picture be known.'

He added statements were being taken from hundreds of witnesses while officers were also examining CCTV.

Security around the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family was dramatically stepped up following the attack. The gates to Buckingham Palace – where the Monarch was in residence - were closed and armed guards took up positions.

UK security services have foiled 13 potential attacks in less than four years. Counter-terrorism units are running more than 500 investigations at any time.

This was the scene in the immediate aftermath of the attack, after the attacker entered the grounds of Parliament

A patient believed to be the woman who plunged into the River Thames during the horrific terror attack is pictured here being treated in Westminster

There were disturbing scenes on Westminster Bridge where at least 40 pedestrians were hurt after being knocked down by the car

Members of the public rushed to help a man run down after the vehicle mounted the pavement on Westminster Bridge

Another woman was severely injured at a postcard stall opposite Big Ben following the horrific terror attack

HOW TODAY'S EVENTS UNFOLDED 2.40pm: An attacker mows down several pedestrians as he drives a Hyundai i40 across Westminster Bridge before crashing it into railings then running through the gates of the Palace of Westminster and stabbing a police officer 2.41pm: Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service are called to a major incident 3.35pm: Police say the attack is being treated ‘as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise’ 4.10pm: Junior doctor at St Thomas' Hospital says one woman has died and a number of others have been hurt - including some with ‘catastrophic’ injuries 4.45pm: Paramedics confirm they have treated at least ten patients on Westminster Bridge 4.49pm: Police Commander BJ Harrington says there were ‘a number of casualties’ in the attack ‘including police officers’. 4.51pm: Downing Street spokesman says Prime Minister Theresa May will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee later 5.40pm: Sources reveal the police officer stabbed at Parliament has died 6.01pm: Police say four people were killed in the attack, including the police officer and a man believed to be the attacker 6.56pm: Home Secretary Amber Rudd says the Government's top priority following the attack is ‘the security of its people’ Advertisement

It is currently known that:

One woman was killed on Westminster Bridge after a number of pedestrians were mowed down by a car.

Two more people were killed in the incident on the bridge.

Another woman ended up in the Thames and was treated for serious injuries after being pulled from the water.

A group of French schoolchildren were among those targeted on the bridge.

The attacker jumped out the car and fatally stabbed police officer Keith Palmer in the grounds of the Palace of Westminster.

The knifeman was shot dead moments later by another officer.

Police are treating the incident as a terrorist attack.

Witness Jayne Wilkinson said: 'We were taking photos of Big Ben and we saw all the people running towards us, and then there was an Asian guy in about his 40s carrying a knife about seven or eight inches long.

'And then there were three shots fired, and then we crossed the road and looked over. The man was on the floor with blood.

'He had a lightweight jacket on, dark trousers and a shirt. He was running through those gates, towards Parliament, and the police were chasing him.'

Her partner David Turner added: 'There was a stampede of people running out. You saw the people and you thought 'what the hell is going on'.'

Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood was among those who rushed to help the policeman who had been stabbed.

Mr Ellwood, who lost his brother in the Bali bombing, could be seen pumping the officer's chest then standing above him, his hands and face smeared with blood.

Frazer Clarke, 25, from Burton-on-Trent, said: 'We heard a loud bang and screaming and then I noticed some smoke. I thought it was a car crash.

'I looked towards the front gate and people were running, a police officer and a fellow coming to the gate with two knives.

'He was stabbing the police officer with the knives. He was wearing black tracksuit bottoms, a black of grey top and what looked like work boots. The police officer was stumbling and fell on the floor'.

This was the series of events where a knife attacker drove into pedestrians before he was shot by police

The Hyundai 4x4 used by the attacker remained at the scene after it slammed into a fence before the attacker got out

Armed Police opened fire and shot the attacker outside the Houses of Parliament. A vehicle was seen on social media to have crashed into the fence of the palace

At least two pedestrians were hurt near where the Hyundai crashed and were helped by police at the scene

A man is thought to have jumped or been knocked from Westminster Bridge and lay with terrible injuries next to the Thames

This was the scene on Embankment last night after the man either fell or was knocked from the bridge during the attack

Pat McCormack, 21, from Washington in Tyne-on-Wear added: 'I saw him stabbing the officer in the back of the head and the back of the neck. He was running away but then he collapsed.'

Steve Voake, 55, was walking across the Westminster Bridge and saw at least two bodies lying on the road and one in the water.

'I saw a trainer lying in the road and when I looked more closely I saw that there were a couple of bodies the other side of the road,' he told the Press Association.

'And when I looked over the side there was another body lying in the water with blood all around it.'

Deputy Commissioner Rowley also thanked everyone at Parliament for their cooperation with the investigation today as he announced a lockdown had ended.

He added: 'We do want to reassure the public that police and partners will do everything possible to protect them.

'As a precautionary measure over the next few days we have increased the number of officers on duty, armed and unarmed, to provide a highly visible reassuring presence. This will continue for as long as is necessary.

'Terrorists have a clear aim. That is to create distrust, discord and to create fear. The police stand with all communities in the UK and will take action against anybody who seeks to undermine society, especially where their crimes are motivated by hate.

'We must recognise now that our Muslim communities will feel anxious at this time, given the past behaviour of extreme right wing groups, and we will continue to work with all community leaders over the coming days.

'It is essential for us to remain vigilant, but also to work together, police and communities, to unite against those who seek through violence and extremism, to threaten, to intimidate and to cause fear.'

Three police officers were on their way back from a commendation ceremony when they were knocked down on Westminster Bridge.

Acting Met Police Commissioner Craig Mackey is being treated as a significant witness as he was at the scene when the incident started.

A spokesman for the Port of London Authority, which looks after safety on the River Thames, said: 'A female member of the public was recovered from the water near Westminster Bridge. She is alive but undergoing urgent medical treatment on a nearby pier. We believe she fell from the bridge.'

He said the river has been closed from Vauxhall to Embankment 'as part of the security response'.

'WE WILL NEVER GIVE IN': THERESA MAY VOWS UK WILL 'GO ON' AFTER LONDON TERROR ATTACK Prime Minister Theresa May vowed Britain would 'never give in to terror' today following the 'sick and depraved' London terror attack in which three people and a knifeman were killed. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, she said: 'I have just chaired a meeting of the Government’s emergency committee, COBRA, following the sick and depraved terrorist attack on the streets of our Capital this afternoon. 'The full details of exactly what happened are still emerging. But, having been updated by police and security officials, I can confirm that this appalling incident began when a single attacker drove his vehicle into pedestrians walking across Westminster Bridge, killing two people and injuring many more, including three police officers. 'This attacker, who was armed with a knife, then ran towards Parliament where he was confronted by the police officers who keep us – and our democratic institutions – safe. 'Tragically, one officer was killed. The terrorist was also shot dead. In a sombre public statement today, Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain will never surrender to the forces of hate and evil and praised the emergency services 'The United Kingdom’s threat level has been set at severe for some time and this will not change. Acting Deputy Commissioner Rowley will give a further operational update later this evening. 'Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected – to the victims themselves, and their family and friends who waved their loved ones off, but will not now be welcoming them home. 'For those of us who were in Parliament at the time of this attack, these events provide a particular reminder of the exceptional bravery of our police and security services who risk their lives to keep us safe. 'Once again today, these exceptional men and women ran towards the danger even as they encouraged others to move the other way. 'On behalf of the whole country, I want to pay tribute to them – and to all our emergency services – for the work they have been doing to reassure the public and bring security back to the streets of our Capital City. 'That they have lost one of their own in today’s attack only makes their calmness and professionalism under pressure all the more remarkable. 'The location of this attack was no accident. The terrorists chose to strike at the heart of our Capital City, where people of all nationalities, religions and cultures come together to celebrate the values of liberty, democracy and freedom of speech. 'These streets of Westminster – home to the world’s oldest Parliament – are engrained with a spirit of freedom that echoes in some of the furthest corners of the globe. And the values our Parliament represents – democracy, freedom, human rights, the rule of law – command the admiration and respect of free people everywhere. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Mrs May, pictured, also praised the work of the police and security services in their response to the London terror attack 'That is why it is a target for those who reject those values. 'But let me make it clear today, as I have had cause to do before: any attempt to defeat those values through violence and terror is doomed to failure. 'Tomorrow morning, Parliament will meet as normal. We will come together as normal. 'And Londoners - and others from around the world who have come here to visit this great City - will get up and go about their day as normal. 'They will board their trains, they will leave their hotels, they will walk these streets, they will live their lives. 'And we will all move forward together. Never giving in to terror. And never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart.' Advertisement

Extra armed police will be on the streets of the capital following the attack in Westminster, Sadiq Khan said as he vowed that 'Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism'.

The London Mayor said his thoughts were with the family of the Metropolitan Police officer who died 'doing his duty protecting our city'.

The mayor stressed that London remained one of the safest cities in the world and praised citizens and emergency services for the 'tremendous bravery' they had shown.

He said: 'Londoners should be aware that there will be additional armed and unarmed police officers on our streets from tonight in order to keep Londoners and all those visiting our city safe.

'I want to reassure all Londoners and all our visitors not to be alarmed - our city remains one of the safest in the world.

A woman leans down on Westminster Bridge to help another woman who was injured in this afternoon's attack in London

Pieces of a car's undercarriage lay scattered on the pavement of Westminster Bridge as the public went to the aid of victims

Westminster bridge was strewn with injured people who were treated on the road or carried to St Thomas' Hospital

A pedestrian lies stricken on Westminster Bridge after reports a car knocked down people near the Houses Parliament

'London is the greatest city in the world and we stand together in the face of those who seek to harm us and destroy our way of life. We always have, and we always will.

'Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism.'

He added: 'My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones and to everyone who has been affected.

'Tragically, a Metropolitan Police officer who was doing his duty protecting our city is amongst those who have been killed - and my thoughts are with his family this evening.

'I want to express my gratitude on behalf of all Londoners to the police and emergency services who have shown tremendous bravery in exceptionally difficult circumstances.'

An injured victim walks from the scene on Westminster Bridge where around 40 people were reported knocked down

A woman was either knocked, jumped or fell in the River Thames during the attack but was rescued by boat crews

French media are reporting that three French students were injured when the car ploughed into walkers on Westminster Bridge.

The pupils from the Lycee Saint-Joseph in Concarneau were among a group on an educational visit. There is no information as to their injuries and others in the party have returned to a nearby hostel before returning to Frances as soon as possible.

A spokesman for St Joseph's school in Brittany said: 'There were four classes on a trip to London. They travelled at the start of the week and were due to return at the end of the week.'

He confirmed that those injured were in St Thomas's hospital, on the south side of Westminster Bridge.

France's prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve tweeted: 'Solidarity with our British friends terribly hit, all support to the French pupils wounded, to their family and their schoolmates'.

A tour agency official has confirmed that the South Korean tourist was also seriously injured in today's attack, while four others sustained 'light injuries'.

The Yonhap news agency in South Korea has said the seriously injured tourist was a 67-year-old woman surnamed Park.

She suffered a head injury after being shoved by people fleeing the scene, and is receiving surgery at St Mary's Hospital in London, according to reports.

Paramedics wheel away a victim on Westminster Bridge. A doctor at St Thomas' hospital said some have catastrophic injuries

Police closed off the bridge yesterday while members of the public and paramedics helped those injured on the bridge

A medic is seen walking across Westminster Bridge as paramedics and doctors give lifesaving treatment to the injured

Mail journalist Quentin Letts saw the incident out of the window of a Commons office. He told the BBC: 'We heard this sound that sounded like a car crash… Then we saw a thick set man in black clothes come through the gates where people would normally drive cars

'This man had something in his hand. It looked like a stick. He was challenged by two policemen. The policeman fell down.

'We could see the man in black moving his arm in a way that suggested he was either striking or stabbing.'

Kevin Schofield, the editor of PoliticsHome.com heard 'a very loud bang' from the press gallery inside the Houses of Parliament followed by lots of shouting and men running around.

He initially thought it was a car crash but then he looked outside the window to a heavily-guarded area outside which is out of bounds to the public.

An aerial view of Westminster Bridge shows ambulance crews treating those who were mowed down by the attacker

An aerial view of the scene shows the scene where victims inside Parliament were being treated

A view from the opposite angle shows where the policeman was attacked in the shadow of Big Ben this afternoon

An announcement made in Parliament said there was a suspicious package in a vehicle and the bomb squad had been called

The attacker mowed down several pedestrians as he drove a grey Hyundai i40 across Westminster Bridge

Around three shots rang out as the attacker ran through the gates into the front yard of the parliamentary compound.

Mr Schofield told Sky News: 'Someone rushed through, attacked a policeman, a policeman went down, another policeman came and he was rescued.

'The man who had assaulted him got up and he appeared to be carrying either a knife or a gun. Then we heard gunfire, lots of gunfire, maybe five or six rounds.

What is known about the 4x4 in the attack? The vehicle driven into Parliament's gates this afternoon was a Hyundai i40 worth between £19,000 and £28,000 new. The black diesel car was registered between September 2016 and February 2017 in Chelmsford, Essex. The car can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 10.5 seconds and the model has been made by the South Korean manufacturer since 2011. Advertisement

'All I remember seeing is the man approaching the police officer probably with a knife and then there was gunfire.'

Giving a statement outside Scotland Yard, police spokesman Commander BJ Harrington said: 'A senior national coordinator has declared this a terrorist incident.

'Although we remain open-minded to the motive, a counter-terrorism investigation is already under way led by the Met counter-terrorism command.

'We received a number of different reports which included a body in the river, a car in collision with pedestrians and a man armed with a knife.

'Officers were already in the location as part of routine policing but immediately additional officers were sent.'

Tourists who were riding the London Eye when the attack took place were held inside the pods of the attraction as a safety measure.

The Ferris wheel's official Twitter account said given its close proximity to the Houses of Parliament, it was keeping hold 'of all its guests as per tried and tested security procedures'.

Theresa May's armour-plated car is driven from the scene after she was taken from Parliament by a plain clothes police officer

Police forensic officers are pictured in white suits gathering evidence at the scene close to Westminster following the attack

A group of schoolchildren were evacuated from Parliament last night. It is thought they were inside at the time

Roads around the area were cordoned off, including Whitehall (pictured). Police warned members of the public to stay away

The area was closed off and an air ambulance was seen landing as police sealed the area

Eyewitness Rick Longley described the attack saying: '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.

Prime Minister Theresa May's statement The Prime Minister said in a statement: '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.' Advertisement

'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 joint statement from Commons Speaker John Bercow and Lord Fowler, the Lord Speaker, said: 'On behalf of Members of both Houses of Parliament, we wish to offer our thoughts to all those affected and their families.

'We would also like to express our gratitude to the police and all emergency services.'

After the incident, Radoslaw Sikorski posted a video to Twitter purporting to show people lying injured in the road on Westminster Bridge.

Mr Sikorski, a senior fellow at Harvard's Centre for European Studies, wrote: 'A car on Westminster Bridge has just mowed down at least 5 people.'

A huge investigation has begun to try to find out what happened, with hundreds of Scotland Yard officers scouring the bridge

Theresa May, who was ushered away after the attack, later chaired a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee

Forensic officers used cameras to collate evidence after several people were injured on Westminster Bridge (pictured)

A Met armed policeman stands in the Central Lobby of Parliament near to Former Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble as MPs gather during the lockdown, which was lifted last night

A Scotland Yard superintendent addresses the crowd who had gathered in Westminster Abbey after being evacuated from Parliament

Shortly after the attack, eyewitnesses reported how doctors and nurses working at St Thomas' Hospital rushed across Westminster Bridge to tend to the wounded.

Police set up hotline A police Casualty Bureau hotline is now open on 0800 056 0944 and 0207 158 0010. If you are worried about family or friends involved in today's incident please call Casualty Bureau on either number listed above and choose Option 1. If you were involved in today's incident and are safe, please call Casualty Bureau on either number listed above and choose Option 2. Advertisement

Twitter user Abdi Duale wrote: 'One of the most uplifting scenes amidst the whole tragedy was doctors & nurses rushing out of St Thomas' Hospital to help the injured.'

The hospital had been on lockdown in the direct aftermath of the incident, with staff, patients and visitors stopped from entering or exiting the building, however people are now being allowed to leave via its back entrance.

Parliament's press gallery cafeteria was used a first aid post by officers. One man was present with blood on his shirt. Journalists were confined to their offices and were not allowed to leave the area.

Outside Parliament, around two dozen police officers came onto the estate at around 4.20pm following an extensive briefing.

All the officers were wearing gloves as they conducted forensic investigations.

An armed policeman is seen inside the Central Lobby in Parliament as they continue to patrol the area following the attack

Students who were visiting Parliament were held in a safe room as the incident unfolded outside the building

Staff gathered in Westminster Hall during a lockdown after members of the public were told to avoid the area

MPs were seen gathered in Central Lobby during a lockdown in Parliament yesterday as terror took over Westminster

The dramatic incident comes weeks after it was revealed that UK security services have foiled 13 potential attacks in less than four years, while counter-terrorism units are running more than 500 investigations at any time.

The official threat level for international terrorism has stood at severe, meaning an attack is 'highly likely', for more than two years.

Liberal Democrat transport spokeswoman Baroness Randerson said countries seem to have been 'singled out based on religious beliefs'.

'Of course safety is paramount at all times and we all need to remain vigilant but this ban needs to be explained in detail,' she said.

THE 'PATH OF DESTRUCTION' FROM WESTMINSTER BRIDGE TO THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT This is the path of terror left in London on Wednesday when pedestrians on Westminster Bridge were mowed down on the pavement before a police officer in the Houses of Parliament was stabbed. The horror began at the south London end of Westminster bridge when a driver in a Hyundai 4X4 mounted the pavement at around 2.30pm, mowing down the first pedestrians. He continued along the pavement, ploughing through at least a dozen victims in total, before coming to a stop at the Houses of Parliament where he crashed his Hyundai 4X4 into railings. Either he or another attacker then burst through Old Palace Yard at the Houses of Parliament where a police officer was stabbed. That assailant was shot by armed police at the scene and taken to hospital, where he later died. Advertisement

MP who lost a brother in the Bali terrorist attack gave mouth to mouth to policeman as he lay stricken on the floor of Westminster

Tory MP Tobias Ellwood battled to save the life of a policeman stabbed outside Parliament today.

The Bournemouth East MP gave mouth-to-mouth to the officer and put pressure on his wounds to stop the blood flow after he was stabbed by an assailant just inside the gates of the Parliamentary estate.

He was then pictured with blood on his face after the emergency services arrived and took over medical assistance.

Witnesses said Mr Ellwood rushed to help the officer after he collapsed to the ground following the stabbing

He was later pictured with bloodied hands talking to police following his heroic actions

Mr Ellwood's brother Jonathan, who worker at the International School Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, was killed in the 2002 Bali bombings by a Islamist militant group Jemaah Islamiyah.

The attacker is described as an 'Asian' man aged in his 40s. He is said to have 'plunged a seven inch knife' into the officer, who is understood to have since died.

A former soldier, Mr Ellwood remained with the victim for some time before an air ambulance arrived.

He then returned to the Foreign Office, where he works as an Undersecretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Tory colleague Maria Miller said he 'has given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to one victim'.

Eyewitness Hugh Dickinson, a 21-year-old student from High Wycombe, posted a picture of the minister on Twitter, showing the minister bleeding, but saying 'he looked to be fine'.

The Bournemouth East MP was later pictured with blood on his face as he stepped back to allow the emergency services to take over

His brother Jonathan, pictured, was killed in the Bali bombings in 2002. The history teacher was in Bali ahead of a conference when explosives were detonated outside nightclubs in a popular tourist area

Mr Dickinson said: 'He had blood on his forehead as you can see but he wasn't bleeding profusely.

'It looked like either a smear or graze and you can see some on his cuff too if you zoom in. He looked to be fine - no obvious limp or anything.'

The Bournemouth East MP is Foreign Office Minister, with the Middle East, Africa and counter terrorism listed among the areas within his brief.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of terror when gunfire rang out as the attacker approached a second officer within yards of the Houses of Parliament.

Two large knives could be seen at the scene.

Two large knives were seen at the scene, which was overrun with police and paramedics following the attack

Mr Ellwood, centre, lost his brother Jonathan in the 2002 Bali bombings by an Islamic militant group. He is pictured here with mother Caroline, right, at a 10 year memorial service in 2012

Commander BJ Harrington of the Metropolitan Police said there were 'a number of casualties' in the attack 'including police officers'. He urged Londoners to be vigilant, said more officers would be on patrol and that anti-terrorism measures were being reviewed.

The knifeman drove a grey Hyundai i40 across Westminster Bridge before crashing it into railings then running through the gates of the Palace of Westminster.

His attack left a trail of destruction as paramedics tended to victims on the bridge and at the gate.

Westminster police bundled Theresa May into a car and rushed her away from Parliament as terror attack unfolded

Prime Minister Theresa May was rushed out of Parliament as it came under terrorist attack by a man wielding two seven-inch knives after murdering police and pedestrians.

Mrs May, who was in the voting lobby by the Commons, was seen being bundled into the back seat of her silver Jaguar surrounded by armed guards at around 2.45pm.

The uninjured Prime Minister, who had recently finished PMQs, was driven out of the Palace of Westminster at high speed and taken safely to Downing Street.

MPs were locked inside the Commons as armed police went through Parliament 'floor by floor' and 'room by room' looking for any other assailants.

Prime Minister Theresa May, pictured, was rushed out of Parliament as it came under terrorist attack yesterday

MailOnline political editor James Tapsfield described hearing the 'bang' of the car smashing into the fence after its Westminster Bridge rampage and then the gunfire that followed when the terrorist was shot dead below his office.

He said: 'We were in the MailOnline office overlooking New Palace Yard when the attack started.

'The first sign we had that something was wrong was a loud bang. It sounded like a bomb, but I now realise it must have been the car smashing into the perimeter fence around parliament.

'Some people ran in through the gates, past the police. I didn't see the policeman being stabbed, but then spotted the man in black. He made it a few yards inside the grounds before being challenged by two men with guns and then shots - I think three of them - rang out.

'Police and staff poured on to the scene very quickly and started trying to resuscitate the attacker.

'They took the attacker away in an ambulance, but the other person - we think was the officer - was covered with a sheet.'

Mrs May (pictured leaving No 10 for PMQs) is safe and uninjured. A Number 10 spokesman said: 'The thoughts of the Prime Minister and the Government are with those killed and injured in this appalling incident, and with their families'

A Number 10 spokesman said Mrs May was being kept updated about the investigation.

'The thoughts of the Prime Minister and the Government are with those killed and injured in this appalling incident, and with their families,' said the spokesman.

'The Prime Minister is being kept updated and will shortly chair COBR.'

David Cameron tweeted: 'My thoughts with the families of those injured & killed. Those seeking to attack our democracy with these barbarous methods will never win.'

Politicians describe chaotic scenes in Westminster amid security alert Politicians described chaotic scenes in Westminster after a security alert meant many had to be evacuated from Parliament. Peer Sheila Noakes wrote: 'Shots in Parliament Square. People running like crazy.' Conservative MP Grant Shapps tweeted: 'Police response instant. Heard commotion, looked round. Police weapons drawn, 4 shots, police ordered us to hit ground & get back, get back.' Fellow Tory Michael Fabricant described a similar scene, saying: 'I was walking briskly to a vote when crowds of MPs rushed towards me saying that shots have been fired and shouts of 'get back'.' Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron tweeted shortly after news of the incident broke: 'Currently with a shell-shocked group of MPs at New Scotland Yard having been evacuated following the attack. Police doing an incredible job.' Many MPs spoke about being locked inside rooms in the Parliament building. Green Party leader Caroline Lucas tweeted: 'Locked in Commons with fellow MPs. Thoughts with innocent people hurt today and thanks as ever to Police & other staff working so hard here.' Labour's David Lammy wrote: 'Locked in the Commons Chamber but my heart goes out to the police officers, those hit by the car on the bridge and their families. Stay safe.' Advertisement

Other deadly attacks carried out by extremists using vehicles

Today's suspected terror attack in London is the latest in a string of similar incidents across the world where extremists have used vehicles as weapons.

On Bastille Day in the summer of last year, 86 people were killed when a truck was driven through crowds enjoying fireworks in Nice.

Four months later, a copycat ISIS-inspired massacre took place in Germany when a terrorist drove a truck through a Christmas market in Berlin.

The battered front of the truck used by Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel to kill 86 people who were celebrating Bastille Day

A tow truck operates at the scene where a truck ploughed through a crowd at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany

Twelve people were killed in the attack on December 19.

This year, a Palestinian lorry driver mowed down and then reversed over Israeli soldiers.

CHILLING ECHOES OF ATTACK ON CANADA'S PARLIAMENT IN 2014 Today's terror attack on Parliament bears striking similarities to the assault on Canada's Parliament in October 2014. That incident also combined the use of a vehicle as a weapon with an attack on police - and was stopped from becoming much worse by the quick reactions of the security forces. In the earlier attack, a gunman later identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau shot a sentry dead at a war memorial near the Parliament building in Ottawa. He then leaped into a car and drove towards Parliament, still wielding his hunting rifle, before hijacking another vehicle and heading for the main building in the complex. Zehaf-Bibeau - a 32-year-old jihadist - made it inside Parliament, shooting a policeman in the foot, before he was himself shot by the Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers and then killed by another officer. Advertisement

The attack occurred on January 8 and killed four people.

At least one person is feared dead in the Westminster Bridge incident, which comes on the anniversary of another deadly act of terrorism in the name of Islamic State in Brussels which killed 32.

ISIS' propaganda magazine has regularly called on lone wolf attackers to use lorries and vehicles as deadly weapons.

In response to the terror threat, France is in the process of building an 8ft bulletproof wall around the Eiffel Tower aimed at protecting the iconic landmark from potential jihadists.

On the evening of July 14, 2016, a 19-tonne cargo truck was driven into crowds celebrating Bastille Day on the Promenage des Anglais in Nice.

ISIS fanatic Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was behind the wheel and after exchanging gunfire with police, the Tunisian migrant was shot dead.

Thousands had gathered on the seafront to watch the fireworks that night.

Eighty-six of them died and 434 were injured.

Anis Amri stole a cargo truck and killed 12 people when he drove through a Christmas market next to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin.

Among the dozen people killed in the ISIS-inspired terror attack on December 19, 2016, was the original driver of the truck Lukasz Urban who was found dead with a gunshot wound in the passenger street.

Amri was a Tunisian who had failed to gain asylum status in the country.

He was killed in Milan four days later after an international manhunt.

Israeli soldiers work at the scene where police said a Palestinian named as Fadi Qunbar, 28, rammed his truck into a group of four Israeli soldiers on a popular promenade in Jerusalem January 8, 2017

On January 8 this year, a Palestinian rammed a truck into a group of Israeli soldiers visiting a popular tourist spot in Jerusalem, killing four and wounding 15 people, in a shocking copycat of the Berlin and Nice terror massacres.

Shocking video from the scene shows the driver reversing back over the soldiers, trapping ten under his wheels, during the sickening attack on Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged the attacker 'supported' the Islamic State group, though he provided no details on what led to the finding.

He said there 'definitely could be a connection' between Sunday's attack, which killed four Israeli soldiers, and recent attacks in France and Germany.

A car which police say was used by an attacker to plow into a group of students is seen outside Watts Hall on Ohio State University's campus in Columbus, Ohio

A Somali refugee injured 13 people when he rammed his car into a group of people outside Ohio State University in Columbus.

Abdul Razak Ali Artan was shot dead by the first responding OSU police officer and ISIS claimed through its Amaq News Agency that he had acted on behalf of the terror group.

After mowing down people in the car, he jumped out of his vehicle and attempted to stab more people.

Armed RCMP officers approach Centre Block on Parliament Hilll following a shooting incident in Ottawa, Canada on October 22, 2014

Today's terror attack on Parliament bears striking similarities to the assault on Canada's Parliament in October 2014.

That incident also combined the use of a vehicle as a weapon with an attack on police - and was stopped from becoming much worse by the quick reactions of the security forces.

In the earlier attack, a gunman later identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau shot a sentry dead at a war memorial near the Parliament building in Ottawa.

He then leaped into a car and drove towards Parliament, still wielding his hunting rifle, before hijacking another vehicle and heading for the main building in the complex.

Zehaf-Bibeau - a 32-year-old jihadist - made it inside Parliament, shooting a policeman in the foot, before he was himself shot by the Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers and then killed by another officer.

THEY WILL NOT DIVIDE US: HUSBAND OF MURDERED MP JO COX SPEAKS OUT ON PARLIAMENT 'TERROR ATTACK' Jo Cox MP (pictured at Parliament) was shot and stabbed outside a constituency surgery meeting last year by Thomas Mair The husband of murdered MP Jo Cox tweeted this afternoon that terrorists would not win - following a suspected terror attack at the Houses of Parliament. Brendan Cox tweeted: 'Whoever has attacked our parliament for whatever motive will not succeed in dividing us. All of my thoughts with those injured.' Mrs Cox was shot three times and stabbed outside a constituency surgery meeting last year by Thomas Mair. Mair, 53, searched the internet for articles on the subject in the days before murdering the Labour MP as she arrived for a constituency surgery in her hometown of Batley, West Yorkshire. The neo-Nazi was handed a whole life sentence for the murder following a trial and told by her grieving widower that it was the 'most incompetent and self defeating' act of terrorism. The trial had heard how even as she lay mortally wounded in the street, the MP for Batley and Spen tried to protect her aides by urging them to leave her and save themselves. A jury deliberated for just over 90 minutes to find Mair guilty of killing the 41-year-old mother of two. Mair shouted 'Britain first' as he fired three shots at Remain campaigner Mrs Cox and stabbed her 15 times on the afternoon of June 16, days before the EU referendum. Bernard Kenny, 78, who was stabbed as he tried to halt the onslaught by jumping on Mair's shoulders from behind, described Mair's actions as a 'pure act of evil'. He said in a statement that he would do the same thing again as it was 'the right thing to do', even though his actions were not enough to save Mrs Cox. Mair was silenced by trial judge Mr Justice Wilkie who refused his request to address the court before he was sentenced. The judge paid tribute to Mrs Cox's 'generosity of spirit' as she tried to help others - even as she was facing a violent death. Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, tweeted this afternoon that terrorists would not win - following a suspected terror attack at the Houses of Parliament Advertisement

How Parliament has beefed up security to protect against a terror attack

Additional Metropolitan Police firearms officers are regularly put on detail around the grounds of the Houses of Parliament in the aftermath of terror attacks.

Following the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris two years ago, armed officers were positioned at the front vehicle gates to the Palace of Westminster, in a change from normal practice.

Concrete blocks have also been installed around the premises of the Houses in a bid to protect the building from a possible attack.

In recent years, MPs have been told to consider fitting their constituency offices with panic buttons and designating a 'safe room' in their homes.

Pictured is the main vehicle entrance to the Houses of Parliament. Former Prime Minister David Cameron had dispensed with the traditional motorcycle escort in 2010, but it was reintroduced in 2014 following an increase in security arrangements

They are also being briefed on the security plans in case of an attack on the Commons.

Following the stabbing to death of Jo Cox, MPs spent almost £640,000 on boosting security.

During the four months after her murder, politicians spent four times on security measures what they had done in the whole previous year.

Spending on MP's office and home security also rocketed after Mrs Cox was shot three times and stabbed outside a constituency surgery meeting.

Last year it was revealed that 130 MPs had requested additional security measures, including bomb-proof letter boxes and reinforced windows.

A sniffer dog and police officers undertake a bomb search at the Houses of Parliament in 2013, the day before the funeral of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

Members have also been offered classes in self-defence techniques in a bid to ward off would-be attackers.

Speaking after the attack, Will Geddes, CEO of ICP Group said: 'Westminster is an obvious terrorist target so it is very well protected.

'It is surrounded by concrete wallls and there are specially trained police officers who are well prepared for attacks.

'It would appear to me that they have done everything they could in this case.'

Speaking of the challenges of preventing a lone wolf attack, Geddes said: 'It's always going to be a challenge to prevent lone wolf attacks.'

Swords and imitation guns are just some of the items that have been confiscated by police at public entrances to the Houses of Parliament in the past decade.

Police officers walk down Westminster Bridge in September 2001. As many as 1,500 extra policemen and women were drafted into the capital in the aftermath of 9/11 in a bid to shore up security at London's major attractions

London on high alert: Police urge public to keep off streets of capital as they issue list of NO GO AREAS following Parliament terror attack

Londoners have been warned to stay off the streets after one of the capital's busiest areas was placed one lockdown today after a police officer and at least three more people were killed in an attack on the Palace of Westminster.

Westminster Tube station has been closed following the attack, before which at least ten more were injured as the attacker mounted the pavement on Westminster Bridge and mowed down pedestrians and cyclists in a 4x4.

A huge area around the palace has now been cordoned off, including Westminster Bridge, as police continue to assess the damage and guard against any potential attempts to attack Whitehall.

Police asked people to avoid Parliament Square, Whitehall, Westminster Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Victoria Street up to the junction with Broadway and the Victoria Embankment up to Embankment tube

Policewere out in force in Parliament Square (pictured), while they conducted searches of the surrounding area to make sure it was safe

Parliament Square, usually packed with tourists coming to look at one of the nation's oldest and most iconic buildings. This evening it is filled with emergency vehicles, police and scene of the crime investigators

The police warned people throughout London to expect armed guards at Tube stations and manning the streets, and the Army is now poised to descend upon London amid the high security alert.

Police asked people to avoid Parliament Square, Whitehall, Westminster Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Victoria Street up to the junction with Broadway and the Victoria Embankment up to Embankment tube.

The Thames was closed from Vauxhall to Embankment 'as part of the security response', after a member of the public, believed to have been hit by the car, was recovered from the water near Westminster Bridge.

The closure of the river, along with roads in the centre and Westminster, used by thousands of people visiting and working in Whitehall every day, is already causing travel chaos in central London.

Deputy Commissioner Rowley said officers are now searching the area for any other threats, adding: '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.'

Acting commander BJ Harrington said that there were 'a number of casualties' but would not confirm how many.

This map shows the area now cordoned off after the attack yesterday, as well as where people were hurt

Police wearing body armour and carrying guns were at the scene. People across London can expect to see armed officers at Tube stations and other significant areas as security services remain on high alert

Usually rammed with cars ambling along the road, nose-to-bumper, this road in central London was closed to traffic and police offers appearing to be making their way home after a busy shift walk across the empty street

He urged people in London to stay away from the area - usually populated by thousands of tourists visiting some of Britain's most iconic architecture - as police continue to investigate.

Commander Harrington also said they were not yet sure of the motive, but Scotland Yard said that the attack - a year after the Brussels bombing - was being treated as terrorist 'until we know otherwise'.

The commander told reporters: 'I can confirm we are treating this as a terrorist incident, although we remain open-minded as it the motives for the incident. A full investigation is underway.

Prime Minister Theresa May, who was evacuated from Parliament in an armoured car, is to chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee to discuss the immediate response to the bloody incident.

The Cobra committee brings together government ministers with senior officials of the emergency services and security and intelligence agencies. Normal parliamentary discussions were suspended when the news broke today.

CHILLING ECHOES OF 2016 BRUSSELS ATTACK: WESTMINSTER TARGETED ONE YEAR LATER The terror attack on Parliament comes exactly one year to the day since the deadliest act of terrorism in Belgium's history. On March 22, 2016, three co-ordinated suicide bombings hit the capital of Brussels killing 32 people and injuring hundreds more. At 8am, two bombs were detonated at Zaventem Airport killing 14 people near the check-in desks. More than an hour later, at 9.19am, a third bomb was detonated at Maalbeek Metro station killing 20 more people. An injured air stewardess (right) who became a symbol of the Brussels terror attacks when she was seen covered in blood and dust has returned to the scene one year on Nidhi Chaphekar, Jet Airways flight attendant and a victim of the Brussels airport terror attack, lays a rose on a memorial in Brussels Witnesses said the heat from the explosion on the Metro carriage was so intense people in the street were burned. Nidhi Chaphekar, an air stewardess who became a symbol of the attacks, returned to the scene today to mark the one year since the event. She broke down in tears as she joined hundreds of others, including Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, when the city fell silent today one year on from the devastating attacks. Former pro basketball player Sebastien Bellin who lives in Battle Creek, Michigan, was also among those paying tribute today. Pictures taken in the aftermath of the bombing showed him lying in a pool of blood in the departure lounge. Their tributes began at 7.58am, the time the airport was brought to a halt by the first bomb. More than 300 people were wounded in the attacks, claimed by ISIS, but around 900 people now number themselves among the victims to have suffered physical or mental trauma. King Philippe (right) and Queen Mathilde (second left) pose for photographs with Indian flight attendant Nidhi Chaphekar, who was injured in the Brussels airport attack and her husband Rupesh Chaphekar (left) in Brussels King Philippe said Belgium had stayed united after the attacks on March 22, 2016, and told families of the victims they had responded to the 'deadly madness' of the attacks with 'dignity'. Watched by relatives and survivors, the royals also unveiled a new stainless steel memorial near the European Union's headquarters to the dead and the more than 320 wounded in Belgium's worst ever peacetime attacks. 'It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to make our society more humane and more just,' King Philippe said at the memorial. 'And above all, let us dare to be tender.' Advertisement

Sick ISIS celebrating ‘blessed London attack’ posting ‘Allahu Akbar’ next to horrific photos of the attack

Sick ISIS supporters appear to be celebrating the deaths of three people and an attacker in London during a terror attack on Westminster.

Messages have been shared on an unofficial 'ISIS Telegram Channel' sharing the news of the attack in Westminster on Wednesday afternoon, with people writing 'Allahu Akbar'.

According to Ahmet Yayla, a senior research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Violent Extremism (ICSVE), the messages are being shared on a 'credible' ISIS channel.

Shocking mocked-up picture of the Queen Elizabeth clock tower on fire were shared with a stark 'warning' that there will be a battle on 'your land'

Terror expert Ahmet Yayla explained these channels are not official, but they are credible

He shared screengrabs on his Twitter account, showing content of groups where messages included 'blessed London attack'.

One user shared pictures of the route the attacker took across Westminster Bridge and into the gates of Parliament, while another shared this website's headline of 'Terror at Westminster'.

In other apparent messages from supporters, a picture shows a mocked-up image of the Elizabeth Tower on fire.

The message with the smoke billowing out reads: 'Soon. Our battle upon your land. Not started yet. Be upon you. Only waiting.'

Rita Katz, director of SITE Intelligence Group, said the lack of media campaign from ISIS could show there was no coordination with ISIS if it was linked with the terror group.

The channel users have been sharing maps showing the route of the terror attack as well as the headlines from this website

Similar pro-ISIS 'channels' shared blow by blow updates after the attacks in Nice, Paris and Orlando.

ISIS claim on an event can be 24 hours afterwards, and usually not until the attacker is confirmed dead, according to terror experts.

Other ISIS chat rooms show mocked up images of fighters super imposed over the Houses of Parliament, according to a paper by the ICSVE.

The paper reveals ISIS supporters have been urged and shown how to carry out attacks with vehicles.

'A guy was shouting his wife had jumped into the Thames': Eyewitnesses reveal horror of attack

A bus driver saw a man shouting that his wife had jumped into the River Thames in a desperate bid to escape a terrorist using a 4x4 as a weapon.

The terror suspect, an Asian man in his 40s, ploughed along Westminster Bridge in his two-ton Hyundai SUV, frequently mounting the crowded pavement, and mowed down pedestrians like skittles.

One victims of the car attack was left floating face down in the Thames but was pulled from the river alive and the bridge above was strewn with the victims of the terror hit and run.

Witnesses said the aftermath was like a scene from a 'Hollywood disaster movie'.

Terrifying: One woman was found floating in the Thames after being thrown into the water but was pulled out by a boat

Michael Adamou, 25, was driving the 453 bus when he said he saw the grey Hyundai 4x4 speeding in the direction of Parliament.

He said: 'As I turned left out of Whitehall, so turning left to go over the bridge, I saw a car knock two people over.

'Initially I thought he's lost control of the car but then I see quite a few people rushing into Parliament and police trying to stop everyone.

'After a few seconds I just heard gunshots. Everybody on my bus was panicking.'

He said the driver 'literally started from the hospital heading towards Parliament and just mowed down whoever was in his way.

Turmoil: 20 people have been ploughed into by the car by the terrorist who was shot dead in the courtyard of Parliament

'I did not see him coming over the bridge but I saw everybody laying on the bridge, not moving.'

Mr Adamou, who lives in central London, said he believed at least one woman had jumped into the Thames to escape.

'The first thing I saw was the two people laying lifeless on the floor. They were on the pavement.

'He must have come down the whole side of the bridge on the pavement. I would say there were at least 15 or 20 people.

'When I was getting everybody off the bus, because they made us leave the bus on the bridge, I heard one guy come running behind me shouting his wife had jumped into the river to avoid getting knocked down.'