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The 29-year-old man, a UK national and believed to be from the Midlands, was arrested by armed officers on suspicion of terror offences after a car mowed down pedestrians and cyclists before crashing into security barriers, installed to prevent terror attacks. Met Police confirmed they are treating the crash as a "terrorist incident". The Met Police have confirmed that counter-terrorism officers are carrying out searches at three addresses in the Midlands, which include two in Birmingham and one in Nottingham. Dozens of emergency vehicles swarmed the area and members of public were ordered to clear the area as as more than 200 police officers descended on the scene within minutes. PARLIAMENT TERROR CRASH IN PICTURES

Scotland Yard counter-terrorism head Neil Basu said it is now their priority to establish the driver's motive but he is "not cooperating". He said: "Given that this appears to be a deliberate act, the method and this being an iconic site, we are treating it as a terrorist incident." Mr Basu said there is "no intelligence at this time of further danger" to Londoners after the car attack. But on the basis of the information known so far, "we don't believe this person is known to either MI5 or counter-terrorism police," he added.

Parliament crash: A car has crashed outside parliament

The driver of the car, a man in his late 20s, was arrested at the scene by armed officers. He was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offences Met Police

He said: "Our priority is to formally identify the suspect and establish his motivations if we can. He is not currently co-operating. "However, as you would expect, detectives from the Counter-Terrorism Command are making various other urgent enquiries to ensure there is no outstanding risk to the public." There have not been any other arrests made in connection to Tuesday’s suspected attack. The car used in the “terror attack” was registered in Nottingham, according to Sky News.

Parliament terror attack: orensic officers by the car that crashed into security barriers

Neighbours on Peveril street in Nottingham reported seeing plain-clothed police officers outside an address. They said the house is shared by six occupants and is home to six Sudanese people. Ibrahim Ahmed, 24, who lives in the same terrace row, said: "It's Sudanese people who live there." Benas Butkevicius, who lives next door to the house that was raided, said: "I was asleep when it happened. I just heard some banging and scratching. "I work night shifts - at about 4pm I woke up to the scratching." An occupant of the house said: "They thought the car was insured or registered here but it isn't. They were asking about a silver Fiesta. They said they were investigating what happened in Westminster."

Parliament terror attack: The bicycles believed to have been damaged

Dramatic footage shows dozens of armed police pointing rifles inside the silver Ford Fiesta car ploughed into the security barriers, which were installed after the 2017 Westminster terror attack. Three people, including a cyclist, have been injured. A woman was being treated for serious but non life-threatening injuries. Both the man and woman who were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries have now been discharged, police added. A meeting of the government's emergency COBRA committee begun at 2pm in response to the “terror attack”.

Parliament crash: Pictures show the car careering towards the security barriers

The Met Police says the suspect travelled from Birmingham to London late on Monday night and arrived in the London area just after midnight on Tuesday morning. The Ford Fiesta was in the Tottenham Court Road area from approximately 1:25am until 5:55am and then drove around Westminster and Whitehall from approximately 6:00am until the incident at 7:37am. Specialist officers from Project Servator, who are trained to recognise when a person is displaying minute signs of anxiety, have also been deployed in Westminster to identify anyone who may be in the area for terrorist or other criminal purposes. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the terror threat remains severe and that today's suspected attack in Westminster was "shocking".

Parliament crash: A man was led away in handcuffs

Mrs May said: "Today's suspected attack outside the Houses of Parliament is shocking. "For the second time in as many years, the home of our democracy, which is a potent symbol of our precious values of tolerance and freedom, has witnessed terrible scenes just yards from its door. "The threat to the UK from terrorism remains severe. I would urge the public to remain vigilant - but also to come together and carry on as normal, just as they did after the sickening attacks in Manchester and London last year. "The twisted aim of the extremists is to use violence and terror to divide us. They will never succeed." Chancellor Philip Hammond is the ranking minister in London at the moment but Mrs May is being kept informed while she is away in Switzerland on holiday, her spokesman said. Home Secretary Sajid Javid is returning to London from his own family break "so that he can take a briefing in person on events", the spokesman added.

Parliament crash: Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Neil Basu delivers a statement

Security minister Ben Wallace has called for the public to be vigilant about odd behaviour and report it to police to help stop future terror attacks. The MP said:"These type of attacks use cars, they use knives - everyday items to attack us when we're at our most vulnerable. "In crowded spaces, when we're going about our normal jobs, going to work, and they do that because they know that that's where in our society - in a free and open society - we are vulnerable. "We need to think about people behaving badly. If we see odd behaviour we need to report it to the police, we need to report it to the local authorities, report it to our community leaders." The MP for Wyre and Preston North added: "It's also why we need to work with the private sector like car hire companies to say, 'Are you suspicious', 'Why is this person who's never driven an HGV hiring an HGV'." Officers cordoned off the whole square and members of the public were ordered to move back further as police put up a "Terrorism Act cordon", according to an officer at the scene.

Parliament crash: Police have cordoned off the surrounding area

Jason Williams, 45, from Kennington, was walking to work when he saw the rush hour smash. He said: "I saw a car going at high speed towards Parliament. It hit a bollard. It looked deliberate. It didn't look like an accident. How do you do that by accident? It was a loud bang." Mr Williams told how he saw "10 people lying down" following the incident outside the Houses of Parliament. He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "He had driven it at speed - more than 40 mph. There was smoke coming out of the car. "I have seen people on the ground, lying on the road. I don't know if they have actually been hit by the vehicle or not. I saw at least 10 people lying down. "I was told basically to move away, to run. I have run for my life." Mr Williams told ITV's Good Morning Britain how he thought the smash “looked deliberate”.

Parliament crash: A car has carried into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament

He said: "Straight away I thought 'Oh no, this is another terrorist attack' so I just started to run and the police were saying 'get out, get out of the area'." "The car was behind me. I didn’t see anyone else involved. I just saw this one vehicle, so it seems to be deliberate.” Police vans were seen rushing through the City of London on their way to Westminster moments after the incident unfolded. Firearms officers and at least two police dogs were seen stationed inside Parliament Square. An eyewitness said among the injured was at least one cyclist.

Parliament crash: The silver car crashed into the security barriers outside parliament

Paramedics could be seen tending to the victim near the scene of the crash. Cyclist James Maker, 30, of Chelmsford, Essex, passed the scene in Westminster within minutes of the crash to see a woman injured on the floor and the car crashed into the barrier. He said: "I looked to the right-hand side and there was a cyclist on the floor, clearly been injured. "It was a woman, they were clearly quite injured, they weren't moving and they were in the recovery position."

Parliament crash: Westminster has been placed on lockdown

Another eyewitness Ewalina Ochab descrbed the moment she saw the incident unfold. She said: "I think it looked intentional - the car drove at speed and towards the barriers.” Bus driver Victor Ogbomo, 49, was driving passengers past the front of Westminster when he saw the crash. He told the Press Association: ”All I saw was the smoke coming out of a vehicle, a silver vehicle. I just stopped the bus.

Parliament crash: A number of pedestrians have been injured

"The police said we have to move back, then in less than five minutes the response team came. They went to the vehicle, so we had to push back. I saw the car in the barrier, I didn't know how it got there. "I think someone was inside the vehicle because many police went towards the vehicle." He said officers had their guns out when they arrested the driver. Mr Ogbomo added: ”I was walking on the other side of the road. I heard some noise and someone screamed. I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement."

MPs have also reacted to the terror attack, which took place during parliament recess for summer. On arrival at Parliament, Boris Johnson said: "If it is indeed confirmed to be a terror incident, then it's very sad and very troubling indeed. "Hopefully people will be able to go about their normal days as soon as possible." Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Huge thanks to our emergency services for their rapid reaction to incident in Westminster this morning. My thoughts are with those injured."

Parliament crash: Armed police are on the scene in Westminster

Roger Godsiff, the Labour MP for Birmingham Hall Green, has tweeted: "Today's attack at Westminster was carried out by an individual who is believed to have been living in my constituency in Birmingham. "My deepest sympathies to the cyclists and pedestrians who were injured in the attack. "I have told the police and security services that they have my total support in doing whatever is necessary to protect the public in London and Birmingham." David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, said: “Awful news from Westminster. My thoughts are with all those injured. Thanks for a quick response from @metpoliceuk, Parliament security and the London Ambulance Service.”

Parliament crash: Sniffer dogs are also involved in the investigation

Neil O’Brien Tory MP for Harborough said: “Awful news - thoughts very much with those currently receiving medical treatment, and everyone else affected by this. "Please remain vigilant if working in/visiting Westminster today.” Vince Cable, leader of the Liberal Democrats, tweeted: "Our thoughts are with those who have been injured in the incident outside the Houses of Parliament this morning, and our thanks go out to the quick and effective response of our police and medical services. "Thank goodness the barriers are in place and worked."

Parliament crash: Most of Westminster and large parts of central London to be closed this morning.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: "My thoughts are with those hurt and injured outside Parliament this morning in what is being treated as a terrorist incident. "Our thanks go to our emergency services who responded immediately. Their bravery keeps us safe day in, day out." London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he is in "close contact" with the Police Crime Commissioner. He tweeted: "I’m in close contact with @MetPoliceUK Commissioner about the incident at Parliament Square this morning. Thank you to the first responders who were on the scene so quickly. Enquiries are continuing. Westminster tube station is currently closed.

Parliament crash: 200 officers are on the scene

Follow @metpoliceuk for updates." Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump reacted with fury tweeting: "Another terrorist attack in London…These animals are crazy and must be dealt with through toughness and strength!” The Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Speaker offered their sympathies to those injured this morning outside Parliament. They said: "We would like to offer our thoughts and sympathies to those who were injured or affected by the incident.

Parliament crash: Firefighters are on the scene at Westminster

Our heartfelt thanks go to the emergency services who responded so quickly and to those who work every day to keep all of us who work in Parliament safe." The Houses of Parliament are surrounded with security barriers of steel and concrete. The measures were extended in the wake of the Westminster Bridge attack in March 2017 when Khalid Masood ploughed a car into crowds on Westminster Bridge, killing five people, inlcuding a police officer. Khalid Masood ploughed a 4X4 into crowds before he was shot outside Parliament, injuring 50 people.