Tourists were heavily criticised today after posing for selfies next to a police cordon shortly after the terror attack outside the Houses of Parliament.

The visitors seemed to be unaware of the seriousness of the attack which saw a car collide with cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into security barriers.

The tourists caused a backlash online as they smiled for the camera this morning in front of police officers standing on Westminster Bridge to guard the scene.

Three tourists pose for a group selfie at the police cordon on Westminster Bridge today

A man poses for a photo on Westminster Bridge today after it was cordoned off to traffic

Tourists pose as a man takes their picture at the Westminster Bridge police cordon today

People watch as tourists have their picture taken following the terror attack in London today

One Twitter user said: 'Some people have no consideration for others', while another tweeted: 'What the hell is wrong with people?'

Another said: 'What's with those tourists taking selfies near Parliament after the attack this morning? They wouldn't be doing that if they were the ones that got hit by the car... idiots.'

And one person added: 'I've said it before - I'll likely say it again - but our society is terminally ill. This is not the hallmark of a healthy, adjusted populace.'

A further tweeter said: 'Absolute morons. Something serious occurs and here they are like it's a film set.'

Twitter users were left angry by the pictures of tourists posing for selfies in front of the bridge

Ben Lewis, chief Europe correspondent for Australian network SBS News, tweeted how it was 'bizarre' that a tourist photographed her daughter in front of the scene.

He said: 'Will never understand people who take selfies at crime scenes. One tourist taking photos of her little daughter next to me with armed police in background.'

And BBC journalist Edward Lawrence, who was also at the scene, added: 'There's literally a tourist group at the terror cordon having a tour, in the middle of road.'

Following the attack at about 7.40am today, police cordoned off a large area around Parliament, which is usually bustling with tourists and government workers.

Journalist Ben Lewis said it was 'bizarre' that a tourist photographed her daughter at the scene

Today, Scotland Yard said the terror suspect accused of deliberately crashing a car outside the Houses of Parliament was not known to police or MI5.

The man, in his late 20s, is being held in custody at a police station but is not co-operating with officers. He was arrested on suspicion of terror offences.

The silver car can be seen in footage of the incident coming along the road next to Parliament Square before moving to turn right towards Westminster Abbey.

As an ambulance passes the car, the vehicle swerves left, crossing oncoming traffic and a pavement before entering a small road and crashing into a security barrier.