Theresa May was bundled into a car which sped away from Parliament after the terror attack in Westminster.

A police officer was fatally stabbed outside Parliament after a man first ploughed a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, leaving two civilians dead.

Shortly after the attack, Downing Street said the Prime Minister was safe but in lockdown.

:: Live updates: Four dead in Westminster attack

Mrs May has chaired a meeting of the emergency COBRA committee and has spoken to US President Donald Trump.


In a speech to the nation she said the target of the attack was "no accident".

"The terrorist chose to strike at the heart of our capital city," she said, "where people of all nationalities, religions and cultures come together to celebrate the values of liberty, democracy and freedom of speech.

"That is why it is a target for those who reject those values. Tomorrow morning, Parliament will meet as normal. We will come together as normal. We will all move forward together, never giving in to terror."

Parliament attack: Inside the lockdown

Former Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps said he heard four shots after a "commotion" and was then told to "hit ground and get back, get back".

He told Sky News: "I looked around and saw all the police officers with their guns on... the person who was stabbing this police officer and what sounded like one, two, three, four, bang, bang, bang, bang... shots being fired.

"And then a police officer right by us said 'get down, get down'... and we, on our hands and knees, went round to the relative safety of the Palace grounds."

Staff in Parliament were told not to leave their offices and armed officers have combed the building.

:: Policeman among four killed in attack

MP caught up in terror attack tells of panic

It was not until nearly 8pm that MPs and peers were told they could leave the Houses of Parliament.

Among those allowed to leave earlier were around a hundred young school pupils who had been visiting the seat of the UK Parliament.

:: Witness: 'A guy ran past me and stabbed cop with big knife'

The move to suspend proceedings in Parliament was made after the sound of gunfire was heard.

Parliamentary officials said the building was evacuated floor by floor. MP John Pugh said his colleagues were being taken out of the building in groups of 20.

Witnesses describe Westminster terror attack

Mrs May was ushered into a silver Jaguar car and whisked away, with video showing a cavalcade of vehicles speeding through Westminster.

Andrew Bridgen told Sky News: "I've never seen the Prime Minister moved away by the biggest plain clothes security policeman I've ever seen, put his arm around her and took her very, very quickly away.

"She was taken to her car and automatic weapons were produced by the security detail and she was very rapidly moved to safety."

:: First picture of terror attack suspect

Westminster terror: What happened and where

Among those caught up in the incident was Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, who has been hailed a hero after giving medical assistance to a police officer, whose life could not be saved.

Pictures showed the MP with blood on his face and other pictures showed the suspect on a stretcher with a knife nearby.