MPs caught up in Parliament '˜terror'

Emergency personnel close to the Palace of Westminster, London, after policeman has been stabbed and his apparent attacker shot by officers in a major security incident at the Houses of Parliament. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo.

Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Cat Smith, Morecambe and Lunesdale MP David Morris and Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron, along with other MPs, were all under police lockdown after a car mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and shots and explosions were heard outside parliament.

Tim Farron MP tweeted: “Currently with a shell shocked group of MPs at New Scotland Yard having been evacuated following the attack. Police doing an incredible job.”

Cat Smith MP spoke briefly to the Lancaster Guardian saying MPs had been advised against talking to the press and she ‘couldn’t speak because she was in lockdown.’

MP David Morris could not be contacted but it is believed he was also in lockdown.

The incident unfolded just before 3pm on Wednesday, when it was reported that a man ploughed into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before stabbing a police officer outside the Palace of Westminster.

The attacker then ran towards the Houses of Parliament and attacked a policeman before being shot by armed officers..

Parliament was immediately shut down and the Prime Minister bundled into a car and left the scene as officers searched the building,

Scotland Yard said the attack was being treated as a terrorist incident until they knew otherwise.

It was being reported that one woman had died and up to 12 others had ‘catastrophic’ injuries.

The attack happened on the first anniversary of the Brussels airport and metro attacks, March 22, 2016, in which 32 people died.