Westminster Car Crash 'A Terrorist Incident'

Police vehicles were stationed outside Parliament following the incident on Tuesday morning. (Cover Picture: PA).

A car crash outside the Houses of Parliament is being treated as "a terrorist incident", the Metropolitan Police have said.

The force's Counter Terrorism Command is leading an investigation after a silver Ford Fiesta crashed into security barriers outside Parliament, injuring a number of pedestrians.

A 29-year-old British man has been arrested on suspicion of terrorist offences and for attempted murder.

He remains in custody at a south London police station.

A statement released by the Met Police says that the identity of the suspect has been confirmed and that "the priority of the investigation team continues to be to understand the motivation behind this incident".

On Tuesday Neil Basu, Assistant Commissioner for Counter Terrorism at the Metropolitan Police, said that on the basis of the information known, "we don't believe this person is known to either MI5 or counter terrorism police."

"We are treating it as a terrorist incident" - Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu

A meeting of the Government's emergency COBRA committee took place this afternoon following the incident.

Westminster tube station is now fully reopened after its entrances and exits were closed.

In a statement released by Downing Street, the Prime Minister praised the "formidable courage" and professionalism of the emergency services who "ran towards" danger.

She said:

"The threat to the United Kingdom 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."

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said there were 676 live investigations being carried out by the security services and counter-terror police at the end of June, up from more than 500 in March.

Earlier, the Met Police said on Twitter: "At 7.37am today, a car was in collision with barriers outside the Houses of Parliament.

"The male driver of the car was detained by officers at the scene.

"A number of pedestrians have been injured."

Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood, who was branded a hero after stepping in to help emergency services in the wake of an attack in 2017 outside Parliament, said today's incident was proof that "we live in dangerous times."

Taking to Twitter, Mr Ellwood said the incident was:

"A stark reminder of the threats we continue to face, the need to remain vigilant and the professionalism of @metpoliceuk in once again swiftly and courageously responding to what looks like a crude and deliberate attack on Parliament."