The Westminster terror attack began like any other early afternoon, with MPs gathering for votes and tourists thronging the pavements near Parliament. Shortly after 2.30pm, a car sped across Westminster Bridge, mounting the kerb and ploughing into pedestrians, killing three and leaving others with catastrophic injuries. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the vehicle then crashed into railings outside Parliament.
Rob Lyon, 34, from Rugby, was walking along the bridge when he heard a 'loud crunch' and saw the car hitting people. 'I could see people being hit... it was harrowing,' he said. He dialled 999 and gave a woman his coat as a pillow while waiting for ambulances. Among the injured were French students aged 15 and 16 from Brittany, two critically hurt.
After the car struck the railings, the driver got out and sprinted towards Parliament. Alan Parry of Sky Sports News heard 'four of what sounded much like gunshots' and saw police swarm the area. Kirsten Hurrell, 70, from a nearby kiosk, heard sharp noises and feared the car might explode. The attacker was later shot dead by police inside the parliamentary estate.
The incident prompted a full lockdown of Parliament, with MPs and staff confined to their offices. Three police officers were among the injured. The driver, a single assailant, killed PC Keith Palmer before being neutralised. The attack left a total of five dead, including the attacker, and dozens wounded, many with life-changing injuries.
