What we know so far about the incident at the Palace of Westminster

Police close to the Palace of Westminster, London (Yui Mok/PA Wire)

A MAJOR security alert has been raised at the Palace of Westminster this afternoon. Here’s everything we know so far as the situation develops.

What happened?

Just seen police shoot a man outside parliament, appeared to be wielding a knife

— Charlie Cooper (@CharlieCooper8) March 22, 2017

A man apparently carrying a knife charged through the gates into the front yard of the parliamentary compound. Amid shouts and screams, sounds similar to gunfire rang out.

Have there been any casualties?

Shots fired outside Parliament. Loud explosion then shooting. Man lying shot outside gates to Parliament. Gun shots outside, Frightening.

— Christopher Hope (@christopherhope) March 22, 2017

Yes, but the details on this are currently unclear. Two people were seen to be lying within Old Palace Yard, immediately outside Westminster Hall.

Man receiving medical attention outside Westminster Hall. I heard loud explosion on Westminster bridge. Public running away

— Christopher Hope (@christopherhope) March 22, 2017

Commons Leader David Lidington has told MPs a “police officer has been stabbed” and the “alleged assailant was shot by armed police” following a “serious” incident within the parliamentary estate.

Witness Don Brind, a researcher for MPs, said: “I heard some shouting and saw some running out of the corner of my eye and then a short time after that there was a shot. I looked and I saw a civilian on the ground, with somebody standing over him with what I assumed to be a gun.

“Then I looked and about 10 yards away, there was a yellow-jacketed person on the ground, who appeared to be alive and talking.”

He said he assumed the person in the high-visibility jacket was a police officer.

What happens now?

Security lockdown in parliament. Rumours someone has been shot. Lots of shouting. Police everywhere.

— Kevin Schofield (@PolhomeEditor) March 22, 2017

The sitting in the House of Commons was suspended while police officers sealed off the area around the incident. Staff inside Parliament have been told to stay inside their offices.

What happened on Westminster Bridge?

A car on Westminster Bridge has just mowed down at least 5 people. pic.twitter.com/tdCR9I0NgJ

— Radosław Sikorski ???? (@sikorskiradek) March 22, 2017

Immediately before the incident, at around 2.45pm, a crowd of passers-by was seen running from the direction of Westminster Bridge and around the corner into Parliament Square.

We were called at approx 2:40pm to reports of an incident at #Westminster Bridge. Being treated as a firearms incident – police on scene

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 22, 2017