LONDON, March 22 (KUNA) -- A police officer has been stabbed in the Houses of Parliament in central London, Commons Leader David Lidington has said, cited by the BBC. He told MPs the "alleged assailant was shot by armed police" following a "serious" incident.
Staff inside Parliament were told to stay inside their offices.
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said police told her someone had been shot and MPs said they heard "three or four gunshots".
Tom Peck, political editor for the Independent, tweeted: "There was a loud bang. Screams. Commotion. Then the sound of gunshots. Armed police everywhere," also according to the BCC.
Scotland Yard said it was called to a firearms incident on Westminster Bridge amid reports of several people injured.
Transport for London Westminster underground station has been shut at the police's request.
The BBC quoted Press Association political editor Andrew Woodcock as witnessing the scenes unfolding from his office window overlooking New Palace Yard.
"I heard shouts and screams from outside and looked out, and there was a group of maybe 40 or 50 people running round the corner from Bridge Street into Parliament Square.
"They appeared to be running away from something.
"As the group arrived at the Carriage Gates, where policemen are posted at the security entrance, a man suddenly ran out of the crowd and into the yard.
"He seemed to be holding up a long kitchen knife.
"I heard what sounded like shots - I think about three of them - and then the next thing I knew there were two people lying on the ground and others running to help them.
"Armed police were quickly on the scene and I heard them shouting to people to get out of the yard." An eye witness posted a video to Twitter purporting to show people lying injured in the road on Westminster Bridge.
He wrote: "A car on Westminster Bridge has just mowed down at least 5 people." Scotland Yard said it was called to a firearms incident on Westminster Bridge amid reports of several people injured.
Transport for London said Westminster underground station has been shut at the police's request, and buses diverted.
Lidington said: "It seems that a police officer has been stabbed, that the alleged assailant was shot by armed police.
"An air ambulance is currently attending the scene to remove the casualties.
"There are also reports of further violent incidents in the vicinity of the Palace of Westminster but I hope colleagues on all sides will appreciate that it'd be wrong of me to go into further details until we have confirmation from the police and from the House security authorities about what is going on." (end) rk