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A police officer was among three killed Wednesday in a suspected terrorist attack outside Britain’s parliament by an assailant who was then shot dead by armed police, Britain’s top anti-terror officer said.

Mark Rowley said the two other victims died on Westminster Bridge in London after the attacker mowed down pedestrians in a car, leaving at least 20 people injured in total.

“Sadly I can confirm that now four people have died,” the Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner told reporters outside Scotland Yard police headquarters.
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“That includes the police officer who was protecting parliament and one man who we believe to be the attacker, who was shot by a police firearms officer.

“We have declared this as a terrorist incident and the counter-terrorism command are carrying out a full-scale investigation into the attacks.”

He said the assault began when a car was driven over Westminster Bridge next to the Houses of Parliament, hitting and injuring several members of the public, including three police officers returning from a ceremony.

“The car then crashed near to parliament and at least one man, armed with a knife, continued the attack and tried to enter parliament,” Rowley said.

He said the police implemented “well-rehearsed plans… for a marauding terrorist attack” and parliament was put into “lockdown”.

Rowley said a “massive operation” was now under way but refused to go into further details.

“We currently believe there was only one attacker,” he said.

“This was a day we’ve planned for but hoped would never happen. Sadly it is now a reality,” Rowley added.
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