A man is treated by emergency services, as knives lie on the floor, with police looking on at the scene outside the Houses of Parliament London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament « as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise. » The Metropolitan Police says in a statement that the incident is ongoing. It is urging people to stay away from the area. Officials say a man with a knife attacked a police officer at Parliament and was shot by officers. Nearby, witnesses say a vehicle struck several people on the Westminster Bridge. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP).
A body is covered by a sheet outside the Houses of Parliament, London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament « as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise. » The Metropolitan Police says in a statement that the incident is ongoing. It is urging people to stay away from the area. Officials say a man with a knife attacked a police officer at Parliament and was shot by officers. Nearby, witnesses say a vehicle struck several people on the Westminster Bridge. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP).
Emergency services staff provide medical attention close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament « as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise. » The Metropolitan Police says in a statement that the incident is ongoing. Officials say a man with a knife attacked a police officer at Parliament and was shot by officers. Nearby, witnesses say a vehicle struck several people on the Westminster Bridge. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Emergency services staff provide medical attention close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament « as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise. » The Metropolitan Police says in a statement that the incident is ongoing. Officials say a man with a knife attacked a police officer at Parliament and was shot by officers. Nearby, witnesses say a vehicle struck several people on the Westminster Bridge. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Police secure the area on the south side of Westminster Bridge close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. The leader of Britain’s House of Commons says a man has been shot by police at Parliament. David Liddington also said there were « reports of further violent incidents in the vicinity. » London’s police said officers had been called to a firearms incident on Westminster Bridge, near the parliament. Britain’s MI5 says it is too early to say if the incident is terror-related. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Emergency service workers arrive on the scene close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. The leader of Britain’s House of Commons says a man has been shot by police at Parliament. David Liddington also said there were « reports of further violent incidents in the vicinity. » London’s police said officers had been called to a firearms incident on Westminster Bridge, near the parliament. Britain’s MI5 says it is too early to say if the incident is terror-related. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Armed police officers enter the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 23, 2017 after the House of Commons sitting was suspended as witnesses reported sounds like gunfire outside. The leader of Britain’s House of Commons says a man has been shot by police at Parliament. David Liddington also said there were « reports of further violent incidents in the vicinity. »(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Armed police officers stand guard outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 23, 2017 after the House of Commons sitting was suspended as witnesses reported sounds like gunfire outside. The leader of Britain’s House of Commons says a man has been shot by police at Parliament. David Liddington also said there were « reports of further violent incidents in the vicinity. » (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Police secure the area close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. The leader of Britain’s House of Commons says a man has been shot by police at Parliament. David Liddington also said there were « reports of further violent incidents in the vicinity. » London’s police said officers had been called to a firearms incident on Westminster Bridge, near the parliament. Britain’s MI5 says it is too early to say if the incident is terror-related. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Police secure the area close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. The leader of Britain’s House of Commons says a man has been shot by police at Parliament. David Liddington also said there were « reports of further violent incidents in the vicinity. » London’s police said officers had been called to a firearms incident on Westminster Bridge, near the parliament. Britain’s MI5 says it is too early to say if the incident is terror-related. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Police on the scene after sounds similar to gunfire have been heard close to the Houses of Parliament, London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. The UK House of Commons sitting has been suspended as witnesses report sounds like gunfire outside. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
An armed police officer stands on Parliament Square outside of the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 23, 2017 after the House of Commons sitting was suspended as witnesses reported sounds like gunfire outside.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Armed police outside the the Houses of Parliament, London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament « as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise. » The Metropolitan Police says in a statement that the incident is ongoing. It is urging people to stay away from the area. Officials say a man with a knife attacked a police officer at Parliament and was shot by officers. Nearby, witnesses say a vehicle struck several people on the Westminster Bridge. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP).
An injured man sits covered with a blanket as emergency services staff provide medical attention to injured people on the south side of Westminster Bridge, close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament « as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise. » The Metropolitan Police says in a statement that the incident is ongoing. Officials say a man with a knife attacked a police officer at Parliament and was shot by officers. Nearby, witnesses say a vehicle struck several people on the Westminster Bridge. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Police forensic officers at the scene close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament « as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise. » The Metropolitan Police says in a statement that the incident is ongoing. Officials say a man with a knife attacked a police officer at Parliament and was shot by officers. Nearby, witnesses say a vehicle struck several people on the Westminster Bridge. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)
Mark Rowley, Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations in the Metropolitan Police, speaks to the media outside Scotland Yard in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament « as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise. » The Metropolitan Police says in a statement that the incident is ongoing. Officials say a man with a knife attacked a police officer at Parliament and was shot by officers. Nearby, witnesses say a vehicle struck several people on the Westminster Bridge. (Victoria Jones/ PA via AP)
[MISE À JOUR: Au moins cinq morts et 40 blessés à Londres]
Le parlement britannique a été cadenassé, mercredi, après qu’un homme qui venait de poignarder un policier eut été abattu, selon des dirigeants. La police de Londres rapporte également avoir été appelée sur les lieux d’un incident au pont voisin de Westminster.
La police considère l’incident comme un acte terroriste. Il n’y aurait qu’un seul suspect.
Selon le dernier point de presse de la police, il y aurait cinq morts et plus de 40 blessés. Parmi les victimes, il y a un policier et le suspect des attaques.
Le premier ministre français, Bernard Cazeneuve, confirme que des étudiants français sont parmi les blessés.
La députée travailliste Mary Creagh a dit que cinq ou sept personnes ont été fauchées sur le pont. Un autre témoin a raconté à l’agence de presse britannique Press Association avoir vu le véhicule frapper les piétons. Un homme aurait ensuite attaqué un policier à l’aide d’un couteau.
La Chambre des communes britannique avait précédemment suspendu ses travaux après que des témoins eurent possiblement entendu des coups de feu à l’extérieur. Le parlement écossais a aussi suspendu ses activités, par solidarité. Le confinement au parlement a été levé en début de soirée.
Les journalistes sur place ont rapporté avoir été informés de rester dans leurs bureaux. La station de métro Westminster ainsi que le 10 Downing Street ont aussi été fermés.
Témoignage
Le journaliste Quentin Letts, du Daily Mail, a raconté avoir vu un homme vêtu de noir attaquer un policier à l’extérieur du parlement avant d’être atteint de deux ou trois balles au moment où il tentait d’entrer dans la Chambre des communes.
«Il avait quelque chose dans sa main, on aurait dit un bâton, et il a été intercepté par deux policiers avec des vestes jaunes, a-t-il dit à la BBC. Et un des policiers en jaune est tombé au sol et on pouvait voir l’homme en noir qui bougeait le bras comme s’il poignardait ou frappait le policier en jaune.»
M. Lett a dit que l’autre policier est alors parti chercher de l’aide, et que l’homme en noir a couru vers l’entrée.
«Et comme ce type courait vers l’entrée, deux gars habillés en civil avec des armes lui ont crié quelque chose qui ressemblait à un avertissement, il n’en a pas tenu compte, et ils ont tiré deux ou trois fois, et il est tombé», a-t-il décrit.
Le maire de Londres, Sadiq Khan, a émis un communiqué via Twitter:
Plus de détails à venir.