MP speaks out following deadly attack
MP David Rutley has spoken of the ‘tragic and sobering’ attack at Westminster.
Mr Rutley, who represents Macclesfield, was at Parliament when Khalid Masood used a 4x4 to plough into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before running into the grounds of Parliament with a knife, fatally stabbing PC Keith Palmer.
Speaking from a ‘safe place’ outside the House of Commons chamber soon after the attack which killed five people - including Masood - and left at least 50 injured, Mr Rutley said: “I was walking over to the chamber for the vote.
“As I was walking across I heard a loud thud and some commotion which I assumed must have related to the demonstration.
“But clearly as we’ve learned that thud must have been police shots in this very tragic incident.
“Then I went into the vote and then the building went into lockdown. I’ve just been escorted out by heavily armed police with other MPs into a safe the tragic events in London. It is utterly shocking and devastating that such a thing can happen and I would like to pay place outside the chamber. Police are doing an incredible job making sure we’re safe. People are being calm and following instructions. The thoughts of everyone are with those people injured, in the tragic incident on the bridge and with the policeman’s family. It’s been very sobering indeed.”
The sitting in the House of Commons was suspended while police officers sealed off the area around the incident.
The incident happened on Wednesday, March 22.
Nine people have been arrested in relation to the attack.