MPs reveal their panic in corridors of Westminster
MPS have spoken of the panic that swept Westminster’s corridors as the deadly terror incident unfolded.
Most had been in the House of Commons voting when news came through that an armed man had breached the perimeter and attacked a police officer outside.
Oldham MP Jim McMahon was one of hundreds locked into the chamber for around five hours.
Speaking while Parliament was still in lockdown, he said the thoughts of MPs were first and foremost with the victims killed and injured by an attack he said left him ‘sick’. When the news first broke there was panic, he said.
“We were voting in the voting lobbies and had just come out of the vote,” he added.
“This panic was being carried down the corridor from people shouting to get in and then armed police came rushing down the corridor. They were wearing T-shirts, so it took a while to process whether they were bona fide police.
“Because of the high security – every day when you walk in it says the threat level is severe on the screen – it’s always in our consciousness that the building could be targeted. I suppose we have been waiting for the day and today was the day.”
Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds, who was on his way into Westminster when he heard screaming, rushed to check his little boy Seth was safe in the nursery.
“People were screaming and the security doors had begun to seal. They were reopened so people could leave and it was clear people were badly shaken,” he said.
“A colleague told me there had been what sounded like gunshots. Because Parliament is sitting today Seth was in the nursery and my plan if something like this occurs has always been to go to him to make sure he is safe. I think everyone who works in Westminster has prepared themselves for a day like this, hoping it would never come.”
Heywood and Middleton MP Liz McInnes was turned away by police as she came into Parliament to vote.
Speaking while still on lock-down in Jeremy Corbyn’s office, she said: “I think there’s a lot of people in shock who don’t quite realise they’re in shock yet, if that makes sense.
“My genuine and heartfelt sympathy goes out to all those injured and killed and their families. This is an awful day.”