Acting Met commissioner was at scene of terror killings

THE acting commissioner of the Metropolitan Police was at the scene of the terrorist attack and witnessed the events unfold.

Craig Mackey, who is in temporary charge of Scotland Yard following the retirement of Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe earlier this month, was in Westminster when the attack happened.

Speaking to reporters shortly after the attack, Commander JB Harrington said Mr Mackey was being treated as a “significant witness” to the events and would be helping his team piece together what had happened.

It is thought the acting commissioner had been attending a police commendation ceremony and was accompanying colleagues on the south side of Westminster Bridge when the attack began.

Two officers who had been with Mr Mackey were injured after being hit by the speeding car, although the police chief was not hurt. Confirming that the incident was being treated as a terrorist attack, Mr Harrington said: “Acting commissioner Craig Mackey is being treated as a significant witness as he was at the scene when the incident started.

“Whilst he is not injured, it would be inappropriate for him to talk about the incident at this stage.”

Mr Mackey took charge of the country’s largest police force earlier this month and is due to hand over to the new commissioner, Cressida Dick, on April 1.

Mr Mackey joined the police service in 1984 having previously been in the Merchant Navy.

He was the former Chief Constable of Cumbria Police and was in charge of the force in 2010 when Derrick Bird shot dead 12 people in the county in a shotgun and rifle rampage.

He joined the Met in 2012 as deputy commissioner and will return to the role once Ms Dick formally takes over her new job.

‘Craig Mackey is being treated as a significant witness as he was at the scene when it started’