Terror fears and tears Westminster reeled as attacker struck

Farms minister George Eustice says his Five Point App-roach to Salmon progresses well. I prefer the four pronged fork approach myself.

WE first knew we were under attack when we heard the shots. For those of us working at Westminster it was confirmation of our worst fears.

That a gunman would storm the main gates killing anyone in his path. We didn’t know then that Khalid Masood only had knives.

Next we heard a police officer was down. We all wondered if we knew him.

When Keith Palmer’s name was released we all knew that we did, and our hearts wept for his loved ones.

Evacuation after four hours under lockdown was smooth and efficient and a tribute to the professionalism of security staff.

But the first hour was chaos. Instructions were given, only to be reversed. I’ve experienced such dithering twice before, but I expected better of Parliament which has prepared for this for years.

When the Sunday People’s Canary Wharf offices were rocked by an IRA bomb in 1996 it took ages to decide whether we should stay in London’s then tallest building or leave it, which we did.

At least we had some warning before the IRA bombed BBC TV Centre in 2001 as I was about to broadcast.

But our assembly point was surrounded by plate glass. After pointing out we’d be sliced to shreds we were transferred to the basement where the Dr Who monsters were stored and there was less chance of being exterminated, other than by the Daleks.

A security review of Parliament is now inevitable and already there is surprise Keith was unarmed. That was for good reason.

Imagine what could go wrong if a foolhardy youngster was to dash past cops just to take a selfie.

Even in the most tragic and harrowing circumstances the human spirit will always find something to laugh about. MPs were also locked in the Commons Chamber for hours. One told me afterwards: “We were about to draw lots to decide who to eat first.”

Jeremy Corbyn took in anyone who asked for sanctuary, including a young man who worked for a Tory MP. This refugee phoned his boss to tell him that he was safe and where he was. “Jolly good,” said the MP. “Just don’t come back a socialist.”