PM chairs meeting of the Cobra committee in London

PRIME MINISTER Theresa May chaired a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee to discuss the immediate response to the bloody incident at the Palace of Westminster.

The 45-minute meeting brought together senior ministers as well as senior police officers, representatives of the security agencies and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Mrs May ordered flags to be lowered to half mast over Downing Street as a mark of respect to the innocent people who lost their lives at Westminster.

Among ministers attending last night’s meeting were Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon, Security Minister Ben Wallace, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Foreign Minister Sir Alan Duncan.

Absent were Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who was away on an official trip to Pakistan, and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, in the US for a summit of nations involved in the fight against the Islamic State terror group.

The meeting in Whitehall was addressed by Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, Britain’s most senior anti-terrorist police officer.

The Metropolitan Police has staged mock assaults to test their response, including an exercise carried out on Sunday.

The official threat level for international terrorism has been at severe – indicating that an attack is “highly likely” – for more than two years.

The level remains unchanged. Severe is the second highest of five levels, with the highest, critical, indicating that an attack is expected imminently.

Essex Police said visible patrols will be increased, including additional armed officers.