Breaking down the timeline
The deadly attack around Britain's Parliament hit during one of its busiest days as Prime Minister Theresa May was taking questions from lawmakers. Here is a timeline — in local London time (Greenwich Mean Time), which is four hours ahead of our Eastern Daylight Time — compiled from police and eyewitness accounts:
2.40 p.m. GMT: Pedestrians are mowed down by the attacker as he drove a Hyundai 4x4 on Westminster Bridge.
2:44 p.m. GMT: Parliament comes to a stop, with all inside told to “please wait here.” The prime minister is then rushed to safety.
2:46 p.m. GMT: Ambulances arrive at Westminster Bridge to treat the first victims.
3 p.m. GMT: Parliamentarians are told a police officer has been stabbed and “the alleged assailant was shot by armed police.”
4:30 p.m. GMT: Scotland Yard declares the attack a terrorist incident.
5 p.m. GMT: A woman is pulled alive from the River Thames after a video shows her going into the water to escape the attacker’s vehicle.
6:30 p.m. GMT: May chairs a COBRA meeting in the Cabinet Office to discuss the attack; President Trump offers the full support of the U.S.
11 p.m. GMT: Officials update the casualty count to five killed, including the assailant, and 40 others injured.