Arrest after parliament car crash
LONDON: Two people were injured when a car drove into security barriers outside the British parliament yesterday and the driver was arrested, emergency services said.
Counterterrorism police were investigating the incident.
Neither of those hurt were believed to have serious injuries and police said they were trying to piece together what happened.
‘‘While we are keeping an open mind, the Met’s CounterTerrorism Command is leading the investigation into the #Westminster incident,’’ London’s Metropolitan Police said on Twitter.
Earlier, police said the male driver of the car had been arrested at the scene of the crash.
Witness Jason Williams said the car had struck a barrier on a lane used for access to the parliament building with force. He thought it was deliberate.
‘‘It’s a very serious incident,’’ he told reporters. ‘‘There was smoke coming from the vehicle.’’
Images shot by a Euronews journalist showed police pointing their guns at a vehicle. Footage on social media showed a handcuffed man being led away by heavily armed police. Other footage showed a cyclist lying on the street.
London’s Ambulance Service said it had treated two people for injuries at the scene and they had been taken to hospital. Their injuries were not believed to be serious.
Parliament is in summer recess and most politicians are not using the building. Prime Minister Theresa May is on holiday abroad.
Britain is on its second highest threat level of ‘‘severe’’, meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely.