Pedestrian option for area, says police chief

Westminster could be pedestrianised in a bid to ward off vehicle attacks – terrorists’ “weapon of choice”, Britain’s most senior police officer said.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick praised officers’ courage as they leapt into action following the “ghastly” crash at the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday morning.

Over the past year and a half Westminster has become a target for attack for a variety of motivations, including terrorist, Ms Dick said.

She said: “You will notice that the security around parliament both in terms of armed officers and police officers and physical barriers has been further enhanced over the last several months and there is more to come on that in further months.

“Whether that area outside should be pedestrianised further, there should be further physical works done, I think is a matter that will be discussed no doubt between parliamentary authorities, us, the intelligence agencies and indeed the local authorities and the mayor.”

She appealed to anyone with information to come forward.

She said: “Sadly the vehicle appears to, in some ways when you look across Europe and the western world, have become a weapon of choice, method of attack of choice for terrorists.”